How to Make a Career in Indian Navy
Visualize yourself somewhere in the middle of the sea, on a ship, with the cold winds blowing your hair, well no, what if that is not your holiday trip rather your profession and your all-time job which is good enough to provide you with a promising salary and forthright pension.
If you strive to be a member of the armed force and moreover if you are passionate about the sea and ocean then this article is going to extremely beneficial in enlightening you about the navy, its career options with salary packages, eligibility criteria, selection process, educational expenses, various courses, top training institutions, and its prospective career scope.
Indian Navy
The Navy is the branch of the armed services of a state which conducts military operations at sea. The geographical magnitude of India is surrounded by water from three sides i.e. the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea which propels the nation to employ personals at these levels for defense missions.
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The primary objective of the navy is to secure the nation’s maritime borders besides humanitarian missions, including disaster relief. The Indian Navy usually has a strength of 58,350 personnel and a large operational fleet comprising of two aircraft carriers, one amphibious transport dock, nine landing ship tanks, nine destroyers, one nuclear-powered attack submarines, fifteen frigates, fourteen conventionally-powered attack submarines, twenty-four corvettes, seven mine countermeasure vessels, thirty-two patrol vessels, four fleet tankers, and various auxiliary vessels.
Career Classification in Indian Navy
The career opportunities for the candidates in the Indian navy is enormous. The candidates usually start their career by being appointed as sailors or infrequently as officers at almost all the times with which they proceed to make their career more substantial and respectful. Unlike other professions, a career in the navy provides job prominence from the initial stage itself and one can look forward to an upward rising graph without having to be concerned about their higher qualifications as the personnel employed are provided such qualification on the job.
The promotion of the candidate depends on the aggregate of his hard work, sincerity, talent, and skills, and one can accumulate job satisfaction and status by mastering the consistency in all these virtues.
The prominent ranks of officers and sailors in the Indian navy from the highest to the lowest tier are enlisted below along with their pay scale.
1. Chief of Naval Staff/ Admiral:
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), usually a four-star officer in the rank of admiral, commands the navy. The chief has command over all the three headquarters situated at Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, and Kochi namely Western Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command, and Southern Naval Command respectively. He exercises control over the operational and administrative activities of the Indian Navy.
A CNS earns a sum of Rs.2,50,000 per month.
2. Vice-Admiral:
The vice-admiral is usually the officer, who is a senior naval flag officer and he has a command over various fleets and he assists the Chief of Naval Staff in managing control over the naval force.
A vice-admiral earns a sum of Rs.1,82,200-Rs.2,24,100 per month.
3. Rear Admiral:
The rear admiral is the officer who is the primary level admiral. They are responsible for carrying out the management and execution of the commands made by the vice admiral and supervise the commodores accordingly. They are usually referred to as the flag officers.
A rear admiral earns a sum of Rs.1,44,200-Rs.2,18,200 per month.
4. Commodore:
A commodore usually carries out the orders of the admirals and assists them in commanding a flotilla or squadron of ships. The commodores are superior to the captain of the ships and they are ranked as senior-level naval officers.
A commodore usually earns somewhere between Rs.1,39,600-Rs.2,17,600 per month.
5. Captain:
A captain as we all know is the officer who is in charge of a specific ship and controls and directs its movements. They are experienced individuals who have full authority over the ship.
A captain in the Indian Navy earns a sum of Rs.1,30,600-Rs.2,15,900 per month.
6. Commander:
A commander is an officer who actually commands the navy personnel and follows the instructions given by the captain regarding the ships and the tasks involved. The job status of a commander is equivalent to that of a lieutenant colonel in the Indian Army.
A commander in the Indian navy can earn up to Rs.1,21,200-Rs.2,12,400 per month.
7. Lieutenant Commander:
The lieutenant commander holds the position of a commissioned rank naval officer and he assists the commander in ensuring supervision and control over the activities. They are the officers responsible for commands over smaller ships or installations of a smaller shore.
A lieutenant commander has an income generation of Rs.69,400-Rs.2,07,200 per month.
8. Lieutenant:
A lieutenant is the officer in command of patrol boats, small crafts, inshore minesweepers and he manages the small frigates. They are usually the divisional training officers who provide guidance to the young aspirants in acquiring proficiency.
A lieutenant earns a sum of Rs.61,300-Rs.1,93,900 per month.
9. Sub-Lieutenant:
A sub-lieutenant assists a lieutenant in the related matters, activities, and duties as the officers can not be present at all locations all at once. They are the Class I gazette officers and they are also the individuals at the ground level in the officers ranks.
A sub-lieutenant can generate Rs.56,100-Rs.1,77,500 per month.
10. Master Chief Petty Officer [ 1st Class ]:
The master chief petty officer holds the highest ranks in the sailor’s category which is a non-officer post in the Indian navy. Their task is to assist the commissioned officers in training the individuals as per the requirement of the higher authorities.
They earn a sum of Rs.34,800 per month.
11. Master Chief Petty Officer [ 2nd Class ]:
The master chief petty officer in the 2nd class usually takes care of the tiny matters in the naval force. The post can be compared to that of a warrant officer in the Indian army.
A master chief petty officer can earn up to Rs.34,800 per month along with some allowances.
12. Chief Petty Officer:
A chief petty officer’s job can be considered as of the same job stature as that of a junior warrant officer in the Indian army. Their main job involved assisting and abiding by the instructions of the master chief petty officers.
A chief petty officer earns a sum of Rs.34,800 per month.
13. Petty Officer:
A petty officer is responsible for the preliminary tasks in the naval force. Their job is the same as that of a sub-inspector who looks after the well-being of the task force in the Indian army.
A petty officer can earn up to Rs.23,000 per month.
14. Leading Seaman:
A leading seaman is a non-commissioned officer responsible for works equivalent to that of a corporal in the Indian air force.
A leading seaman in the Indian navy can expect a sum of Rs.20,200 per month.
15. Seaman:
A seaman is the lowest-ranked person in the Indian navy. However, they play a significant role in the naval force and that is to manage damage controls, emergency, and security alert, teams. They are responsible for providing the regular supplies at various ships as per the requirements of the members.
A seaman can earn up to Rs.20,200 per month.
Eligibility Criteria
The candidates have to go through various entrance exams to be competent for the Indian navy. The candidates have to fulfil certain criteria for acquiring the clearance for appearing these exams and they are usually the stepping stone of the formation of an aspiring career in the Indian Navy. It may appear complicated but in the end, it is worth all the hard work invested by the aspirant. Hence, the fundamental standards required for appearing in the major entrance exams at various educational levels are classified for each category accordingly:
- 10+2 Cadet Entry (B.Tech)
- 10+2 from a recognized board
- Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects
- At least 70% marks
- Gender Male
- Age 16.5 years to 19 years
- NDA ( UPSC )
- 10+2 from a recognized board
- Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics
- Final year students are eligible
- The aggregate score varies each year
- Gender Male
- Age 16.5 years to 19 years
- CDSE ( UPSC )
- Bachelors Degree in Engineering or Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics
- The aggregate score varies each year
- Age 19 years to 22 years
- Gender Male
- INET
- 10+2 from a recognized board
- 60% marks in 10+2 in physics and mathematics
- Bachelors degree in Engineering
- 60% score in all semesters
- Age 21 years to24 years
- Gender Male
- SSR Entry
- 10+2 from a recognized board
- Final year students are also eligible
- The aggregate score varies yearly
- Age 17 years to 20 years
- Gender Male
The candidate can apply for any of the above-mentioned entrance exams based on their capability and interest. The basic physical requirements include a minimum height of 157cm at the age of 18 and chest expansion of about 5cm.
Selection Process
The selection process is actually conventional and the candidate has to pass through two stages, the first being written exams and the second the physical traits which are put to the test after successfully qualifying for the entrance exams. The candidates have to be approved by the SSB i.e. the Service Selection Boards. The selection process involves the following.
Intellectual Traits:
- Intelligence Test
- Picture perception
- Discussion Round
- Psychological Test
- Group Test
- Interview
Physical Traits:
- 1.6 km run in 7minutes
- Squat ups
- Push-ups
- Medical Test
The candidates are then given an appointment or joining letter after which they are assigned the post of the sailor or the officers based on the exams that appeared by them. This is just the beginning as the actual training begins after all the above-mentioned procedures. The candidate who appears in exams meant for the 10+2 level usually has to go for the training of around four years whereas the graduate level candidates may require only a year’s training to be able to actually join the navy.
Educational Expenses
The educational charges usually vary between Rs.2-8 lakhs on average based on the various courses that one may opt for. However, the aggregate amount may vary depending on the specialization which one wishes to master ranging between distinct training institutions.
Various Courses
There are a number of specialized courses to procure a qualitative career in the various sectors of naval services. These courses have a duration of about one to three years during which the aspirants are trained to undertake the situations with proficiency and diligence so as to sustain-legitimate enforcement and peace in its perimeters. The candidates are precisely given just training in the institutions and they must possess the academic knowledge beforehand which is how they are usually selected.
Some of the prominent and specialized courses for naval services which the candidate should opt for at the time of under graduation or post-graduation are enlisted below.
- Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Science Engineering
- GeoScience or Informatics
- Marine Engineering
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Production Engineering
- Control Engineering
- Telecommunication Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
The education officers appointed are also assigned specialized courses in the following subject matters after the selection process.
- Meteorology
- Oceanography
- Atmospheric Science
- Humanities
Other than the above-mentioned courses the candidates are trained in:
- Anti Submarine Warfare
- Naval Communication
- Gunnery
- Hydrography
- Navigation and Direction
Top Institutions
The training institutions have a vital role to play in the development process of the candidate by providing a suitable environment for carrying out the practice. Moreover, the training institutions bring in healthy competition amongst the students so as to make them mentally strong. The navy personnel needs to be prepared in academics as well as physical aspects which is crucial in their service duration and there are currently thirty-three such training establishments in India. Hence, some of the top establishments furnishing us with the best maritime outlook are enlisted below.
- Indian Naval Ship Chilka, Bhubaneshwar
- Indian Naval Ship Dronacharya, Kochi
- Indian Naval Ship Kunjali, Mumbai
- Institute of Naval Medicine, Mumbai
- Indian Naval Ship Hamla, Mumbai
- Indian Naval Ship Agrani, Coimbatore
- Indian Naval Ship Shivaji, Lonavala
- National Institute of Hydrography, Goa
- Naval Institute of Educational and Training Technology, Kerala
- Indian Naval Ship Mandovi, Goa
- Indian Naval Ship Satavahana, Vishakhapatnam
- Indian Naval Ship Vishwakarma, Vishakhapatnam
- Inter-Services—National Defense College, New Delhi
- Inter-Services—National Defense Academy, Pune
- Indian Naval Ship Venduruthy, Kochi
- Inter-Services—Defense Services Staff College, Tamil Nadu
- Naval Academy, Kerala
- Indian Naval ShipValsura, Gujarat
Career Scope
The Indian Navy was founded on 5th September, 1612when the English East India Company built a port and established a small navy team near Surat, Gujarat to protect the commercial activities so as to safeguard the interests of our country. Since then, the Indian Navy has been serving the country by employing best-filtered individuals with extraordinary intellect and skills for ensuring protection at the maritime borders of our country. The individuals in the Indian navy are not only the members of the armed forces, but they are also the people who we think of highly. The career scope in such this prestigious defense sector of our country is growing larger with globalization. Hence, one can definitely look forward to a well-off career in the Indian Navy.
