Indian Army SSC Tech Women 68th Recruitment 2026: Eligibility, Vacancies and Apply Online

Quick Highlights

• Organisation: Indian Army
• Course: 68th Short Service Commission (Technical) Women, SSCW(T)-68
• Open For: Unmarried female engineering graduates; widows of defence personnel (separate provisions)
• Vacancies: 30 (29 stream-wise plus 1 reserved for widows under Technical entry)
• Mode of Application: Online only
• Application Window: 08 July 2026 to 06 August 2026

Important Dates

Queries related to the notification will only be entertained through the Feedback/Query option on the website, and only up to 3 days before the closing of online applications.

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality

A candidate must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India. Candidates in the latter two categories need a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India, except Gorkha subjects of Nepal, who do not require one.

Who Can Apply

The course is open to unmarried women. In addition, widows of Indian Armed Forces personnel who died in harness, including those with children, can apply provided they have not remarried, either for SSCW(Tech) with a B.E./B.Tech degree in any engineering stream, or for the separate SSCW(Non-Tech)(Non-UPSC) course with graduation in any discipline. Their candidature is considered only against the specific vacancy reserved for the category; if that vacancy goes unfilled, it reverts to the general category.

Age Limit

Candidates must be between 20 and 27 years of age as on 01 April 2027, that is, born between 01 April 2000 and 31 March 2007, both days inclusive. For widows of defence personnel applying under either the Tech or Non-Tech (Non-UPSC) route, the maximum age is 35 years as on 01 April 2027. Only the date of birth recorded in the Matriculation or Secondary School certificate will be accepted; no other document or later request for change of date of birth will be entertained.

Educational Qualification

Applicants must have passed the required engineering degree, or be in the final year of an engineering degree course in one of the notified streams listed below. Final-year candidates whose result is declared after 01 April 2027 are not eligible to apply. Those still in their final year must be able to show proof of passing the engineering degree examination, along with marksheets of all semesters or years, by 01 April 2027, and must produce the actual degree certificate within 12 weeks of the course commencing at the training academy. Candidates who fail to do so will be inducted on an additional bond basis and made liable to refund the training costs and stipend already paid.

Final-year students are provisionally allowed to appear at the SSB if their cumulative percentage of marks up to the 6th semester or 3rd year of an engineering degree (or the equivalent stage for B.Arch or M.Sc in a notified stream) is not below the approved cut-off percentage for their stream. After final results are declared, their cumulative percentage up to the final semester or year must also clear the approved cut-off, failing which the candidature stands cancelled.

Special Emphasis Notes

• Mismatch in engineering stream: Any difference between the stream named on the degree certificate or marksheet and the stream entered in the online application will lead to cancellation of candidature.
• Variation in name: Any difference between the candidate's or parents' names as filled in the application and as recorded on educational documents requires the candidate to submit an affidavit explaining the variation.
• Carry of degree and marksheets: Candidates must carry their degree or provisional degree certificate along with all semester or year marksheets to the SSB.

Vacancy Details

A total of 30 vacancies are available under SSCW(Tech)-68, consisting of 29 vacancies distributed across five core engineering streams and one vacancy specifically reserved for a widow of Indian Armed Forces personnel who died in harness. Only the engineering streams and their notified equivalent branches listed in the official notification are accepted; a degree in any other engineering stream is not eligible.

A separate course, SSCW(Non-Tech)(Non-UPSC)-125, with one vacancy for graduation in any stream, is open only to widows of defence personnel and follows an offline application route explained later in this article. The vacancies listed above are tentative and may be changed or re-appropriated by the Army at any stage of the selection process, depending on organisational requirements. Candidates with a degree in any stream not listed in the notification, or from a foreign university, are not eligible to apply.

Minimum Physical Standards

Before joining the training academy, candidates must be able to meet the following minimum physical standards.

Selection Process

Selection follows the sequence: Application, Shortlisting, SSB, Medical Examination, Merit List, Joining Letter.

1. Shortlisting: Integrated HQ of the Ministry of Defence (Army) shortlists applications stream-wise based on the vacancy-to-call-up ratio, applying a cut-off percentage on the cumulative marks obtained up to the final semester or year. The cut-off percentage for each stream is expected to be published in the first week of September 2026.
2. Choice of SSB centre and date: Shortlisted candidates must log in to the website and select their SSB dates and centre on a first-come, first-served basis, with this window open for two weeks in September 2026. Once selected, the centre and date cannot be changed by the candidate, though the Directorate General of Recruiting reserves the right to change them.
3. SSB interview: Conducted at one of four selection centres, Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Jalandhar (Punjab), over a likely period between October and December 2026. Each SSB runs for five days and follows a two-stage procedure; candidates who fail Stage-1 are sent back the same day, and only those who clear it proceed to Stage-2.
4. Medical examination: Candidates recommended after Stage-2 undergo a medical examination. The SSB medical clearance is valid for 270 days from the medical board to the date of joining the academy.
5. Merit list: Prepared stream-wise, based purely on marks obtained at the SSB interview. Ties are first broken in favour of the older candidate, and if age also ties, in favour of the candidate with the higher percentage of marks in their qualifying degree.
6. Joining letter: Candidates who feature within the stream-wise vacancies and are declared medically fit are issued a joining letter for pre-commission training, subject to meeting all eligibility criteria.

Training

Selected candidates train at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, Bihar. According to the notification highlights, the course runs for 49 weeks, from April 2027 to March 2028; the detailed body of the notification separately describes the instructional period as 46 weeks, excluding the term break.

During training, cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs 56,100 per month. Marriage is not permitted during training, and cadets are not allowed to live with parents or guardians until training is complete; marrying during training leads to discharge and recovery of all expenditure incurred by the government. On successful completion, officers are awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Military Studies and Defence Management by Magadh University, Bodh Gaya. If a cadet resigns or is withdrawn from the academy for reasons other than medical grounds, she is liable to refund the cost of training at Rs 20,482.40 per week, or as notified from time to time.

Commission, Pay and Career Progression

Selected candidates are granted a Short Service Commission in the rank of Lieutenant on probation, from the date of course commencement or reporting at the academy, whichever is later. On successful completion of training, the Short Service Commission (Technical) is confirmed. Engineering graduates commissioned under this entry are granted one year of ante-date seniority from the date of commission; however, widows selected under the SSCW(Non-Tech)(Non-UPSC) route do not receive this ante-date seniority.

The minimum engagement period is 10 years, extendable by a further 4 years to a maximum of 14 years, subject to eligibility. Officers may seek release after completing 5 years of service (subject to Army HQ approval on merit), after 10 years, or after 14 years. Officers may also be considered for Permanent Commission in their 10th year of service, based on eligibility and organisational vacancies. A Short Service Commission may be terminated earlier by the Government on grounds of misconduct, unsatisfactory service, medical unfitness, reduced service requirement, or failure to qualify a prescribed course.

Pay and Stipend

On commissioning, salary is approximately Rs 17 to 18 lakh per year (cost to company), excluding free medical cover and one hometown visit a year. Officers also draw Military Service Pay of Rs 15,500 per month (fixed) from Lieutenant to Brigadier, along with allowances such as Dearness Allowance, Para Reserve Allowance (Rs 2,625 per month), Technical Allowance (Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 per month depending on tier), a Dress Allowance of Rs 20,000 per year, Transport Allowance, Children Education Allowance of Rs 2,250 per month per child for up to two children (Nursery to Class 12), and Hostel Subsidy of Rs 6,750 per month per child. Officers posted to field and high-altitude areas are additionally eligible for various hardship and risk allowances depending on rank and location. Cadets are also covered under the Army Group Insurance Fund for Rs 1.25 crore, with a monthly subscription of Rs 12,500.

Documents Required for the SSB Interview

Candidates must carry self-attested copies along with the originals of the following documents. Certificates issued only through DigiLocker are not accepted in place of original hard-copy certificates, except where the institution certifies in writing that only e-certificates have been issued, in which case an authenticated colour printout is required.

• One signed printout of the online application with a self-attested photograph affixed
• Class 10 certificate and marksheet
• Class 12 certificate and marksheet, or equivalent/diploma certificate and marksheet
• Engineering degree or provisional degree certificate (provisional degree must not be more than six months old at the time of joining the academy) and marksheets of all semesters or years
• A certificate from the university's Controller of Examination or Registrar on the formula used to convert CGPA or grades into percentage
• For final-year candidates: a certificate of cumulative percentage up to the relevant semester or year, a certificate confirming they are studying in the final year with the expected result date, and a signed declaration to submit proof of passing by 01 April 2027
• Documents related to civil verification
• For widows of defence personnel: the Part II Order of Marriage, Part II Order of the husband's demise, and battle or physical casualty reports and certificates, duly attested as specified in the notification

How to Apply

1. Visit www.joinindianarmy.nic.in, click on Officer Entry Appln/Login, and then click Registration. This step can be skipped if you are already registered on the website.
2. Read the instructions carefully and fill in the online registration form. An Aadhaar number and matriculation certificate details are mandatory for registration.
3. After registering, click Apply Online under the Dashboard, open the Officers Selection Eligibility page, and click Apply against the Short Service Commission Technical Course.
4. On the Application Form page, fill in personal information, communication details, education details and previous SSB details, clicking Save and Continue after each segment.
5. After the last segment, check the Summary of your information page carefully and edit any incorrect entries before proceeding.
6. Once you have confirmed all details are correct, click Submit. Click Submit again each time you reopen and edit the application.
7. Take two printouts of the application bearing your roll number, 30 minutes after the final closure of the online application on the last day, and keep them for your records.

Widows of Indian Armed Forces personnel applying for SSCW(Non-Tech)(Non-UPSC)-125 follow an offline route instead, sending their application directly to Rtg 'A' (TGC) Section, Directorate General of Recruiting, Adjutant General's Branch, Integrated HQ, Ministry of Defence (Army), West Block-III, R K Puram, New Delhi-110066, along with the required attested documents, by 21 August 2026.

General Rules

• Only one online application is permitted per candidate; submitting multiple applications results in cancellation of candidature.
• No changes to the submitted online application are possible once it has closed.
• Candidates already serving in the Armed Forces must inform their Commanding Officer in writing that they have applied, and their application must be countersigned by the Commanding Officer.
• Candidates appearing for the SSB for the first time for this type of commission are entitled to AC-3 tier train fare or bus fare (including reservation cum sleeper charges) within India; those reappearing for the same type of commission are not entitled to travelling allowance.
• Candidates must never have been debarred by the UPSC from any examination, nor arrested or convicted by a criminal court.
• Candidates withdrawn from the NDA, IMA, OTA, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or any service training academy on disciplinary grounds are not eligible to apply.
• The final allocation of Arms/Services is made at the sole discretion of Integrated HQ, Ministry of Defence (Army), and no representation on this account is entertained.
• This notification has been published in both Hindi and English; in case of any discrepancy between the two versions, the English version will prevail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who can apply for the Indian Army SSCW Tech-68 course?
Unmarried female engineering graduates, or those in the final year of an engineering degree in a notified stream, can apply. Widows of Indian Armed Forces personnel who died in harness, and who have not remarried, are also eligible under a separate reserved vacancy.

Q2. What is the age limit for SSCW Tech-68 women entry?
Candidates must be between 20 and 27 years of age as on 01 April 2027, that is, born between 01 April 2000 and 31 March 2007. Widows of defence personnel who died in harness can be up to 35 years of age as on the same date.

Q3. How many vacancies are available in SSCW Tech-68?
There are 30 vacancies in total, made up of 29 vacancies spread across five engineering streams, Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Electronics and Mechanical, plus one vacancy reserved for a widow of defence personnel under the Technical entry.

Q4. What is the last date to apply online for SSCW Tech-68?
Online applications can be submitted from 08 July 2026 to 06 August 2026, up to 1500 hours on the closing date, at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Q5. What is the selection process for SSCW Tech-68?
The process runs through online application, shortlisting based on academic percentage, a five-day SSB interview at one of four selection centres, a medical examination, and a stream-wise merit list, after which joining letters are issued for training.

Q6. What stipend and salary will selected candidates receive?
Cadets receive a stipend of Rs 56,100 per month during training at the Officers Training Academy. On commissioning as Lieutenant, the approximate cost to company is Rs 17 to 18 lakh per year, excluding free medical cover and one hometown visit a year.

Q7. Are widows of defence personnel eligible to apply for this course?
Yes. Widows of Indian Armed Forces personnel who died in harness, provided they have not remarried, can apply for SSCW Tech-68 with a B.E./B.Tech degree in any engineering stream, or for a separate SSCW Non-Tech Non-UPSC course with graduation in any stream.

Q8. What documents must candidates carry for the SSB interview?
Candidates must carry original certificates along with self-attested copies of the signed application printout, class 10 and 12 certificates and marksheets, engineering degree or provisional degree, all semester or year marksheets, and the university's CGPA-to-percentage conversion certificate. DigiLocker certificates are not accepted in place of originals.

Source

This article is based on the official notification "68th Short Service Commission (Technical) Women Course (Apr 2027)" published by the Indian Army on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Candidates are advised to refer to the official notification on the website for the final and legally valid version, as the information above is for general awareness only.

Disclaimer: The information in this article has been compiled from the official Indian Army recruitment notification for reader convenience. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, candidates should verify all details, especially dates, eligibility and vacancy figures, on the official website before applying. This website is not responsible for any error or omission.