Becoming an Officer in Armed Forces: Options Post-12th with 10+2 TES and B.Tech Entry
National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam 2026 ( NDA )
Exam On - 12 Apr '26
It is important to understand that armed forces provide multiple options for becoming an officer after the 12th.
NDA exam is popular to join defence services after Class 12. However, there are other exams, not as popular, for students who wants to join defence services such as Technical Entry Scheme (TES) by Indian Army and 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme by Indian Navy. In this article, you will know details.
- 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (TES)
- 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme
- 6 SSB attempts in a year
- Blend of academic plus personality profile
10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (TES)
If we talk about 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (TES), this entry provides an opportunity to join Indian Army for technical roles in officer cadre. This is direct entry to join Indian Army as an officer, as there is no written exam. The call letter for SSB interview is issued directly to eligible candidates. Only unmarried male candidates who have passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with minimum aggregate of 60% can apply under Technical Entry Scheme. In addition to this, aspiring candidates must also have appeared in JEE (Mains) exam.
10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme
About 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme, this entry prepares you for an officer cadre role in Indian Navy. Selected candidates pursue a four-year B.Tech degree course at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala in Kerala. Candidates applying for this entry must have passed the 10+2 exam with at least 70% aggregate marks in PCM and at least 50% marks in English. Currently, only males can apply for TES entry, but in the 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme by the Indian Navy, both unmarried male and female candidates can apply. Like TES, it is necessary to have appeared in the JEE (Mains) exam for this entry too, as the call letter for the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview is issued based on the All India Common Rank List (CRL) in the JEE (Main) exam.
Candidates are required to score a minimum of around 25 per cent marks in each subject to clear the NDA written exam. The total marks allotted to the written exam are 900. Besides the subject-wise cut off marks, the examination authority also decides overall cut off marks for different defence services. Candidates are required to secure both section-wise and overall cut off marks. To be in the final merit list, candidates are required to secure separate qualifying marks in the written exam and SSB interview.
Candidates can apply for the exam within their age. The educational qualification is Class 12 pass. The eligibility is prescribed by the examination authority for candidates. Applications are accepted only who satisfies the eligibility.
6 SSB attempts in a year
Since the NDA exam is conducted twice a year, you have two opportunities annually to appear before the Services Selection Board for the SSB Interview. One can’t join the armed forces as an officer unless he or she gets a recommendation from the SSB. Now, why might a student preparing for the JEE also consider the armed forces? Because they have more opportunities through the 10+2 TES and 10+2 (B.Tech) entries. The notifications for these two entries are also released twice a year. So, you will have two SSB attempts under the NDA entry, two SSB attempts under the 10+2 TES, and two SSB attempts under the 10+2 (B.Tech) entry. Overall, you can get up to six SSB attempts in a year.
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I have a student who qualified for the NDA written exam but was conferenced out in SSB. After that, he went for the 10+2 (B.Tech) Cadet Entry Scheme and got selected through this entry. It is important to understand that the armed forces provide multiple options for becoming an officer after the 12th.
Blend of academic plus personality profile
Let me share some data: around 20 lakh students take the JEE exam, while six lakh take the NDA exam. Many students are unaware of the NDA and only know about JEE and NEET. Students with a biology background often hesitate to consider the NDA, but I have seen many from a bio background qualify for the NDA if they prepare well. Those students who think that NEET is their only option should understand that the requirements of the Armed Forces are different. Here, it's not just about academics; we do not need you to be a topper in Physics, Maths, or Biology. The requirements include both your academic profile and personality profile. The Indian Armed Forces seek those individuals who are physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically balanced.
The selected candidates for the three services-Army, Navy and Air Force are given preliminary training both academic and physical for a period of three years at the National Defence Academy which is an Inter-Service Institution. The training during
the first two and half years is common to the cadets of three wings. All the cadets on passing out are awarded degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University Delhi as under:
(a) Army Cadets: BSc/ BSc (Computer)/ BA
(b) Naval Cadets: B Tech Degree
(c) Air Force Cadets: B Tech Degree /B Sc/BSc (Computer)
All the cadets undergoing B.Sc/B.Sc (Computer)/BA Degree programme are awarded the degree on the successful completion of Academics, Physical and Service Training at NDA.
All the cadets undergoing B Tech programme are awarded the B Tech degree on the subsequent Pre Commissioning Training
Academies/ Institutions/ Ships/ Air Craft
The selected candidates of the Naval Academy are given preliminary training both academic and physical, for a period of four years at Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. The cadets of 10+2 Cadet Entry Scheme are awarded a B Tech Degree on successful completion of training.
Candidates can select one city for NDA exam while filling the application form. The preferences of exam cities are required to be entered in Part 2 of NDA application form. The exam centres are allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis. Once the capacity of a particular centre is filled, the same is frozen. Therefore, to get the preferred exam centre, candidates need to apply early. The examination authority reserves the right to allot exam centres to candidates.
The age limit is 16.5 to 19.5 years
Candidates who have passed Class 12 can apply
By-- Shishir Dixit, an Air Force veteran, Founder-Director and Chief SSB Mentor at Centurion Defence Academy
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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