Indian Army TGC-144 2026: 30 Vacancies, ₹17–18L CTC and Permanent Commission

If you have been tracking Indian Army officer recruitment, the Indian Army TGC-144 in-hand salary after commissioning 2026 is one of the most competitive packages in government service. The Indian Army has officially released the 144th Technical Graduate Course (TGC-144) notification for Permanent Commission, inviting applications from unmarried male engineering graduates. A total of 30 tentative vacancies are open across six core engineering streams for the course commencing January 2027 at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. Applications open on 13 May 2026 and close on 11 June 2026. One detail competitors miss: candidates who miss the merit cutoff for TGC-144 may still be offered Short Service Commission (Tech) Apr 2027 – same SSB, second chance.

Based on official notification by Indian Army, Directorate General of Recruiting. Verified: May 2026.

Quick Eligibility Check

A commonly overlooked rule for TGC entry: stream name mismatch between your degree certificate and your online application – even a minor variation – results in outright cancellation of candidature with no appeal.

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Important Dates

Applying early matters here because SSB centre and date selection is strictly first-come-first-serve – preferred centres fill up quickly and once selected, the date cannot be changed.

Vacancy and Stream-Wise Analysis

Civil Engineering has the highest allocation at 8 vacancies – more than any other single stream – which makes it the most accessible entry point for B.Tech Civil graduates who meet the cut-off. However, it also typically attracts a large applicant pool, so competition within the stream remains significant. Computer Science and Electronics are tied at 6 vacancies each, and both streams have unusually broad equivalent stream lists: AI & ML, Cyber Security, Data Science, IoT, and Robotics are all accepted under these two heads, meaning a large population of modern B.Tech graduates across these newer disciplines will be competing for the same 6 and 6 seats. Mechanical also holds 6 vacancies with the widest variety of sub-disciplines – Aerospace, Avionics, and Mechatronics are all eligible. Electrical Engineering has only 2 vacancies, making it the most competitive stream relative to its likely applicant volume. Miscellaneous streams also hold just 2 vacancies shared across a long list of disciplines including Bio Medical, Food Tech, Mining, and Textile Engineering. No category-wise (UR/OBC/SC/ST) reservation breakdown has been released in this notification; this is a merit-based officer entry and standard reservation norms for commissioned officer courses apply as per Army policy. Vacancies are tentative and may be re-appropriated based on organisational requirements.

Salary and In-Hand Calculation

The official notification confirms a CTC of approximately ₹17–18 lakh per annum on commissioning, excluding free medical cover and one annual home travel. To understand what this means in hand, here is an approximate breakdown for a newly commissioned Lieutenant posted in a non-field area. Basic Pay at Level 10 starts at ₹56,100. Military Service Pay (MSP) adds a fixed ₹15,500 per month. Dearness Allowance (DA) is admissible at the same rate applicable to civilian personnel (currently over 50% of basic, revised periodically). Transport Allowance (TPTA) is ₹7,200 per month in higher TPTA cities or ₹3,600 elsewhere, plus DA on that amount. Technical Allowance (Tier-I) is ₹3,000 per month and Tier-II is ₹4,500 – applicable strictly on qualification. Dress Allowance is ₹20,000 per year. Standard deductions include NPS contribution (10% of Basic + DA), AGIF subscription of ₹12,500 per month, and applicable income tax. After these deductions, take-home for a Lieutenant in peace posting is approximately ₹95,000–₹1,10,000 per month. Officers posted to field areas are eligible for additional Risk and Hardship Allowances ranging from ₹1,200 to ₹25,000 per month depending on the area classification. Compared to a civilian government engineer at Level 10 (same basic pay), the Army officer additionally receives MSP, free ration in kind, free medical cover for self and family, and one fully paid annual home travel – making the effective compensation substantially higher.

Application Fee

Application fee details are not mentioned in the official notification. Candidates are advised to check the official website at the time of online application submission for any applicable fee or payment instructions.

Age Limit

Age calculation example: A candidate born on 15 March 2001 will be 25 years 9 months as on 01 January 2027 – within the eligible range. Date of birth is verified strictly from the Matriculation/Secondary School Certificate; no other document is accepted and no subsequent change is permitted. There is no age relaxation mentioned in this notification for OBC, SC, ST, or any other category – this is a commissioned officer entry and standard GoI reservation-based age relaxation does not apply here.

Educational Qualification

Final year appearing candidates are eligible provided their result is declared by 01 January 2027 and their cumulative marks up to the 6th semester/3rd year are not below the approved cut-off. They must submit degree proof to DG Recruiting by 01 Jan 2027 and produce the Engineering Degree Certificate within 12 weeks of training commencement; failure to do so leads to candidature cancellation and recovery of training costs. Equivalent qualifications are accepted as listed in the official vacancy table under AICTE-approved streams. Diplomas and degrees from foreign universities are not accepted.

Selection Process

Stage 1: Application Shortlisting

Applications are shortlisted based on cumulative percentage of marks in the engineering degree, stream-wise, using a vacancy-to-call-up ratio decided by the Recruiting Directorate. The cut-off percentage will be published in June 2026. Candidates must ensure their marks are correctly entered in the online application – CGPA must be converted to percentage as per the university formula.

Stage 2: SSB Interview (5 Days)

Shortlisted candidates appear at one of four SSB centres – Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru, or Jalandhar. The SSB is a two-stage process: Stage 1 (Officer Intelligence Rating and Picture Perception) filters candidates on Day 1; those clearing Stage 1 proceed to Stage 2 (GTO tasks, psychology tests, personal interview over four more days). SSB is entirely merit and personality-based – no written exam preparation helps here; focus on reading, current affairs, and physical fitness before your board.

Stage 3: Medical Examination

Candidates recommended by the SSB undergo a medical examination. The medical validity is 270 days from SMB date to PCTA joining. Candidates already declared medically fit in any other service’s SSB within the 270-day window need not repeat the medical.

Stage 4: Merit List and Joining

A stream-wise merit list is prepared based on SSB marks. In case of ties, the older candidate ranks higher. Selected candidates receive a Joining Letter for IMA Dehradun for training commencing January 2027. Candidates must report within 7 days of the reporting date in the Joining Letter.

Your first 7 days after applying:

1. Download and save your application printout with Roll Number 30 minutes after the application window closes on 11 June 2026.
2. Monitor joinindianarmy.nic.in in June 2026 for the stream-wise cut-off percentage announcement.
3. Begin physical preparation immediately: 2.4 km run in 10 min 30 sec, 40 push-ups, 6 pull-ups, 30 sit-ups, and basic swimming fundamentals are the minimum standards required before IMA joining.
4. Collect and organise all original documents – Matriculation certificate, Engineering Degree/Provisional Degree, all semester marksheets, and CGPA conversion certificate – since DigiLocker certificates are not accepted.
5. If you are a final year student, obtain a certificate from your Principal confirming result declaration by 01 January 2027, and prepare your declaration bond for submission.

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Exam Syllabus

How to Apply for Indian Army TGC-144 2026

1. Visit the official website and click on Officer Entry Apply/Login.
2. Click Registration if you are not already registered. Aadhaar number and Matriculation certificate are mandatory for registration.
3. After registration, log in and click Apply Online on the Dashboard.
4. On the Officers Selection Eligibility page, click Apply against Technical Graduate Course.
5. Fill in all segments – Personal Information, Communication Details, Education Details, and Previous SSB Details – clicking Save & Continue after each.
6. On the Summary page, verify all entries carefully. Once the application window closes, no changes are allowed.
7. Click Submit. Note: You must click Submit every time you open the application for any edit.
8. 30 minutes after the application closes on 11 June 2026, print two copies of your application with Roll Number and retain one copy for reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the approximate in-hand salary after commissioning in TGC-144?

A newly commissioned Lieutenant at Level 10 earns a basic pay of ₹56,100 plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month, along with DA, transport allowance, and other admissible allowances. After standard deductions including NPS and AGIF subscription, take-home in a peace posting is approximately ₹95,000–₹1,10,000 per month. The official CTC is stated as approximately ₹17–18 lakh per annum, excluding free medical cover and annual home travel.

What is the stipend during IMA training before commissioning?

Gentleman Cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month (starting pay at Level 10 of the Pay Matrix) during the entire training period at IMA Dehradun. On successful commissioning, pay is fixed at the first cell of Level 10 and arrears for admissible allowances for the training period are paid out.

What is the last date to apply for TGC-144 2026?

The online application window closes on 11 June 2026 at 1500 hours. Applications are only accepted online at joinindianarmy.nic.in. No changes to the submitted application are permitted after the window closes.

What are the total vacancies and which stream has the most seats?

There are 30 tentative vacancies in total. Civil Engineering has the highest allocation with 8 seats, followed by Computer Science, Electronics, and Mechanical with 6 each. Electrical has 2 vacancies and Miscellaneous streams share 2 vacancies. These figures are tentative and may change based on organisational requirements.

Can final year engineering students apply for TGC-144?

Yes, final year students can apply provided their result will be declared on or before 01 January 2027. They must submit degree proof to DG Recruiting by 01 Jan 2027 and produce the original Engineering Degree Certificate within 12 weeks of training commencement at IMA. Candidates whose results will be declared after 01 January 2027 are not eligible.

What is the age limit and is there any relaxation for this entry?

The age limit is 20 to 27 years as on 01 January 2027, meaning candidates must be born between 01 January 2000 and 01 January 2007. No age relaxation for OBC, SC, ST, or any other category is mentioned in this notification – this is a merit-based Permanent Commission officer entry.

What type of commission is granted through TGC-144?

Successful candidates are granted Permanent Commission in the Indian Army in the rank of Lieutenant on completion of training. They are also granted one year ante-date seniority from the date of commission for the purposes of promotion and pay increment, which means they rank senior to officers commissioned through other entries on the same date.

Is M.Sc or a diploma equivalent to a B.Tech degree for TGC-144?

M.Sc Computer Science in a notified equivalent stream is accepted specifically for the Computer Science vacancy. Diploma holders are not eligible – the minimum qualification is a BE/B.Tech degree. Degrees from foreign universities are also not permitted regardless of the discipline.