CAREER IN DEFENCE FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

If you are a medical student who wants to serve the nation and join the Indian army, it would be
like a cherry on the cake. Many students are unaware of the opportunities that are waiting
for medical students in armed forces. This article has all the information you need to join the
armed forces.
Information given below is stream wise and opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate
have been enlisted.
INDIAN ARMY
After 10+2
The only way to get into Army for becoming an officer is through NDA exam, where NDA
stands for National Defense Academy. This is basically a common exam for recruitment of
candidates for training in the Army, Naval and Air Force wing of the National Defense
Academy.
Candidates with or without Physics and Maths in +2 level are eligible for the Army wing of
National Defense Academy but you will have to answer a paper of Mathematics along with
General Ability Test in the exam. The examination is conducted twice a year and are called NDA
I and NDA II.
After graduation
Biology graduates do have two options at Indian Army for becoming an officer.
Combined Defence Services Examination conducted by UPSC: Candidates need to qualify in
CDS exam and then they need to be recommended by Services Selection Board in SSB
interviews. Once recommended by the board, candidate will be admitted intoIMA or
OTA according

to

the

course

opted

and

vacancies

available.

Indian Army recruitment through Non Tech entry: Indian Army releases Non Technical

course notifications occasionally to recruit eligible candidates for administrative officer posts.
Indian Army will shortlist the candidates for SSB interviews
INDIAN AIRFORCE
For Air Force wing of National Defense Academy, Physics and Mathematics in the +2 level is
mandatory so medical students arenot eligible to apply for Air Force through NDA examination
After 10+2
AIRMEN
Air force conducts group X andYexamination for the recruitment of airmen in Indian Air
force. Students having Physics, Chemistry and Biology as subjects in 12th can apply for the post
of medical assistant (Airmen) in Group Y but there age limit should lie between 17-21 Years
Educational qualification for group Y The candidate must have passed 10+2 / Intermediate /
equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with a minimum of 50% marks
in aggregate 50% marks in English
After graduation
Medical students can join Indian Air Force as an officer through AFCAT but are not eligible to
apply & get recruited to Air force through CDS. IAF is divided further into 3 streams:
(a) Flying

Branch:

(b) Technical

Branch:

Fighter

pilots,

Mechanical,

Transport

Electronics

and

pilots,
other

Helicopter

engineering

pilots

streams

(c) Ground Duty Branch: Administration, Accounts, Logistics, Education, Meteorology

Medical

students

are

eligible

to

apply

for:

Administration and Logistics- Graduate in any discipline with 60% marks in aggregate or postgraduate

in

any

discipline

with

50%

marks

in

aggregate

Education- Post Graduate degree in any discipline with minimum 50% marks in aggregate
INDIAN NAVY

Indian Navy does not have much opportunity for medical students recruitment. The only
opportunity you can avail to work with Indian navy is getting recruitment through Army Medical
Corps
Army Medical Corps
The Indian Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the Indian Army which provides medical
services to all Army personnel. It recruits candidates as short service commissioned
(SSC) officer having age less than 45 years. Applicants should have passed Post Graduate
degree/ diploma holders e.g. MD/ MS/ MCh/ DM/ DNB/ DLO/ DOMS/ DA. For recruitment
you have to submit online application . The eligible candidates will be called for Indian Army
Medical Corps interview by a Board of Officers at New Delhi to assess their suitability and merit
for grant of Short Service Commission in the Armed Forces Medical Services .As an officer in
the Army Medical Corps, a candidate is liable to be employed in the Indian Army, Navy or Air
Force in any part of the country or world.
Selection Procedure for Army Medical Corps
There are two ways for getting recruited for Army Medical Corps one is through Short Service
Commission ( SSC) and other is throughpermanent commission.
Through Short Service Commission SSC
Notification for the post of doctors (married/unmarried male and female) in Indian Navy
through SSC is published in leading newspapers once a year. Eligible candidates are called for
interview at New Delhi to assess their merit and suitability for grant of Short Service
Commission in the Army Medical Corps. Based on the results of the interview, candidates who
have been short listed are subjected to medical examination at designated Armed Forces
hospitals in New Delhi.
Through Permanent Commission
SSC officers can appear in their departmental interviews for grant of Permanent Commission
at any time after completion of two years SSC service. Also, there should be no break in service

and they should fulfill the conditions of eligibility laid down. The age limit for granting PC for
different professional educational qualification is

MBBS (Max. 30 years)

Post Graduate Diploma (Max. 31 years)

Post Graduate MD/MS (Max. 35 years)

Army Dental Corps (ADC)
Permanent Commission
Age criteria 28 Years (for BDS)
30 Years (for MDS)
Education qualification
1. BDS with minimum 60% marks in final year / MDS from a recognised College or University.
2. Should have completed one year rotatory internship recognised by the Dental Council of India.
3. Should be in possession of Permanent Dental Registration Certificate.
Method of Selection: Eligible candidates are called for interview by a Board of Officers at
Army Hospital (Research &Referral) New Delhi. To assess their suitability and merit for grant of
Short Service Commission in the Armed Forces Medical Services.
Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) Pune.
Armed Forces Medical College is a premier medical institute of India acknowledged as a centre
of excellence for education and research. The college provides training to under-graduate and
post-graduate medical and nursing students with assured career prospects in the defence services.
Medical students who have completed or pursuing 12th can apply for AFMC Pune if they
wanted to pursue their carrier in medical department of armed forces but selection is done on the
basis

of

AIPMT

(All

India

pre

medical

test)

This is an effort to make all the medical students aware that if you have that fire in you to serve
your country then Indian armed forces have many opportunities for you to fulfill your keen
desire of wearing a stethoscope over that honorable uniform.