The Indian Army is not just a career, but a way of life, which has attracted many young talents of the country. Candidates are recruited into the Indian Army through various commissions. There are six types of Service commissions in The Indian Army, out of which people are inducted mainly through 2 types of commissions – Permanent Commission (PC) & Short Service Commission (SSC).
In the case of officer entry, their duration of service in The Indian Army depends upon the type of commission or type of Entry through which they are selected.
How many types of Commissions are there in the Indian Army?
Below are the Types of Commissions in the Indian Army
- Permanent Commission
- Short Service Commission
- Special List Commission
- Emergency Commission
- Regimental Commission
- Honorary Commission
Permanent Commission of Indian Army
- Officers have to serve the army till they attain the retirement age. This retirement age depends on their rank.
- If you join the army under permanent commission, then you will be promoted till Colonel Rank – based on your years of service, and after that promotion is decided by the selection board.
Below is the promotion based on your service and retirement age
| Rank | Total years in service – as commissioned officer | Retirement Age |
| Lieutenant | Joining Rank | NA |
| Caption | 2 | NA |
| Major | 6 | NA |
| Lt. Colonel | 13 | NA |
| Colonel | 15 or 26 | 54 |
| Brigadiers | Based on Selection | 56 |
| Major general | Based on Selection | 58 |
| Lieutenant Generals | Based on Selection | 60 |
| General | Based on Selection | 3 years or at the age of 62 |
| Field Marshal | Based on Selection | never retires |
Below are a few Entries through which officers are selected for Permanent Commission in Indian Army
1. NDA Entry
2. CDS Entry
3. UES Entry
4. TGC Entry
5. AEC (Men) Entry
6. TES (10+2) Entry
Please note that Training for TES (10+2) Entry is conducted at Officer Training Academy – OTA, Chennai.
Training for all other entries through permanent commission in The Indian Army is conducted at Indian Military Academy, IMA Dehradun.
Till March 2020, Women were not offered Permanent commissions in the Indian Army, as they were serving in Short Service Commission only. But in April 2020, Permanent Commission was open for Women. During their 2 or 3 years of service, they have to identify one of the six specialized streams in which they are allowed to serve in the Permanent Commission. This was a major breakthrough for Women Serving in The Indian Army.
Short Service Commission in Indian Army
- As the name suggests, you will be serving for a fixed duration of 10+4 years in the Indian Army. This means that you have to serve for at least 10 years. After 10 years, they have 3 options
- Either go for Permanent Commission
- Opt-out from the Indian Army
- Opt for an Extension of 4 Years in which you can resign any time before 4 years.
- A Short Service Commission empowers you with analytical thinking, planning skills, administrative and organizational abilities. by serving in the Army, you develop certain qualities that will make you an invaluable human resource for any organization that you join after the Army. The Army also you in finding that perfect alternate career after your service.
- If you serve in SSC without opting for a Permanent commission, then you will attain a Maximum Rank of – Lieutenant Colonel – which you will get after serving 13 years in the Indian Army.
Training Centers for Short Service Commissions are – Officer Training Academy, OTA Chennai & OTA Gaya.
Below are a few Entries through which you get Short Service Commission in Indian Army
1. Short Service Commission (Tech) or SCC(T) Entry – Men & Women
2. Short Service Commission (Non-Tech) or SCC(NT) Entry – Men & Women
3. NCC Special Entry – Men & Women
4. JAG Entry – Men & Women
What is the Difference between The Permanent Commission (PC) and The Short Service Commission (SSC) of the Indian Army?
| Parameters | Permanent Commission | Short Service Commission |
| Duration of Service | Till the retirement age | 10 sure years, extendable to 4 more years |
| Training Period | 18 Months | 11 months |
| Promotion Opportunity | Till Colonel based on years of service in Army, thereafter on selection basis | Till Lieutenant Colonel |
| Type of Entries | NDS, CDS,TGC | SSC (T), SCC(NT), NCC Special |
| Training Centers | IMA, OTA, Chennai (Only for TES 10+2 Entry) | OTA, Chennai & Gaya |
| Pension Benefits | Yes, if they complete their service | No |