New Delhi, June 7

The Army has made a relaxation to the selection criteria for a segment of jawans, who seek to participate in the selection process to qualify as officers. The new rules will come into force from January 2022 and will be there as a pilot project for two years. These shall apply to jawans in the age bracket of 30-35 years and are eligible in the selection process as Special Commissioned Officers (SCOs).

Instructions issued to units

The Army has sent out instructions to all units that those participating in the selection process through Services Selection Board need not undergo the ‘stage-1’ process that entails a verbal test and group discussion

The Army has sent out instructions to all units that those participating in the selection process through Services Selection Board need not undergo the ‘stage-1’ of the selection process. This ‘stage-1’ entails a verbal test and participation in a group discussion. from which selections are made to qualify for the ‘stage -2’ of the selection process.

The SCO stream is one of the three opportunities offered to a jawan to become an officer at different stages of his carrer. First is the Army Cadet College for jawans between 22-27 years of age, the second is the SCO followed by the Permanent Commission Special List for those above 42 years of age.

If the pilot project is successful, the criteria will be amended for the selection process of the ACC entry too. The move has been necessitated as the number of applicants who passed the ‘stage 1’ was about 35 per cent of applicants, only 10 per cent of those than cleared ‘stage 2’ and the final selection was a mere 3 per cent. The year 2020 saw only 706 applicants under the SCO stream while in 2015, it was as high as 1,755 applicants. A person selected as a SCO undergoes a eight week communication skills capsule and followed by one-year training in the Officers Training Academy. — TNS