Quick Summary
Introduction
A TGC Indian Army 2026 officer starts as a Lieutenant in Pay Level 10 with basic pay of ₹56,100 plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month. With Dearness Allowance and other allowances, the starting in-hand pay is typically around ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,25,000 per month in a peace station.
There is no written exam in the Technical Graduate Course (TGC). The Indian Army shortlists engineering graduates on graduation marks and calls them for a 5-day SSB interview, followed by medicals and a final merit list. Selected candidates train for about 12 months at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun and receive Permanent Commission as Lieutenant.
This guide explains the complete reality of TGC pay and career. You will see the month-wise salary breakup, stipend during training, allowances for field and high altitude postings, promotion timeline from Lieutenant to Major and beyond, and the exact SSB pipeline with centres, date selection process, and medical stage.
What Is TGC in Army?
TGC in the Indian Army means Technical Graduate Course. It is a direct Permanent Commission entry for unmarried male engineering graduates. The Army trains selected candidates at IMA Dehradun and commissions them as Lieutenants in technical arms and services.
There is no written test. The Army fixes a stream-wise cutoff on engineering marks, shortlists candidates for SSB, and prepares the final merit list from SSB performance and medical fitness. TGC 144, for example, offered 30 vacancies for the course commencing in January 2027 at IMA, with applications from 13 May to 11 June 2026.
TGC officers serve in arms like Engineers, Signals, and EME, along with other technical postings based on vacancy and merit. The entry runs twice a year for January and July courses. For eligibility details, read our Army TGC Eligibility Guide.
TGC Salary Per Month
The TGC salary per month starts at Lieutenant level. Basic pay is ₹56,100 in Pay Level 10, plus Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500. MSP is a fixed monthly amount paid to officers from Lieutenant to Brigadier for the risks and conditions of military service.
Dearness Allowance (DA) is calculated on basic pay plus MSP. DA changes with inflation and was around 58 to 60 percent in 2025 to 2026. House Rent Allowance (HRA) applies only when you do not stay in government accommodation. Transport Allowance and kit maintenance add a smaller fixed amount.
| Component | TGC Lieutenant Amount | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹56,100 per month | Pay Level 10 entry cell |
| Military Service Pay | ₹15,500 per month | Fixed for Lieutenant to Brigadier |
| Dearness Allowance | Approx. ₹42,960 per month | Around 60 percent of basic plus MSP |
| House Rent Allowance | ₹5,049 to ₹21,480 per month | 9 percent to 27 percent based on city class, only if not in Army quarters |
| Transport Allowance | ₹3,600 to ₹7,200 per month | Higher for metro cities |
| Gross Pay | Approx. ₹1,25,000 to ₹1,38,000 per month | Peace station with HRA |
| Deductions (NPS, insurance) | Approx. ₹11,000 to ₹13,000 per month | 10 percent NPS on basic plus DA plus MSP |
| In-Hand Pay | Approx. ₹1,00,000 to ₹1,25,000 per month | After deductions, before income tax |
Note HRA is not paid when you stay in Army accommodation or when posted to most field areas. In those cases the gross looks lower on paper, but you save the full house rent.
The official TGC notification mentions an approximate cost to company of ₹17 to ₹18 lakh per annum on commissioning. Actual take-home moves up with DA revisions, annual 3 percent increments, and field allowances.
Allowances and Perks
Allowances make the biggest difference between peace and field salary. A TGC officer in a peace station gets HRA and transport benefits. The same officer in a field, high altitude, or counter insurgency area gets risk and hardship allowances that can add tens of thousands per month.
| Allowance | Amount in 2026 | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Field Area Allowance | ₹10,500 to ₹16,900 per month | Modified field, field, and highly active field areas |
| High Altitude Allowance | ₹3,400 to ₹5,300 per month | Postings between 9,000 feet and above 15,000 feet |
| Siachen Allowance | ₹42,500 per month for officers | Siachen Glacier posting, highest risk allowance |
| Counter Insurgency Allowance | ₹6,300 to ₹16,900 per month | Notified CI operation areas |
| Flying Allowance | ₹25,000 per month fixed | Army Aviation Corps pilots |
| Technical Allowance | As per Army rules | Technical arms qualifications |
| Uniform Allowance | ₹20,000 per year | Paid annually for uniform upkeep |
| Children Education Allowance | ₹2,812 per month per child | For school going children, as per rules |
Beyond monthly pay, officers get free medical cover for self and family through military hospitals, subsidised CSD canteen facilities, Army accommodation or HRA, leave travel concession, group insurance, and pension benefits under the National Pension System. These benefits matter more over a full career than one month salary slip.
Training at IMA Dehradun
The Army TGC training takes place at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. The duration is about 12 months, officially listed as 49 weeks. Candidates train as Gentleman Cadets in physical fitness, weapons, tactics, leadership, and technical military subjects.
During the full training period, cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month. This equals the starting basic pay in Level 10. The full cost of training, stay, and messing support is borne by the government.
Three service rules matter most for TGC trainees:
- Marriage is not permitted during training. A cadet who marries during training faces discharge and must refund training costs.
- On successful completion, cadets receive Permanent Commission in the rank of Lieutenant.
- TGC engineers get one year ante-date seniority. This means faster time-bound promotion to Captain, often within 6 months of commissioning instead of 2 years.
Final allotment to IMA follows the stream-wise merit order and medical fitness. Candidates must submit proof of passing the engineering degree before the course starts and produce the degree certificate within 12 weeks of joining.
Promotion and Career Growth
A TGC officer salary grows with time-bound promotions up to Lieutenant Colonel and selection-based promotions after that. Pay level and basic pay rise at each rank, while MSP of ₹15,500 continues up to Brigadier.
| Rank | Promotion After | Pay Level and Basic Pay Range |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant | On commissioning | Level 10, ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 |
| Captain | 2 years, faster for TGC with ante-date seniority | Level 10B, ₹61,300 to ₹1,93,900 |
| Major | 6 years commissioned service | Level 11, ₹69,400 to ₹2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 13 years commissioned service | Level 12A, ₹1,21,200 to ₹2,12,400 |
| Colonel | Time Scale at 26 years, or selection at about 15 years | Level 13, ₹1,30,600 to ₹2,15,900 |
| Brigadier | About 23 years, by selection | Level 13A, ₹1,39,600 to ₹2,17,600 |
| Major General and above | 25 years and above, by selection | Level 14 and above |
Up to Lieutenant Colonel, promotion depends on service years, medical fitness, and qualifying exams. From Colonel selection onwards, promotion depends on vacancies, annual reports, courses, and Selection Board results. This is why early merit, fitness, and clean service records matter from the Lieutenant stage itself.
TGC officers can also pursue higher technical education, staff courses, and command appointments at government cost. These courses improve promotion prospects and open deputation and instructional roles.
Selection Process Flow
The TGC notification 2026 cycle follows four clear steps. There is no written exam at any stage.
| Stage | What Happens | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Online Application | Apply on Join Indian Army portal within dates | No application fee, unmarried male engineers only |
| 2. Shortlisting | Army fixes stream-wise cutoff on engineering marks up to final semester | Only candidates above cutoff get SSB call |
| 3. SSB Interview | 5-day testing at Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru, or Jalandhar | Stage 1 screening, Stage 2 psychology, GTO, and interview |
| 4. Medical and Merit | Medical exam for recommended candidates, then final stream-wise merit list | Joining IMA based on merit, vacancies, and fitness |
TGC 144 invited applications for 30 posts across Civil, Computer Science, Electronics, Mechanical, Electrical, and miscellaneous streams. Age limit was 20 to 27 years on 1 January 2027. Candidates in the final year could apply if their result was available before the course start date.
Cutoffs change every course based on applications and stream vacancies. For past trends, read our Army TGC Cutoff Guide and the latest TGC 145 Notification 2026.
SSB Date Selection Link
How to apply for TGC in the Indian Army through the SSB date selection link confuses many first time candidates. The process is fully online and has two separate logins.
Shortlisted candidates receive an email and SMS alert. They must then log in to the Join Indian Army portal, select SSB dates from the available batches, and choose a centre among Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru, and Jalandhar. Date selection works on a first come, first served basis, so early login gives more date options.
After date selection, candidates download the call-up letter with reporting instructions, documents list, and travel details. Candidates must carry matriculation certificate, engineering degree or provisional certificate with all semester marksheets, valid photo ID, and printed application form with roll number. Final year candidates must carry a certificate from the college principal with the expected result date.
Pro Tip Track your TGC application status regularly on the portal dashboard. Call-up instructions and centre allotment appear there before email in some cycles.
5-Day SSB Interview
The TGC SSB interview is the same 5-day Services Selection Board process used for other officer entries. It tests 15 Officer Like Qualities through three independent assessors: Psychologist, Group Testing Officer, and Interviewing Officer.
| Day | Stage | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Stage 1 Screening | Officer Intelligence Rating test, Picture Perception and Description Test with group discussion |
| Day 2 | Stage 2 Psychology | Thematic Apperception Test, Word Association Test, Situation Reaction Test, Self Description Test |
| Day 3 | GTO Day 1 | Group Discussion, Group Planning Exercise, Progressive Group Task, Half Group Task, Lecturette |
| Day 4 | GTO Day 2 and Interview | Individual Obstacles, Command Task, Final Group Task, Personal Interview |
| Day 5 | Conference | Short board interaction and final Recommended or Not Recommended result |
About 40 to 60 percent of candidates are screened out on Day 1. Only screened-in candidates stay for Stage 2. The Personal Interview can take place on Day 2, 3, or 4 and usually lasts 30 to 45 minutes. For TGC candidates, the interview often includes technical questions from the engineering branch, so revise core subjects, final year project, and practical applications.
For SSB preparation, focus on OIR practice, clear PPDT narration, consistent psychology responses, and daily current affairs. If you are comparing technical entries, read our TGC vs SSC Tech Guide.
Medical Test and Merit List
The TGC medical test takes place after SSB recommendation, usually at designated military hospitals over 5 to 6 days. Doctors check height and weight standards, vision, hearing, dental health, blood and urine tests, chest X-ray, ECG, and surgical fitness. The TGC physical test is not a separate running or ground test. Physical fitness is observed through GTO outdoor tasks and confirmed through medical standards.
Temporary rejection is common for issues like weight, vision correction, or minor ENT problems. Candidates get time for a review medical or appeal as per rules. Permanent rejection applies for conditions that do not meet officer medical standards.
The TGC merit list is prepared stream-wise from SSB marks of medically fit candidates. High SSB score alone does not guarantee joining. Final joining depends on rank in the stream merit list, number of vacancies in that stream, and medical fitness. Unfit candidates, even with high SSB marks, do not join IMA.
What to do next?
TGC selection depends fully on SSB performance, since there is no written exam to compensate. Start with three actions this week.
- Check your stream eligibility and past cutoff trend in our Army TGC Eligibility Guide and Army TGC Cutoff Guide.
- Begin daily OIR and PPDT practice for screening, plus 30 minutes of current affairs revision. There are many current affairs sources available. The Scoreclever Current Affairs Website stands out because it explains daily events in full detail for complete understanding, with crisp daily Banking and SSC Plus PDFs on Scoreclever’s Telegram channel.
- Revise your engineering core subjects and final year project for the TGC Personal Interview, and join the daily Vocab League at 7 PM and Current Affairs League at 8 PM to build communication skills for GTO tasks.
