The Indian Army has opened online applications for the 145th Technical Graduate Course (TGC-145), one of the most prestigious officer entries in the Indian Armed Forces. Announced through the Directorate General of Recruiting, Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army), this recruitment offers 30 tentative vacancies for unmarried male engineering graduates who will train at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun for the course commencing in July 2027. The online application window runs from 30 September 2026 (3:00 PM) to 29 October 2026 (3:00 PM) on the official portal www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Unlike most Sarkari Naukri 2026 notifications, there is no written examination and no application fee — selection is through shortlisting on engineering marks, the SSB interview, and medical examination, leading to a Permanent Commission as a Lieutenant on successful completion of training.

Quick Overview

Vacancy Break-up (Stream-wise)

The 30 indicative vacancies are distributed across six engineering streams as follows:

Candidates must ensure their degree title matches the notified equivalent stream — a high percentage in a branch that is not on the equivalent-stream list does not make the application valid. Read the detailed notification's stream-equivalence list carefully before applying.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: Must be a citizen of India (standard condition for defence officer entries).
• Gender and marital status: Only unmarried male candidates are eligible for TGC-145. Married candidates and women candidates cannot apply through this entry.
• Educational qualification: Candidates must hold a BE/B.Tech degree in a notified engineering stream, or an M.Sc in Computer Science. Candidates in the final year of their degree may also apply, subject to producing proof of passing by the date specified in the detailed notification — do not assume "appearing" is automatically enough.
• Age limit: 20 to 27 years as on 01 July 2027. Candidates must have been born between 01 July 2000 and 30 June 2007 (both dates inclusive).
• Age relaxation: The notification does not specify any age relaxation — the 20 to 27 year band applies to all candidates. Verify the detailed notice for any update.
• Physical and medical standards: Candidates must meet the Army's prescribed physical and medical standards, assessed at the medical examination stage after SSB recommendation.

Application Fee

There is no application fee for Indian Army TGC-145 Recruitment 2026 — candidates of all categories are exempted from paying any fee.

Selection Process

TGC-145 follows the classic defence officer-entry pipeline. There is no written examination:

1. Shortlisting of applications: Applications are shortlisted on the basis of eligibility and the candidate's cumulative percentage in the engineering degree. Only shortlisted candidates are called for the SSB interview — so your degree marks directly decide whether you get the call-up.
2. SSB interview (two stages): Shortlisted candidates report to one of the Services Selection Board centres — Prayagraj (UP), Bhopal (MP), Bengaluru (Karnataka) or Jalandhar (Punjab). Stage I covers screening (OIR tests and PP&DT); candidates who clear it proceed to Stage II (psychology tests, group tasks and the personal interview), ending with the conference.
3. Medical examination: SSB-recommended candidates undergo a thorough medical examination as per Army standards.
4. Merit list: The final merit list is prepared from SSB performance (and medical fitness), and selected candidates join the course at IMA Dehradun.
5. Document verification: Original documents — degree certificates, age proof, and category/domicile documents — are verified before joining.

Salary and Pay Scale

On successful completion of the ~12-month training at IMA Dehradun, cadets are commissioned as Lieutenant with an initial Short Service Commission on probation, followed by Permanent Commission. The pay scale for a Lieutenant is Pay Level-10: Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500, plus Military Service Pay and allowances admissible to Army officers (Dearness Allowance, accommodation/ HRA as applicable, and other service benefits).

Important Dates

How to Apply

1. Visit the official website www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
2. Click on "Officer Entry Apply / Login". New users must complete the one-time Registration; existing users can log in directly.
3. From the dashboard, choose Apply Online and select Technical Graduate Course (TGC-145) July 2027.
4. Fill in personal details, communication address, educational qualifications with the correct engineering stream, and previous SSB details, if any.
5. Upload the required documents (photograph, signature, degree/provisional certificates) in the prescribed format and size.
6. Review the complete application summary carefully using Save & Continue at each section, then submit the form on or before 29 October 2026, 3:00 PM — late submissions are rejected.
7. Take a printout of the submitted application and the system-generated roll number for future reference, especially for the SSB call-up.

Important Links

Career Progression for a TGC Officer

A TGC cadet becomes a Lieutenant after IMA training, and the Army's officer career ladder then opens in sequence: Captain (about 2 years), Major (about 6 years), Lieutenant Colonel (about 13 years), Colonel, Brigadier, Major General, Lieutenant General and beyond. Technical officers also receive a Post Graduate degree during training at IMA — a hallmark of the TGC entry that converts a B.Tech into a postgraduate qualification along with the officer's commission. Beyond the uniform, the Army career brings accommodation, medical facilities for the family, canteen privileges, and a pension/pro-rata gratuity framework depending on the type of commission — all of which make TGC one of the most coveted engineering entries in India.

FAQs

Q1. What is the last date to apply for Indian Army TGC-145 2026?
The last date is 29 October 2026, up to 3:00 PM. Applications close at 1500 hours, not midnight.

Q2. How many vacancies are there in TGC-145?
There are 30 tentative vacancies: Civil 8, Computer Science 6, Mechanical 6, Electronics 6, Electrical 2, and miscellaneous engineering streams 2.

Q3. Who is eligible for TGC-145?
Unmarried male candidates with a BE/B.Tech in a notified engineering stream or an M.Sc in Computer Science, aged 20 to 27 years as on 01 July 2027.

Q4. Can final-year engineering students apply?
Final-year candidates may apply subject to the conditions in the detailed notification, including producing proof of passing by the stipulated date.

Q5. Is there any application fee?
No. There is no application fee for any category.

Q6. Is there a written exam in TGC-145?
No. Selection is through shortlisting on engineering marks, the two-stage SSB interview, medical examination and a final merit list.

Q7. Where will the training be held?
At the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, for about 12 months, for the course commencing July 2027.

Q8. What rank and pay will I get after training?
On successful completion of training you are commissioned as a Lieutenant in Pay Level-10 (Rs. 56,100 - Rs. 1,77,500), with Short Service Commission on probation followed by Permanent Commission.

Q9. Where are the SSB interviews held?
At Prayagraj (UP), Bhopal (MP), Bengaluru (Karnataka) or Jalandhar (Punjab).

Q10. Can women or married candidates apply for TGC-145?
No. This entry is open only to unmarried male candidates.

Always read the official notification on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in before applying, and follow Job Ready Portal for the latest Sarkari Naukri 2026 updates, results, admit cards and answer keys.