Indian Navy Officer Career Information
Did you as a kid make paper boats and set them sailing in the shallow waters? Don't you find the smart, crisp-white uniforms of the sailors fascinating? Do you want to glide into that uniform, command the respect of many and laugh all the way to the bank? If you are ready to set sail and navigate the choppy waters this is what you need to know about the Indian navy…
What an Indian Navy Officer does
The Navy is responsible for defending the extensive Indian coastline in times of aggression. In peacetime, they safeguard maritime interests. The Navy operates a vast fleet of destroyers, freights, corvettes, submarines and other support vessels. It also safeguards offshore oil and gas installations, coastal shipping, and fishery rights and protects important trade links.
Careers in the navy are distinguished into the following branches:
Executive Branch As an Executive Officer you will play a vital role in this complex system of managing the ship and using the instruments of tactical warfare. You'll be trained in sub-specializations like anti-submarine warfare, navigation, communications, gunnery, logistics, diving and hydrography. You could also opt for the air or submarine arm.
Within this branch, your promotional chances are not affected by your choice of sub-specialisation. For instance, the Commanding Officer of a destroyer could have been a pilot and that of a guided missile frigate, a submarine sub-specialist.
Aviation Officer The Navy uses its pilots and observers as airborne tactical co-ordinators of marine warfare. Most Navy pilots fly ship borne helicopters and shore based maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Some elite pilots also fly jet aircraft like the Sea Harrier. In a nutshell, you will locate and attack enemy ships, submarines and bases and also carry out search and rescue operations.
Submarine Officer You will be a hunter - silently stalking your prey. Here your task is to attack ships and submarines and disappear into the great depths of the ocean. Differentiating night from day would be difficult and you will also learn the importance of space. You will be the proud possessor of the 'Dolphin Badge' and a member of the elite arm of the Navy.
Hydrographic Officer Your job consists of collecting information needed for the navigation charts used by the Indian
Navy. You could remain a Surveyor throughout your career or move on to other shore-based appointments.
Naval Armament Inspection Officer You'll be responsible for the inspection, safety and reliability of the armaments supplied to the Navy by various agencies. You'll also be involved in in-house research and development.
Provost Officer & Law Officer You'll deal with the policing, regulatory, security and vigilance needs of the Navy. Similarly, as the Law Officer you'll deal with the legal needs of the Navy.
Logistics Officer Whether at sea or on shore, the Logistics Officer plays a vital role in the smooth functioning of the ship. You will have to ensure that the community of several hundred people on the ship are fed, clothed and paid. You will also handle matters such as requirements of fuel, water and spares for the vast array of sophisticated equipment and machinery.
Engineering Branch Most of the modern ships, submarines and aircraft have advanced technology, machinery and propulsion systems. The Engineer Officer is responsible for keeping these systems serviceable. Opportunities to work in shore jobs in naval dockyards and indigenous production units also exist.
As a Naval architect you will be involved in design, construction, quality control, repair and new construction work of naval vessels.
Electrical Branch A warship is a mini-floating city with a state-of-the-art power generating system. As an Electrical Officer you will ensure that these machines function at their optimum. This is essential for the smooth sail of the ship. Officers of the Engineering and Electrical Branches can also volunteer for the Aviation/Submarine Arm
Education Branch Education Officers play a major role in updating officers on the technical knowledge and raising their academic levels. Officers in this branch can specialise in meteorology and oceanography.
Job Opportunity
The vacancies in the Indian Navy are advertised in the Employment News and other national and regional newspapers and dailies.
Selection for all Permanent Commission entries is through a written examination conducted by the UPSC, followed by an interview by the Service Selection Board (SSB). There is no written examination for the Short Service Commission entries.
The students opting for 10+2 (Tech) cadet entry or NCC special entry (Graduate) are eligible for direct selection by SSB. The applicants are short-listed as per the criteria laid down by the Naval Headquarters. Officers can opt for Permanent Commission on completion of the Short Service Commission.
Career Prospects
The Navy has Short Service Commission for a minimum of seven years, which can be extended up to 10 years. Permanent Commission lasts up to a minimum of 20 years.
Women officers are being inducted into Law, Logistics, Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and education branches of the Indian navy. However, women are admitted only in Short Service Commission.
Officers in the Navy can easily switch over to the Merchant Navy or take up off shore management jobs in shipping companies such as the Shipping Corporation of India.
Abilities & Traits Required
The most important requirement here of course is love for your motherland. Apart from that you must be a citizen of India. Citizen of Bhutan, Nepal, Tibetan refugees or migrants from the rest of the Indian subcontinent with the intention of settling permanently in India can also apply.
To be in the Indian Navy, you must be physically fit and free from any disease/disability and excess fat. Throughout ones career in the Indian Navy you will indulge in sports and adventure activities- not so common in other office jobs. E.g.: one year you will be climbing Mt. Everest and the next year you might be on an expedition to Antarctica.
Qualifications
The minimum acceptable height is 157.5 cm. For Gurkhas and residents of north-eastern India, Garhwal and Kumaon, the minimum acceptable height is 5 cm lower than the standard, and for candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum height is lowered by 2 cm.
• Candidates must be able to read 6/6 in a distant vision chart with each eye, with or without glasses.
• Besides these general conditions, each training institute and exam has its own standards and requirements. There is a separate screening process for women.
The following are the various modes of entry:
Executive Branch
• NDA (National Defence Academy)-Permanent Commission
• Age: Men in the age group of 16 ½-19 years
• Education: 10+2 or equivalent with Physics Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Mode of Selection: Written examination followed by SSB interview and medical examination.
Naval Academy
• 10+2 entry (Permanent Commission)
• Age: men in the age group16 ½-19
• Education: 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry & Maths
• Mode of Selection: Written examination followed by SSB interview and medical examination.
Graduate Special Entry (Permanent Commission)
• Age: men in the age group of 19-22 years
• Education: B.E.
• Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extracurricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
N.C.C
• Special Entry (Permanent commission)
• Age: men in the age group of 19-24 years
• Education: B.Sc. (Physics & Maths) or BE with Naval Wing Senior Div. NCC (National Cadet Corps) 'C' Certificate.
• Mode of selection: Direct SSB interview followed by medical examinations.
Naval Armament
• Inspection Cadre (Permanent commission)
• Age: men in the age group of 19 ½-25 years
• Education: Degree in Electronics / Elect / Mech. Engg or Post Graduate Degree
• Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extracurricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by Medical examination.
Law
• Cadre (Permanent Commission)
• Age: Men in the age group of 22-27 years.
• Education: A degree in Law with minimum 55 per cent marks
• Mode of Selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extra-curricular achievements. Candidates are then called for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
Law
• Cadre (Short Service Commission)
• Age: Men & Women in the age group of 21-25 years.
• Education: A degree in Law with minimum 55 per cent marks
• Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extracurricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
Logistics
• Cadre: (Short Service Commission)
• Age: Men & Women in the age group of 21-25 years
• Education: IInd Class B.Sc. graduate with minimum 50 per cent marks with Physics and Maths
• Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extracurricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
Education
• Branch (Permanent Commission)
• Age: Men and women in the age group of 21-25 years
• Education: A Master's Degree in the following, with at least 55 per cent marks Physics (with Maths in BSc)
• Maths (with Physics in BSc)
• Chemistry (with Physics & Maths in BSc)
• Computer Application/Computer Science (with either Physics or Maths at Graduation level)
• Humanities (BA English/ BA Economics/ BA History/ BA Political Science)
• Engineering Degree in Mechanics/Electronic/Computer Science
• Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extracurricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
Technical Branch
Engineering
• Branch (Marine Engineers)
• 10+2 (Tech) Cadet Entry-Permanent Commission
• Age: Men in the age group of 16½-19 years.
• Education: 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry & Maths (min 70 per cent marks in aggregate of PCM, min 50 per cent marks in English either in 10th or 12th class)
• Mode of selection: Written examination followed by SSB interview and medical examination.
Engineering
• Branch (Marine Engineers)-Short Service Commission
• Age: Men in the age group 19 ½-25 years.
• Education: A BE Marine Engineering, BE Mechanical, BE Aeronautical Engineering BE Metallurgical Engineering, BE Production Engineering, BTech Marine Engineering, BTech Mechanical, BTech Aeronautical Engineering, BTech Metallurgical Engineering, BTechProduction Engineering
Engineering or any other qualification recognised by the Institution of Engineers (India) as equivalent to a degree course.
Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extra-curricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
Direct Entry (Permanent Commission)
• Age: Men in the age group of 19½-25 years.
• Education: A degree in Marine/Mech./Aeronautical/Control/Metallurgical Production Engineering or any other qualification recognised by the Institution of Engineers (India) as equivalent to a degree course.
• Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extracurricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
NDA Entry (Permanent Commission)
• Age: Men in the age group of 16 ½-19 years.
• Education: 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry & Maths
• Mode of selection: Written examination followed by SSB interview and Medical examination.
Engineering Branch (Naval Architects)
• Direct Entry (Permanent commission)
• Age: Men in the age group of 21-25 years.
• Education: A degree in Naval Architecture/Mech/Aeronautical/ Civil/Metallurgical Engineering.
• Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extra-curricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
• 10+2 (Tech)-Cadet Entry-Permanent commission
• Age: Men in the age group of 16 ½-19 years
• 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry & Maths (min 70% marks in aggregate of PCM, min 50% marks in English either in 10th or 12th class
• Mode of Selection: Written examination followed by SSB interview and Medical examination.
Electrical Branch
• 10+2 (Tech) Cadet Entry-permanent commission
• Age: Men in the age group16½-19 years
• 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Maths (min 70 per cent marks in aggregate of PCM, min 50 per cent marks in English either in 10th or 12th class.
Direct Entry-permanent commission
• Age: Men in the age group of 19½-25 years
• Education: A Degree in BE Electronic Engineering, BE Avionics Engineering, BE Computer Engineering, BE Telecommunication Enggineering, BTech Electronic Engineering, BTech Avionics Engineering, BTech Computer Engineering, BTech Telecommunication Engineering or any other qualification recognised by the Institution of Engineers (India) or Institution of
Telecommunication Engineers (India) as equivalent to a degree course.
Mode of selection: Short-listing on the basis of academic and extracurricular achievements. Candidates are then called in for SSB interview followed by medical examination.
Cadet Entry (NDA)-permanent commission
• Age: Men in the age group of 16½-19 years.
• Education: 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry & Maths
• Mode of selection: Written examination followed by SSB interview and medical examination.
Salary
• Sub Lieutenant - Rs 8250-10050
• Lieutenant - Rs 10000-11800
• Lieutenant Commander/Commander - Rs 12800-16050
• Commander - Rs 15100-18700
• Captain (with less than 3 years service) - Rs 17100-20450
• Commodore/Captain (with more than 3 years service) - Rs 19100-20450
• Rear Admiral - Rs 18400-22400
• Vice Admiral - Rs 22400-24500
• VCNS/FOC-in-C of Naval Command - Rs 26,000
• Chief of the Naval Staff - Rs 30,000
There are numerous allowances for different specializations and qualifications such as flying pay, submarine allowance, diving allowance, expatriation allowance, uniform allowance, etc and various qualification grants for specialist and post-graduate courses.
There are also a number of privileges exclusive to this profession - medical facilities, housing, rations, leave travel allowance, insurance cover etc. All these add up to a very attractive pay package.