The Indian Army's 10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (TES) lets Class 12 science students train for four years, earn an engineering degree and be commissioned as Lieutenants with a Permanent Commission. It is one of the few officer routes open straight after school.
Many older guides describe TES as "direct SSB on 70% PCM, no exam, training at OTA Gaya". That is not what the latest notification says. The TES-56 notification on joinindianarmy.nic.in (course starting January 2027) needs 60% in Physics, Chemistry and Maths, makes appearing in JEE (Main) 2026 mandatory, and shortlists on JEE Main rank. Training happens at Cadets Training Wings and the Indian Military Academy, not Gaya. This guide walks through that notification, checked on 9 October 2026.
TES-56 at a glance
| Item | What the TES-56 notification says |
|---|---|
| Open to | Unmarried male candidates |
| Education | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths, minimum 60% aggregate in PCM |
| JEE requirement | Must have appeared in JEE (Main) 2026 — mandatory |
| Age | 16½ to 19½ years on 1 January 2027; born not before 1 July 2007 and not after 1 July 2010 (both dates inclusive) |
| Vacancies | 90, provisional and subject to change |
| Application window | 13 May – 12 June 2026, online only |
| Cut-off publication | Tentatively first week of July 2026 |
| SSB | Up to five days, between August and September 2026 |
| Training | 4 years (3 years at a Cadets Training Wing + 1 year at IMA Dehradun) |
| Outcome | Engineering degree and Permanent Commission as Lieutenant |
The TES-56 window has closed. When we checked, we could not open a notification for the next course (TES-57) on the official site, so treat any dates you see elsewhere as unconfirmed until the PDF appears on joinindianarmy.nic.in.
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Continue with Document Verification Checklist – Central and Defence Recruitment₹299 — coaching के एक महीने से काफ़ी सस्ता / far cheaper than a month of coachingEligibility, point by point
Nationality. You must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries intending to settle permanently in India. The last two categories need a Government of India eligibility certificate, except Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
Marital status. You must stay unmarried until training is complete. A candidate who marries after applying will not be selected; one who marries during training is discharged and must refund the cost of training.
Education. The 60% PCM aggregate is calculated on Class 12 marks only. When you fill the form, you must enter your exact PCM percentage to two decimal places without rounding off; a false entry leads to rejection at any stage.
JEE (Main). You must enter your JEE Main 2026 application number (for B.E./B.Tech) in the form, and carry a copy of your JEE Main result to the SSB.
Disqualifications. You must not be debarred by UPSC, must not have been arrested or convicted by a criminal court or be involved in a court case, and must not have been withdrawn from NDA, OTA, IMA or any other service academy on disciplinary grounds.
Date of birth. Only the date recorded on your Class 10 certificate is accepted, and it cannot be changed later.
Worked example: does your PCM score qualify?
Assume a board where each subject is marked out of 100 (illustrative candidates, not real people):
| Candidate | Physics | Chemistry | Maths | PCM total / 300 | PCM % (two decimals, not rounded) | Meets 60%? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 78 | 64 | 71 | 213 | 71.00 | Yes |
| B | 60 | 60 | 60 | 180 | 60.00 | Yes, exactly at the minimum |
| C | 66 | 54 | 59 | 179 | 59.66 | No |
Candidate C's true figure is 59.666…%. Rounding would give 59.67, and loose rounding might even tempt someone to write "60" — but the notification asks for the exact figure to two decimals, so C does not qualify. If your board uses a different maximum per subject, divide your PCM total by the PCM maximum shown on your Class 12 marksheet.
Remember that 60% only makes you eligible to apply. Who actually gets an SSB call depends on the cut-off the Army fixes using JEE Main rank (CRL) and other parameters.
The selection process, step by step
- Apply online on joinindianarmy.nic.in. You can edit your form until the window closes, but must press "submit" each time you edit. The roll-number printout appears about 30 minutes after applications close.
- Shortlisting. Army Headquarters fixes cut-offs based on JEE Main CRL and other laid-down parameters. Shortlisted candidates log in and pick an SSB centre and date on a first-come, first-served basis.
- SSB interview. Conducted at Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru or Jalandhar by a psychologist, a group testing officer and an interviewing officer. It is a two-stage process over five days; candidates who do not clear Stage I return the same day.
- Medical examination at a military hospital for those recommended after Stage II.
- Merit list and joining letters. The merit list uses only SSB marks. Recommended, medically fit candidates get joining letters in merit order, subject to vacancies.
Documents to carry to the SSB
- Two printouts of the online application with roll number (one self-attested copy goes to the selection centre).
- Original Class 10 certificate and marksheet showing date of birth.
- Original Class 12 pass certificate and marksheet.
- Original ID proof and a copy of your JEE (Main) 2026 result.
- Two sets of self-attested photocopies of these, plus 20 self-attested passport-size photographs.
DigiLocker certificates are not accepted in place of originals. If your school issued only an e-certificate, you need a certificate from the principal or registrar saying so, along with an authenticated colour printout.
Training, degree and corps
| Cadets Training Wing (Phase I, 3 years) | Degree stream | Parent arm or service |
|---|---|---|
| CTW, CME Pune | Civil and Mechanical Engineering | Corps of Engineers |
| CTW, MCTE Mhow | Telecom and IT Engineering (dual degree) | Corps of Signals |
| CTW, MCEME Secunderabad | Electrical and Mechanical Engineering | Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers |
Phase II is one year at IMA Dehradun. You must list all three CTWs in order of preference, but the Army decides the final allocation and the choice cannot be changed. The degree is awarded after four years; a maximum of two relegations on academic grounds is allowed. If you withdraw or resign for personal reasons, the training cost is recovered — the notification quotes ₹13,940 per week (as on 2021).
Physical standards on arrival for training
| Activity | Minimum standard (male officer cadet) |
|---|---|
| 2.4 km run | 10 min 30 sec |
| Push-ups | 40 |
| Pull-ups | 6 |
| Sit-ups | 30 |
| Squats | 2 sets of 30 |
| Lunges | 2 sets of 10 |
| Swimming | Should know the fundamentals |
These apply when you report, so start building them during the months between SSB and joining.
Pay, stipend and promotions
- Stipend: ₹56,100 a month, paid only during the final year at IMA (after three years of training).
- On commission: Lieutenant, Level 10 of the pay matrix (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500), plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 a month. The notification's summary estimates cost to company at roughly ₹17–18 lakh a year.
- Time-based promotions: Captain after 2 years of reckonable commissioned service, Major after 6, Lieutenant Colonel after 13, and Colonel (Time Scale) after 26. Higher ranks are by selection.
- Insurance during training: a ₹30 lakh Army Group Insurance cover for the first three years on a one-time premium of ₹14,000.
Commissioned officers are liable to serve for ten years, though the commission can be terminated earlier on grounds listed in the notification.
TES or NDA?
Both are officer routes for Class 12 students, but they filter differently. TES shortlists on JEE Main and PCM eligibility, then goes to SSB, and only PCM students qualify. NDA requires clearing UPSC's written examination before the SSB. If you are eligible for both, preparing for both keeps two doors open; our NDA preparation guide covers that route.
Checklist before the next TES window
- Write JEE Main seriously — your rank decides whether you get an SSB call.
- Calculate your PCM percentage to two decimals from your Class 12 marksheet.
- Check your date of birth against the window in the new notification.
- Keep original certificates ready (not DigiLocker copies).
- Start physical training to the arrival standards above.
- Read the full notification PDF; for TES-56, the summary table and age clause both point to the January 2027 course, even though one inner page heading prints "July 2026".
- Apply only on joinindianarmy.nic.in; there is no need to post any printout to Army Headquarters.