Indian Army Releases TES-57 Notification for July 2027 Course, 90 Vacancies Announced
The Indian Army has issued the official notification for the 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (TES-57), opening the route for unmarried male candidates to seek Permanent Commission through the July 2027 course. The entry is meant for candidates who have completed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) and have appeared in JEE (Mains) 2026.
The notification lays out a detailed selection and training process, including a provisional intake of 90 vacancies, a four-year training programme split between Cadets Training Wings and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, and commissioning as a Lieutenant on successful completion. Applications will open on 14 October 2026 at 1200 hrs and close on 12 November 2026 at 1200 hrs.
What TES-57 offers
TES-57 is a technical officer entry under which selected candidates undergo military and engineering training before receiving an Engineering degree and being granted Permanent Commission. According to the notification, the commission is into all Arms and Services, though the majority of officers are typically allotted to the Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals and Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers.
The entry is open only to unmarried male candidates. The age bracket is 16½ to 19½ years as on 1 July 2027, which means applicants must be born between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2011, both dates inclusive. The date of birth recorded in the Matriculation or Secondary School certificate will be treated as final.
Candidates must have passed 10+2 or an equivalent examination with PCM from a recognised board with a minimum aggregate of 60% marks in Class XII and must have appeared in JEE (Mains) 2026. The Army has also made it clear that the PCM percentage will be calculated only on the basis of Class XII marks and must be entered exactly up to two decimal places, without rounding off. Any false entry will result in rejection.
Vacancies, training and commissioning
The notification lists 90 vacancies, but describes them as provisional and subject to organisational requirements and training capacity at Cadets Training Wings. The selection process will culminate in a merit list, followed by joining letters issued according to merit, vacancies and medical fitness.
Training under TES-57 will last four years in two phases. The first three years will be spent at one of three Cadets Training Wings: CTW, CME, Pune for Civil and Mechanical Engineering, with the parent arm being the Corps of Engineers; CTW, MCTE, Mhow for Telecom and IT Engineering (Dual Degree), with the parent arm being the Corps of Signals; and CTW, MCEME, Secunderabad for Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, with the parent arm being the Corps of EME.
The final year of training will take place at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. On completion of training, cadets will be awarded an Engineering degree and commissioned as Lieutenants. The notification states that no ante-date seniority will be granted for the degree.
The Army has also specified academic limits during training. A maximum of two relegations is permitted on academic grounds over the four-year period, as per the JNU Ordinance. Any further academic relegation will lead to withdrawal.
Eligibility conditions
Along with being unmarried male candidates, applicants must be one of the following: a citizen of India; a subject of Nepal; or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, one of several East African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia, or Vietnam, with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Candidates in the second and third categories are required to produce a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India. This certificate is not required for Gorkha subjects of Nepal. The notification says provisional permission may be granted, subject to submission of the certificate before the declaration of the SSB result or before joining training.
Applicants must also undertake not to marry until they complete full training. Marriage after the date of application, even if the candidate is otherwise successful, will lead to non-selection for training. If a candidate marries during training, he will be discharged and the cost of training recovered.
Medical standards must conform to those prescribed for officers’ entry into the Indian Army. The notification directs candidates to www.joinindianarmy.nic.in for details and notes that Medical Board proceedings are confidential. It also states that the Directorate General of Recruiting has no role in medical boards.
Other disqualifying conditions include being debarred by UPSC from any examination, having been arrested or convicted by a criminal court, or being involved in any court case. Discovery of any such issue will lead to cancellation of candidature or withdrawal from the Academy. Candidates withdrawn on disciplinary grounds from NDA, OTA, IMA, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy or any service training academy are also not eligible.
Physical standards and training expectations
The notification includes minimum physical standards required on arrival for training. For male officer cadets, the standard for a 2.4 km run is 10 minutes 30 seconds. Candidates must also complete 40 push-ups, 6 pull-ups, 30 sit-ups, two sets of 30 squats, two sets of 10 lunges and must have knowledge of swimming fundamentals.
On commissioning, officers will receive Permanent Commission in the rank of Lieutenant. The pay matrix given in the notification places Lieutenant in Level 10 with a range of ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500, Captain in Level 10B at ₹61,300 to ₹1,93,900, Major in Level 11 at ₹69,400 to ₹2,07,200, and Lieutenant Colonel in Level 12A at ₹1,21,200 to ₹2,12,400, with higher ranks as per the notification.
Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month is fixed for officers from Lieutenant to Brigadier. During training, Gentlemen Cadets receive a stipend of ₹56,100 per month only after completion of three years, while at IMA. The notification says the training period is not counted as commissioned service, though admissible arrears for the training period are paid on commissioning.
The approximate Cost to Company on commissioning is stated as ₹17–18 lakh per annum at Level 10, excluding free medical cover and one annual trip to the home town. Other allowances mentioned include Dearness Allowance, Dress Allowance of ₹20,000 per year, Risk and Hardship Matrix allowances depending on posting, Transport Allowance, Children Education Allowance, Hostel Subsidy and ration in kind in peace and field areas. The document also says that certain defence-specific allowances automatically rise by 25% whenever Dearness Allowance increases by 50%.
The cost of training is listed as ₹13,940 per week, based on the 2021 rate and subject to revision. This cost is borne by the Government but recovered if a candidate withdraws for personal reasons. Cadets are also covered under the Army Group Insurance Fund scheme, with a ₹30 lakh cover during the first three years without stipend and higher cover once stipend begins.
Selection process
The selection process begins with online application, followed by shortlisting based on JEE (Mains) Common Rank List and other parameters. The notification says the cut-off percentage for shortlisting is tentatively expected in the fourth week of November 2026, though the IHQ of MoD (Army) retains the right to shortlist and fix the cut-off without giving reasons.
Shortlisted candidates will be called for a five-day SSB interview at one of the selection centres in Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru or Jalandhar. The SSB follows a two-stage process, and candidates who fail Stage-I will be returned the same day. Call-up letters will be issued only through registered email and SMS.
Candidates recommended by the SSB will undergo medical examination at the nearest Military Hospital. The final merit list will be prepared solely on the basis of marks obtained in the SSB. Higher educational qualifications, earlier performance or NCC background will not be considered in the merit calculation. Joining letters will be issued strictly in order of merit, subject to vacancies and medical fitness.
Applicants recommended by the SSB must indicate three separate preferences for Cadets Training Wings. The Indian Army will make the final allotment, and no request for change of centre, date or CTW will be entertained. The notification also mentions a special procedure for candidates applying for both TES and NDA, covering medical examinations for parallel courses.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted only online at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in by using the ‘online application’ button. Only one application is permitted, and multiple submissions will result in cancellation of candidature. Candidates may edit the form until the closing date, but they must resubmit each time changes are made. No changes can be made after the application window closes.
After successful submission, a confirmation will appear on screen, and the printout with Roll Number will become available 30 minutes after the application window closes. No hard copy needs to be sent to the Directorate General of Recruiting. The Army has advised applicants to read the full notification carefully in both English and Hindi, noting that the English version will prevail in case of any dispute.
Employed candidates must inform their employer in writing and provide an undertaking. Any change in postal address after submission must be communicated by post, quoting the Roll Number, name and course.
For the SSB, candidates must carry a self-attested printout of the application along with original Class 10 certificate and mark sheet showing date of birth, original Class 12 certificate and mark sheet, original ID proof, a copy of the JEE (Mains) 2026 result and 20 self-attested passport-size photographs. They must also bring two sets of self-attested photocopies of the certificates. Originals will be returned after verification.
The notification says DIGILOCKER certificates are not accepted in place of original hard copies, though a special authenticated procedure will apply if only e-certificates were issued. Revised mark sheets issued after the last date of online application will not be accepted, and every candidate must fill in the JEE (Mains) 2026 application number for BE/BTech courses.
Important dates and other instructions
The application window opens on 14 October 2026 at 1200 hrs and closes on 12 November 2026 at 1200 hrs. Shortlisting cut-off is tentatively expected in the fourth week of November 2026, while the SSB is scheduled for February to March 2027. The final merit list will be published on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in before induction.
Queries will be accepted only through the Feedback/Queries option on the website, and only those received up to three days before the closing of applications will be considered. First-time applicants for this type of commission are entitled to AC 3-tier to-and-fro railway fare or bus fare within India, including reservation charges. No travelling allowance will be paid for subsequent applications for the same type of commission.
The notification says permanent body tattoos will be governed by the detailed policy available on the official website. On joining the Army, personal restrictions under Article 33 of the Constitution of India, as promulgated in the Army Act and Rules, will apply. Appointment will remain provisional until antecedents are verified satisfactorily.
The Army has advised candidates to read the official notification carefully to avoid rejection for incomplete or incorrect information. The notification and updates are available on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. A PDF of the TES-57 notification has also been made available for download.
