Indian Army TGC 145 Recruitment 2026: Official Notification Out, Apply Online, Branch-Wise Vacancies & Selection Scheme

The Indian Army has officially released the recruitment advertisement for the 145th Technical Graduate Course (TGC-145) for course commencement in July 2027 at the premier Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.

This prestigious officer-entry scheme provides unmarried male engineering graduates and final-year B.E./B.Tech students a direct avenue to receive a Permanent Commission as a Lieutenant in the regular Army.

As of October 1, 2026, the online application window for TGC-145 is active on joinindianarmy.nic.in from September 30, 2026 to October 29, 2026. Concurrently, candidates who applied for the preceding TGC-144 cycle (January 2027 course) are attending their 5-day Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews nationwide.

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1. Quick Reality Check: TGC 145 vs TGC 144

Candidates frequently confuse the two active cohorts operating in 2026. The table below delineates the exact operational reality:

Parameter	TGC-145 (Current Fresh Entry)	TGC-144 (Previous Ongoing Entry)
Course Commencing	July 2027 at IMA Dehradun	January 2027 at IMA Dehradun
Notification Date	September 30, 2026 (Official Release)	May 13, 2026
Application Window	September 30 – October 29, 2026 (Active Now)	May 13 – June 11, 2026 (Closed)
Current Operational Stage	Online Applications Open (joinindianarmy.nic.in)	SSB Interviews Active / Merit Underway
Age Eligibility Benchmark	20 to 27 Years as on 01 July 2027	20 to 27 Years as on 01 January 2027
Born Between	02 July 2000 to 01 July 2007	02 January 2000 to 01 January 2007
Proof of Passing Degree	Must produce proof by 01 July 2027	Must produce proof by 01 January 2027

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2. Examination & Recruitment Overview (TGC-145)

Parameter	Official Details
Recruitment Entry	145th Technical Graduate Course (TGC-145)
Conducting Authority	Indian Army (Directorate General of Recruiting)
Commission Type	Permanent Commission in the Regular Army
Initial Rank upon Commission	Lieutenant (Level 10 Pay Matrix)
Tentative Vacancies	30 Vacancies (Across Core Engineering Disciplines)
Target Candidate Profile	Unmarried Male Engineering Graduates & Final Year Students
Application Fee	₹0 (Nil for all candidates)
Selection Mode	Direct SSB Shortlisting based on B.Tech Marks $\rightarrow$ 5-Day SSB $\rightarrow$ Medicals
Training Academy	Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
Training Duration	49 Weeks (approx. 1 Year)
Official Portal	joinindianarmy.nic.in

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3. Engineering Stream-Wise Vacancy Distribution (TGC-145)

The Indian Army has notified 30 tentative vacancies across primary engineering domains. The stream-wise allocation is as follows:

Engineering Stream / Core Discipline	Equivalent Recognized Degree Disciplines	Tentative Vacancies
Civil Engineering	Civil Engg, Civil Engg (Structural Engg), Building Construction Technology	07
Computer Science & IT	Computer Science, Computer Technology, M.Sc Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engg	07
Mechanical Engineering	Mechanical Engg, Mechanical & Automation, Production Engg, Industrial Engg, Automobile Engg	07
Electrical Engineering	Electrical Engg, Electrical & Electronics, Power System Engg, Electrical & Instrumentation	03
Electronics & Telecommunication	Electronics & Telecom, Electronics & Communication, Applied Electronics, Fibre Optics	04
Miscellaneous Engineering	Aeronautical, Aerospace, Avionics, Architecture, Metallurgy, Chemical Engg	02
Total Notified Posts	—	30 Vacancies

Note: Vacancies are tentative and subject to change based on actual organizational requirements of the Indian Army.

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4. Rigorous Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualifications

1. Passed Degree Holders: Candidates must possess a recognised B.E. / B.Tech Degree from an AICTE/UGC recognized university or institute in the specified engineering stream.
2. Final Year Engineering Students: Candidates currently studying in their final year of the engineering degree course are eligible to apply, provided:
   • They have no backlogs/arrears at the time of appearing for the SSB interview.
   • They are able to submit proof of having passed the engineering degree examination along with mark sheets of all semesters to the Directorate General of Recruiting by July 1, 2027.
3. Equivalence of Streams: Candidates must ensure their engineering discipline degree title strictly matches the approved equivalents listed in the official notification.

Age Limit & Date of Birth Range

• Age Criterion: Strictly 20 to 27 years as on July 1, 2027.
• Permissible Birth Dates: Candidates must have been born between July 2, 2000 and July 1, 2007 (both dates inclusive).
• No Age Concession: Under defense officer entries, no age concessions are available for SC, ST, OBC, or EWS candidates.

Marital Status & Gender

• Only unmarried male candidates are eligible.
• Candidates must undertake not to marry until they complete the full 49-week military training at IMA Dehradun. A candidate who marries subsequent to the date of his application will not be selected for training.

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5. Direct Selection Process Architecture (No Written Examination)

Unlike CDS or AFCAT, the Technical Graduate Course has no written test. Entry is governed purely by technical academic merit, personality assessment, and medical fitness:

[Online Application Submission on joinindianarmy.nic.in]
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    [Shortlisting via Engineering Cut-off Percentage]
  • Calculated up to 6th semester for final year students
  • Calculated up to 8th semester for degree graduates
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      [Direct 5-Day SSB Interview (Stage I & II)]
  • Selection Centres: Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru, Jalandhar
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       [Special Medical Board (SMB) Examination]
  • Conducted at designated Military Hospitals
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           [All-India Final Merit List]
  • Based purely on SSB marks among medically fit candidates
                       │
                       ▼
   [Joining Instructions & Training at IMA Dehradun]

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6. The 5-Day Services Selection Board (SSB) Protocol

Shortlisted candidates receive call-up letters with an active link to select their preferred SSB center and dates. The 5-day evaluation rigorously tests 15 Officer-Like Qualities (OLQs) across three independent assessment techniques:

                          5-Day SSB Evaluation Architecture
                                         │
        ┌────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────┐
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[Stage I: Screening (Day 1)]                                 [Stage II: Final Assessment (Days 2–5)]
• Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR)                          • Psychological Tests (TAT, WAT, SRT, SD)
• Picture Perception & Discussion (PPDT)                     • Group Testing Officer (GTO) Outdoor Tasks
• Screening results declared same day                        • Personal Interview with President/Deputy
• Non-screened candidates return home                        • Board Conference & Final Recommendation

Day-by-Day SSB Breakdown

• Day 1 (Reporting & Screening):
  • OIR Test: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning test.
  • PPDT: Viewing a hazy picture for 30 seconds, writing a narrative story in 4 minutes, followed by individual narration and group discussion.
  • Screening Result: Recommended candidates proceed to Stage II; others are screened out.
• Day 2 (Psychological Testing):
  • Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): 11 ambiguous pictures + 1 blank slide (4 minutes per story).
  • Word Association Test (WAT): 60 words displayed for 15 seconds each.
  • Situation Reaction Test (SRT): 60 real-life dilemmas to be resolved in 30 minutes.
  • Self Description (SD): Assessment of personal strengths and weaknesses from perspectives of parents, teachers, friends, and self.
• Days 3 & 4 (Group Testing Officer - GTO Tasks):
  • Group Discussions (GD) and Group Planning Exercise (GPE).
  • Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), and Final Group Task (FGT).
  • Individual Obstacles (IO) - 10 physical obstacles of varying point values.
  • Command Task and Snake Race (Group Obstacle Race).
  • Lecturette (3-minute impromptu presentation).
• Day 2 to 4 (Personal Interview):
  • Conducted by the Interviewing Officer (IO) focusing on education, technical knowledge, family, hobbies, general awareness, and military motivation.
• Day 5 (Board Conference):
  • Collective review by all assessors, declaration of recommended candidates, followed by the Special Medical Board (SMB).

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7. How to Apply Online for TGC-145 (Step-by-Step)

Follow these authoritative steps to submit your application on joinindianarmy.nic.in:

[Visit joinindianarmy.nic.in] ──► [Enter Captcha to access Homepage]
                                               │
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                         [Click "Officer Entry Apply / Login"]
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                                               ▼
                      [New Registration OR Login with Credentials]
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                         [Click "Apply Online" on Dashboard]
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             [Select "Technical Graduate Course - TGC 145" Apply Link]
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               [Fill Personal Details, Contact Info & Communication]
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            [Enter Semester-Wise Marks / CGPA conversion to Percentage]
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            [Upload Passport Photo (10-20 KB) & Signature (10-20 KB)]
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               [Submit Application (Free of Cost) & Print 2 Copies]

[!WARNING] CGPA Conversion Formula: Candidates studying under CGPA/grades must strictly convert their score into equivalent percentage as per the formula authorized by their university/institute. An authentic conversion certificate issued by the University Registrar / Controller of Examinations must be produced during the SSB interview.

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8. Training, Rank, Pay Matrix & Perks

Selected officer cadets undergo rigorous military transformation at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun:

• Training Academy: Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.
• Duration of Training: 49 Weeks.
• Cost of Training: Fully borne by the Government of India.
• Cadet Stipend During Training: ₹56,100 per month (Pay Level 10 benchmark starting amount).
• Commissioning Rank: Lieutenant upon successful completion of training.

Pay Matrix & Allowances on Commissioning

Component	Official Entitlement
Pay Level	Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500)
Military Service Pay (MSP)	₹15,500 per month (Fixed)
Dearness Allowance (DA)	Central Government benchmark rates
Field Area / High Altitude Allowance	Dependent on posting terrain (₹10,500 – ₹25,000/mo)
Dress & Flying/Technical Allowance	Annual dress allowance ₹20,000; applicable technical perks
Approximate Monthly Gross Pay	₹90,000 – ₹1,15,000+ per month
Additional Facilities	CSD Canteen facilities, ECHS Military Healthcare, Officer Mess accommodation, 60 days Annual Leave + 20 days Casual Leave.

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9. Official Resources Hub

Resource	Official Destination
Recruitment Portal	joinindianarmy.nic.in
Officer Entry Application Gateway	Join Indian Army Officer Login
SSB Date Selection Dashboard	JIA Candidate Profile Login
Recruiting Directorate Helpline	Tele: 011-26173215 / 011-26175473
Official Address	Directorate General of Recruiting, AG's Branch, IHQ of MoD (Army), West Block-III, RK Puram, New Delhi - 110066

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10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What engineering cutoff percentage is required to get an SSB call for TGC?

Cutoff percentages vary each cycle by engineering discipline. Historically, Civil and Mechanical streams typically observe cutoffs around 60% to 70%, while Computer Science & IT streams frequently observe cutoffs between 72% and 80%. Cutoffs are declared separately for each stream by the Additional Directorate General of Recruiting.

Can women engineers apply for the Technical Graduate Course?

No. TGC is strictly an entry for unmarried male engineers granting a Permanent Commission. Women engineering graduates can apply for the Short Service Commission Tech Women (SSC Tech Women) entry, which is notified separately by the Indian Army twice a year.

Is an application fee charged for TGC 145?

No. The Indian Army does not charge any application fee for TGC entries. Applications are submitted 100% free of charge on joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Where are the Indian Army SSB selection centres located?

SSB interviews for TGC entry are conducted at four primary Selection Centres:

1. Selection Centre East (Prayagraj / Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh
2. Selection Centre Central (Bhopal), Madhya Pradesh
3. Selection Centre South (Bengaluru), Karnataka
4. Selection Centre North (Jalandhar / Kapurthala), Punjab