Services Selection Board
Services Selection Board (SSB) is an organization that assesses the candidates for becoming officers in the Indian Armed Forces.
SSB centers were the primary agencies for testing and selecting all the candidates aspiring to become officers in the Indian armed forces or civil services.
This applies to both civilians (after 10+2, graduation and post-graduation), as well as to serving armed forces personnel, except army medical corps members must pass the "SSB interview".
The NDA/NA UPSC and Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT) for the Indian Air Force can only be attempted by an individual once in a lifetime.
The interview involves a battery of psychological tests based on personality for assessing the candidate's suitability for getting inducted into the armed forces.
Successful candidates will be given a medical examination and if satisfactory are recorded on a "merit list" before training and getting commissioned.
The qualities looked for in the selection period include intellect, responsibility, initiative, judgment under stress, ability to reason and organize, communication skills, determination, courage, self-confidence, speed in decision making, willingness to set an example, compassion and a feeling of loyalty to the nation.
The candidates who have passed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) written examination.
The aim is to assess whether the candidate will be the right fit for becoming an officer in any branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
On this day, the candidate should report, and he/she should follow the instructions as mentioned in the SSB invitation letter.
The personal information questionnaire is the main basis for the individual candidate interview.
A booklet of 60 situations is mentioned in which the responses are to be completed in 30 minutes and finally, the Self-Description Test (SDT) which consists of 5 questions asking about parents', teachers'/employers', friends', and candidates' own perception.
It is based on the personal information questionnaires filled by the candidates on day 1 and other defense-related general knowledge questions.
On the final day, All the retired officers in proper uniform will attend a conference with each candidate.
The assessors will look for confidence and expression when speaking, a positive attitude in adversity and life, and honesty.
Successful candidates will remain for an intensive medical examination, which takes four to five days at a military hospital.
Phase 1 is called the Preliminary Selection Board Exam (PBS) which is similar to the SSB screening stage.
Phase 2, the Final Selection Board, includes psychological tests, group tasks, a personal interview, and an assessor's conference.
