Defence aspirants facing CDS/NDA written exams face another major hurdle after passing written exams: the Service Selection Board interview process. Over five days, candidates undergo screening tests, psychological evaluation, outdoor tasks and personal interviews before receiving their results from this process.
On the final day, all assessors (including president and deputy president ) meet together to decide whether a candidate should be recommended or not.
Day 1
After successfully passing one of the written exams for NDA, CDS, AFCAT or direct entry schemes such as TES or TGC etc, candidates are invited by Staff Selection Board (SSB) for interview. A call letter is issued containing details regarding their interview date and venue which usually takes place 1-2 months following written exams.
On day one, candidates should report to an SSB center and complete various preliminary formalities, including verification of documents, medical examination and filling out PIQ forms. On day two, psychometric tests will begin which delve deeper into an applicant’s personality and psychology; such assessments include leadership qualities such as stress management and achievement motivation.
The next two days are comprised of group tests administered by GTOs and individual interviews conducted by assessors. GTOs conduct tasks including group planning, progressive and group obstacle exercises as well as command tasks. Individual interviews consist of personal information questionnaires filled out by candidates as well as general knowledge questions related to defense-related general knowledge topics; during an assessment interview the assessors evaluate communication skills, body language and overall expressiveness during this evaluation process.
Day 2
Once candidates have passed written tests for CDS, NDA, AFCAT and other direct entry exams like INET or NET, they must pass the SSB interview process in order to join the Indian Armed Forces. This five day process includes psychological tests, group tests and a conference; everything in this interview process follows ancient Indian wisdom of Mansa Vacha Karmana in terms of simultaneously evaluating thoughts, words and deeds for leadership effectiveness.
On the first day of an interview, candidates must pass two tests: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) and Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT). Only those who perform well on these assessments are then invited to continue onto subsequent rounds with the Service Selection Board (SSB).
On the second day, candidates meet with an interviewing officer for a personal interview to be conducted. During this meeting, questions about personal details as well as communication abilities will be evaluated by this interviewing officer. Also observed is whether candidates speak confidently while maintaining positive attitudes under stress or adverse situations. On the final day of SSB interviews is the final conference where all officers involved gather to review candidate performances and make their final decision on who will move on in the selection process.
Day 3
Defence aspirants who have passed written exams such as CDS, NDA or AFCAT and are seeking Direct Entry must go through the SSB interview process. This 5-day evaluation involves various psychological tests, group tasks and interviews designed to gauge officer potential.
Day three begins with a series of group exercises designed to simulate real-life situations and evaluate leadership, delegation and conflict resolution under stress. Candidates also design and execute an obstacle course as an endurance test. Finally, their final task involves leading their team through an unaccompanied command task with no instructions provided – all completed under time constraints.
Once candidates complete group tests, they are evaluated in personal interviews – this involves an assessment based on factors including subject knowledge, presence of mind, communication skills and personality traits. Candidates also get the opportunity to express their passion for military life during this interview phase – those selected will receive commissions in the Indian Armed forces while any who fail will be eliminated from consideration.
Day 4
On this day, candidates are evaluated based on their performance in psychological tests, group testing activities and personal interviews administered by SSB assessors. Their goal is to uncover traits such as confidence and expression when speaking; positive attitude in dealing with adversity as well as life events; and honesty.
On the third and fourth days, candidates undergo outdoor group tasks that assess their ability to collaborate. These assessments allow the SSB to observe how candidates interact with one another as well as assess leadership qualities and problem-solving capabilities.
At the conclusion of the interview process, SSB board members review each candidate’s performance over their entire interview and decide if they wish to recommend them for military service. If selected, candidates will undergo a four to five day medical examination at a military hospital, after which those who pass can become officers in India’s armed forces. Though the selection process is lengthy, having the chance to serve one’s nation makes it worth your while.
Day 5
The Service Selection Board interview (SSB) is a 5-day assessment that rigorously tests officer potential through various challenges. Each day of testing examines different aspects of candidate personality such as leadership skills, communication abilities and group discussion capabilities. Centurion Defence Academy in Pune offers extensive SSB training programs so candidates are properly equipped for every day of this assessment process.
On the final day, candidates will meet with an Interviewing Officer (IO). At this interview, an IO will ask candidates about their daily activities and general knowledge while also observing their body language, alertness, and expressions while answering their questions.
Nearing the conclusion of an interview, members of SSB board will meet and evaluate each candidate’s performance. Successful candidates will be recommended for military service; those not recommended must remain behind for an intensive medical examination that may last four or five days at a military hospital; this stage can make or break an applicant’s chances of joining Armed Forces.
