The Required Basic Qualification is a Pass in Higher Secondary Board Examination, SSLC
There is an increase in the number of engineers who have joined the Indian Army as soldiers in the recent batch. The required basic qualification for becoming a soldier (technical) is just a pass in the higher secondary board exam and SSLC for solider (general duty).
This is in addition to the number of diploma holders joining the force. Recruitment rallies are conducted twice a year in one of the 11 districts covered under this Area Recruiting Officer. It takes about five to six months to conduct a rally and send selected soldiers for training.
Director Recruiting of the Area Recruiting Office of the Indian Army, Coimbatore, Colonel H. Praveen said that every year they conducted two recruitment rallies in this region (comprising 11 districts).
“In the last two rallies, the number of engineering and arts and science graduates joining as soldiers has increased commendably,” he said.
“With the Army gearing up for drastic modernisation, it is an encouraging sign to see technically well qualified candidates joining the force,” he said.
Army officers said that this would also help in raising the bar, as they could also help fellow soldiers equip themselves technically.
The increase in number of graduates appearing for the exam has also reflected with an increase in soldiers selected during the recruitment rallies in this region. During the recruitment rallies in the yester years, only 300 to 350 were selected in a drive. It has almost doubled now.
Officers, who conducted the recruitment drive, said that many more engineers took up the examination this year, but they could not clear the written examination, while many with a lesser qualification could do it. Lack of preparation was cited as the reason for poor performance.