which conducts staff course for the selected officers of the three services and also the officers
from the central civil services. In addition, defence officers from friendly foreign countries also
subscribe to the Staff Course conducted by the college. The officers passing out from DSSC are
awarded Master of Science (MSc) in Defence and Strategic Studies from Chennai University.
Relevant Website: www.dssc.gov.in
National Defence Academy
National Defence Academy (NDA) is a premier tri-service institution which trains cadets of
all three services before inducting them into their respective pre-commissioning training
academies. Intake to NDA is organised through UPSC examination which is conducted twice in
a year in the month of April and September. Applicants are required to be XII Standard pass and
in the age bracket of 16 1/2 to 19 1/2 years at the time of joining. The three years course at NDA
is covered in six semesters and cadets are awarded with BA/ BSc Degree. On conclusion of this
training the cadets proceed to their respective Service Academies for further service specific
training before being commissioned as officers in the Armed Forces.
Relevant Website: www.nda.nic.in
Indian Military Academy
Founded in 1932, Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun aims at the fullest
development of intellectual, moral and physical qualities of persons joining the Army as officers.
The various modes of entry into IMA are: (a) on graduation from NDA.; (b) on graduation from
Army Cadet College, which is a wing of the IMA itself.; (c) direct entry graduate cadets, who
qualify the Union Public Service Commission Exam and get through the Service Selection
Board.; (d) for Technical Graduate’s Course (TGC).; (e) under university entry scheme (UES)
for engineering college students in Final/ Pre-Final year of studies. The IMA also imparts
training to Gentlemen Cadets from friendly countries.
Officers Training Academy
Established in 1963, the Officers Training School (OTS) was re-designated as Officers
Training Academy (OTA) from 1988 on completion of 25 years of its existence. Its main task,
before 1965 was to train Gentlemen Cadets for grant of Emergency Commission. From 1965
onwards, the Academy trains cadets for Short Service Commission. With the entry of women
officers in the Army since 1992, around 100 lady officers now get commissioned from OTA
every year in Army Service Corps, Judge Advocate General’s Department, Corps of Engineers,
Signals and Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Officers Training Academy
The Academy was commissioned in 2011. The training capacity as of now is around 400
gentlemen cadets. The capacity will be progressively built up to a strength of 750 gentlemen
cadets. OTA, Gaya imparts training for the following: (a) 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme; (b)
Special Commissioned Officers;
The OTA, Gaya also imparts training to Gentlemen Cadets from friendly countries.
National Cadet Corps
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) was established in 1948 as an Indian military cadet corps.