The Indian Army has invited applications for the 145th Technical Graduate Course (TGC-145) at IMA Dehradun. Check vacancies, eligibility, age limit, pay, selection process, and how to apply before 29 October 2026.
Indian Army TGC-145 Recruitment 2026: Overview
The Indian Army has released the official notification for the 145th Technical Graduate Course (TGC-145), which starts in July 2027 at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. Unmarried male engineering graduates can apply for a Permanent Commission as Lieutenant. There are 30 vacancies across engineering streams.
The last date to apply is 29 October 2026, 3:00 PM, so only a few days remain. Don’t wait until the last hour.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Indian Army |
| Course | 145th Technical Graduate Course (TGC-145) |
| Course start | July 2027 |
| Training academy | Indian Military Academy, Dehradun |
| Commission type | Permanent Commission (rank of Lieutenant) |
| Total vacancies | 30 (tentative) |
| Application opens | 30 September 2026, 3:00 PM |
| Application closes | 29 October 2026, 3:00 PM |
| Mode of application | Online only |
| Official website | www.joinindianarmy.nic.in |
Stream-Wise Vacancies
| Core Stream | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Civil (incl. Architecture, Building Construction & Technology) | 08 |
| Computer Science (CSE, IT, AI/ML, Data Science, Cyber Security, M.Sc Computer Science and related) | 06 |
| Electrical (Electrical, Electrical & Electronics) | 02 |
| Electronics (ECE, Instrumentation, Electronics & Telecommunication and related) | 06 |
| Mechanical (Mechanical, Production, Automobile, Industrial, Aerospace, Avionics and related) | 06 |
| Miscellaneous (Plastic Tech, Remote Sensing, Ballistics, Biomedical, Food Tech, Agriculture, Metallurgical, Laser Tech, Biotechnology, Rubber Tech, Chemical, Transportation, Mining, Nuclear, Textile) | 02 |
| Total | 30 |
Only the streams and equivalent AICTE-approved streams listed in the official notification are accepted. The vacancies are tentative and may change depending on organisational requirements.
Important: The stream name on your degree certificate or marksheet must match the stream you enter in the online application. Any mismatch will lead to cancellation of your candidature.
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be one of the following:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam with the intention of settling permanently in India.
Candidates in the 2nd and 3rd categories need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India. This is not required for Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
Age Limit
20 to 27 years as on 1 July 2027, meaning candidates must be born between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2007 (both dates inclusive).
Only the date of birth in the Matriculation/Secondary School certificate (or equivalent) is accepted. No other document will be considered, and no changes are allowed later.
Marital Status
Only unmarried male candidates can apply. A candidate who marries after applying will not be inducted, even if he clears the SSB and medical. Marriage during training leads to discharge and recovery of all expenses.
Educational Qualification
- A BE/B.Tech degree in a notified engineering stream, or an M.Sc in Computer Science.
- The degree must come from a university or institution recognised under a Central or State Act, or established or deemed under the UGC Act 1956, IIT Act 1961, AICTE Act 1987, NITSER Act 2007, or IIIT Act 2024.
- Candidates with a degree from a foreign country are not eligible.
Final-Year Students
Final-year students can apply, but with conditions:
- Your final-year/final-semester result must be declared on or before 1 July 2027. Otherwise you are not eligible.
- You must submit proof of passing, along with all marksheets, to the Directorate General of Recruiting by 1 July 2027.
- You must produce the degree certificate within 12 weeks of starting training at IMA. Otherwise your candidature may be cancelled.
- You will be inducted on an Additional Bond Basis. If you fail to produce the degree, you must repay the training cost, stipend, and pay and allowances.
- To appear for the SSB provisionally, your cumulative percentage up to the 6th semester/3rd year (or 8th semester/4th year of B.Arch, or 2nd semester/1st year of M.Sc) must not be below the approved cut-off for your stream. Your cumulative percentage up to the final semester must also meet the cut-off after results are declared.
Who Cannot Apply
- Candidates withdrawn, dismissed, removed, or invalided out of any defence training academy on disciplinary, administrative, or medical grounds that make them unfit for further service.
- Candidates withdrawn from NDA, IMA, OTA, or the Naval or Air Force Academy on disciplinary grounds.
- Candidates debarred by UPSC from any examination.
- Candidates who have been arrested, convicted, or involved in a criminal case.
Minimum Physical Standards
Candidates must meet these standards before joining the training academy:
| Activity | Minimum Standard |
|---|---|
| 2.4 km Run | 10 minutes 30 seconds |
| Push-ups | 40 |
| Pull-ups | 06 |
| Sit-ups | 30 |
| Squats | Two sets of 30 repetitions |
| Lunges | Two sets of 10 repetitions |
| Swimming | Should know the fundamentals |
Selection Process
- Shortlisting: Integrated HQ of MoD (Army) shortlists applications based on the vacancy-to-call-up ratio for each stream, using a cut-off on cumulative percentage of marks up to the final semester/year.
- SSB centre and date: Shortlisted candidates log in to the website and choose their SSB centre and date on a first-come, first-served basis. Once selected, these generally cannot be changed.
- SSB interview: The SSB is held at Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru, or Jalandhar. It has two stages and lasts up to five days. Those who fail Stage 1 are sent back the same day. Call-up letters go only to your registered email and by SMS.
- Medical examination: Candidates recommended after Stage 2 undergo a medical test. An SSB medical is valid for 270 days, from the Special Medical Board to joining on 1 July 2027.
- Merit list: The list is prepared stream-wise on SSB marks. Ties are broken by age (older ranks higher), then by degree percentage.
- Joining letter: Candidates who are in the merit list, within the vacancies, and medically fit receive joining letters for IMA.
Candidates who are recommended but fall outside their stream’s vacancies may be offered the SSC (Tech) course (October 2027), subject to eligibility and availability of unused vacancies.
Training, Commission and Seniority
- Training duration: About 12 months at IMA Dehradun.
- Commission: Permanent Commission in the rank of Lieutenant on successful completion of training.
- Ante-date seniority: One year from the date of commission, for seniority, promotion, and pay increments.
- Cost of training: Borne by the government. However, cadets withdrawn for reasons other than medical or beyond their control, or those who leave for personal reasons, must refund the cost at a tentative rate of ₹20,481.96 per week.
Salary, Stipend and Allowances
Stipend During Training
Officer cadets receive ₹56,100 per month (the starting pay of Level 10) throughout training at IMA.
Pay After Commission
| Rank | Pay Level | Pay Scale (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | 56,100 – 1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level 10B | 61,300 – 1,93,900 |
| Major | Level 11 | 69,400 – 2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | 1,21,200 – 2,12,400 |
| Colonel | Level 13 | 1,30,600 – 2,15,900 |
| Brigadier | Level 13A | 1,39,600 – 2,17,600 |
| Major General | Level 14 | 1,44,200 – 2,18,200 |
Promotion Timeline
- Captain: after 2 years of reckonable commissioned service
- Major: after 6 years
- Lieutenant Colonel: after 13 years
- Colonel (Time Scale): after 26 years
- Higher ranks are by selection.
Key Allowances and Benefits
- Military Service Pay (MSP): ₹15,500 per month (Lieutenant to Brigadier)
- Dearness Allowance: as applicable to civilian personnel
- Technical Allowance: ₹3,000 (Tier-I) or ₹4,500 (Tier-II) per month
- Dress Allowance: ₹20,000 per year
- Transport Allowance: ₹7,200 per month plus DA in higher-TPTA cities, ₹3,600 plus DA elsewhere
- Children Education Allowance: ₹2,250 per month per child for two eldest children
- Hostel Subsidy: ₹6,750 per month per child for two eldest children
- Ration in kind in peace and field areas
- Field area, high altitude, and risk and hardship allowances as per posting and eligibility
- AGIF insurance cover: ₹1.25 crore for officer cadets (monthly subscription of ₹12,500)
Some allowances apply only as per laid-down qualification and eligibility conditions, and pay and allowances are subject to revision.
How to Apply Online for TGC-145
- Visit www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
- Click Officer Entry Apply/Login, then Registration (skip if already registered). Your Aadhaar number and Matriculation certificate are mandatory for registration.
- After logging in, go to the dashboard and click Apply Online.
- On the Officers Selection “Eligibility” page, click Apply next to Technical Graduate Course.
- Fill in your personal, communication, and education details, plus details of any previous SSB. Click Save & Continue after each section.
- Review the Summary of your information page, then click Submit.
- Click Submit again each time you reopen the form to edit anything.
- Take two printouts of your application, with roll number, 30 minutes after the final closure on the last day.
Tips to avoid rejection:
- Your name, parents’ names, and date of birth must match your Matriculation/Secondary certificate exactly.
- If you have a CGPA/grade system, convert it to marks using your university’s own formula.
- Submit only one application. Multiple applications lead to cancellation.
- No changes are allowed after the window closes.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (TGC-145) | https://www.joinindianarmy.nic.in (Officer Entry Apply/Login) |
| Official Notification (PDF, English and Hindi) | Read Here |
| Official Website | https://www.joinindianarmy.nic.in |
| Medical Standards and Procedures | https://www.joinindianarmy.nic.in |
| Join our Telegram/WhatsApp channel | Join Here |
Documents to Carry to the SSB
Carry originals plus self-attested copies of:
- Application printout, signed, with a self-attested photograph
- Matriculation/Secondary certificate and marksheet (the only accepted proof of date of birth and parents’ names)
- Class 12 certificate and marksheet, or diploma certificate and marksheet
- Engineering degree or provisional degree (not more than 6 months old at joining)
- Marksheets of all semesters/years
- Certificate from the Controller of Examination/Registrar on the CGPA-to-percentage conversion formula
- For final-year candidates: a cumulative percentage certificate up to the 6th semester/3rd year (or the B.Arch/M.Sc equivalent), a certificate from the Principal that results will be declared by 1 July 2027, and the declaration to submit proof of passing
- Civil verification documents
- An affidavit if there is any variation in your name or your parents’ names across documents
- For candidates serving in the Armed Forces, an application countersigned by the Commanding Officer
DigiLocker certificates are not accepted in place of originals. If your institution issues only e-certificates, get a certificate from the Principal/Registrar saying so, and carry a colour printout authenticated by the institution.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 30 September 2026, 3:00 PM |
| Last date to apply | 29 October 2026, 3:00 PM |
| Last date for queries | 3 days before closing |
| Proof of degree/results deadline | 1 July 2027 |
| Course commencement | July 2027 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can final-year students apply?
Yes, as long as the final result will be declared on or before 1 July 2027.
Can women apply for TGC-145?
No. This notification is for unmarried male candidates only.
Is there an application fee?
The notification doesn’t mention any fee.
Can I change my SSB centre or date?
No. Once chosen, change requests are not entertained.
Do I need to send hard copies to DG Recruiting?
No. Keep the printout with you and carry it to the SSB.
