We all are affected by nerves. It is very normal to experience anxiety before a significant event in your life. In fact, it’s a healthy reaction to the stimuli and circumstances you’re facing. Also, you should keep in mind that a little anxiety will keep you alert and witty. But it is certainly important that you should avoid such nerves to have a detrimental effect on you, most importantly before any task in the SSB Interview.

Here are the 5 tips to overcome anxiety before Lecturette

Always plan ahead and before the Lecturette.

It is imperative to emphasize this. Too many SSB candidates experience anxiety in the pit of their stomachs as a result of not knowing what to anticipate. It may be quite nerve-wracking to not know what type of curve balls SSB will throw your way. Once you are well prepared you will never feel anxious.

Practice as much as possible.

Get as much information as you can by reading. Prepare using newspapers, magazines, and the internet. Prepare at least 3-4 topics then speak for 5-5 minutes on each topic to your family, friends, or even yourself while standing in front of a mirror. To overcome your stage fear, seize every chance you can take the stage at gatherings of family and friends. Be careful to read and prepare on pertinent issues and avoid wasting time on irrelevant ones.

Deep Breathing

Take a few deep breaths if you are feeling worried. Inhale gently. Exhale completely. You can count the in and out breaths with your fingers up to four or five. The release of stress hormones can be slowed by taking deep breaths. Your body and mind may feel more at ease as a result. You can focus less on nervous thoughts and feelings as you direct your attention to your breathing. This type of breathing can make you feel calmer and more stable.

Convince yourself to do it.

When a person is anxious he tells himself that he won’t be able to do this or do a particular thing. Instead make a mental note to tell yourself something that can give you a little bit of bravery to confront the situation, such as “I can do this!” or It’s okay to be anxious.

Assume that you are the best.

While standing there or waiting for your turn, tell yourself that you are the best there. No one knows anything and whatever you will tell them, they will simply comply with it. Do this and see your confidence skyrocketing.

We have seen various times that whether in GD or lecturette if an important piece of information is being delivered we tend to miss it which put us at a loss. Maybe that information can be asked in the interview or the conference? A good listener never faced such an issue.

A key component of effective listening is making a conscious effort to comprehend the speaker’s complete message. You, the listener, achieve this by restraining yourself from jumping in with comments or queries every time there is a pause, as well as by making it evident that you are paying attention to the speaker so that they know you are taking in what they are saying.

The Benefits of Active Listening

It takes practice to become proficient at active listening. But if you succeed in this, whether you’re a leader or an aspiring leader, or acting in another professional position, you empower yourself to be more productive in your work. The six advantages of active listening are listed below, along with examples of how you might use them at work.

Easy harmonic discussion

Establishing trust is a crucial commodity that active listening may assist you with. Think about the behaviors of your group in the SSB Interview. Are they tuning you out rather than listening to what you have to say? In contrast to someone who is constantly wanting to speak, a good listener has the ability to gain the respect of the group. A good listener is always accepted as a member of the group. This capacity for accumulation can also enhance the conversation.

Avoiding Fish Market

Active listening allows us to consider problems from several angles, acknowledge other people’s feelings, and overall value them. Consider a time when you had a disagreement with a candidate or saw an argument break out between two or more candidates. Did you consider the situation from their point of view? Was this the root of the confusion? The first step in hearing the other person out and moving toward a solution is active listening. Additionally, it promotes a respectful group discussion.

Active Listening Prevents You From Missing Important Information

As a result of your increased degree of engagement with the speaker as a result of active listening’s emphasis on hearing the entire message, you can take in more specific information from the conversation. You’ll be able to recall the information more quickly if you’re receiving instructions or training.

Since you’ll probably have to train others and communicate with them as a leader, it’s critical to recall specifics since people will act on what you say. The recipients of your message will only hear a portion of the original message if you only heard a portion of it. This could result in misconceptions and have an adverse effect on productivity, task execution quality, or product quality.

Active listening aids in knowledge acquisition.

Active listening is a powerful skill that supports learning so you can advance your organization. Leaders should always embrace learning. By concentrating more intently, you can better integrate knowledge, comprehend various subjects, and later retain more specifics from what you’ve learned.

Planning a strategy or organizational change benefits greatly from active listening. This could entail using what you’ve learned to innovate or guide your company on a new path.

Active listening helps you recognize or foresee issues.

Active listening involves asking questions to make sure you fully comprehend the speaker’s message. This gives you the chance to ascertain whether there is a problem or whether what they are saying is a hint that one might arise, and you can then come up with a plan of action to deal with it.

It’s crucial to enable oneself to fully comprehend the issue and assess each of its components based on the specifics you hear. Instead of only treating the symptoms and having the issue later resurface, this can help you identify a potential underlying issue and address the problem at its core.

Chances by other group members

Additionally, the group members may always believe that someone who listens to others should be given a chance, therefore there is a higher likelihood of acceptance by the group and receiving a chance on the spot.

After India was freed from British domination, the Indian Army as we know it today was put into action. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is in charge of all aspects of command, control, and administration, oversees the India Army Headquarters. Six operational commands and one training command make up the Army. Each is commanded by a Lieutenant General who is on par with the Vice Chief in the Authority.

Ranks in the Indian Army broadly classified into three categories

• Commissioned
• Junior Commissioned
• Non-Commissioned or Other Ranks

These Ranks generally resemble the post-colonial era British army.

What is Second Lieutenant?

Prior to 2006, the Army, Navy, and Air Force’s respective first ranks for commissioned officers were 2nd Lieutenant, Ag Sub Lieutenant, and Pilot Officer.
These positions were eliminated by the Ajai Vikram Singh (AVS) Cadre Review in 2006, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force’s respective junior officer ranks are now Lieutenant, Sub Lieutenant, and Flying Officer.

Earlier when a trained GC used to get commissioned in the Indian Army he used to get the rank of Second Lieutenant. Second Lieutenant used to be a smaller or junior rank officer who used to lead a platoon that consisted of 10-40 soldiers.

Why was the rank removed?

As a step toward upgrading military ranks and duties, the Second Lieutenant rank was eliminated. The GOI made the choice based on its policies. In the previous organizational structure, the field army had officers in the grades of Second Lieutenant through Lieutenant Colonel, with the latter being the highest position at the level of Commanding Officer of a Battalion or Regiment. During a recent rank structure reorganization, the Colonel was given the responsibility of leading a battalion or regiment. The Second Lieutenant Rank was thus dropped in order to maintain the five ranks at the field level. The primary goal of this rank reform in the Army is to have younger officer profiles at higher levels of efficiency.

What is Pehla Kadam?

PEHLA KADAM as the name Suggest is the first step towards the new and adventurous life of an Army Officer in the Indian Army. This was formally replaced by our ex COAS General M.M Naravane by ANTIM PAG.

PEHLA KADAM Before 2021, there used to be ‘ANTIM PAG’ or the last step, after the parade which symbolises the completion of their training.

As COAS addressed by his speech, this “PEHLA KADAM” shows that the journey is not over, but it has started for the young officer and this first step will give him the confidence to deal with the forthcoming challenges.

After the training, crossing PEHLA KADAM or the First step symbolises the beginning of a new life of an officer. All those adventures and thrill are awaiting for them which they will have to face with bravery and true comradeship.

As part of a Rs 21,935-crore agreement, European aviation giant Airbus and India’s TATA group will jointly produce at least 40C-295 transport aircraft in India, with final assembly line being established in Gujarat’s Vadodara.

Prime Minister laid the cornerstone for the production plant on 30th October 2022 in order to move on with the arrangement made last year for 56 C-295MW aircraft with a capacity of 5 to 10 tons.

About Airbus C295

Airbus C295 is a new generation tactical airlifter which is considered in the light and medium category. Although it is strong and dependable, it is also incredibly versatile in terms of the range of tasks it can carry out. Under all weather, the C295 operates in multiple roles all over the world. It regularly conducts daytime and nighttime combat missions in all types of weather, including maritime and desert environments with extremely hot and cold temperature.

With the addition of winglets to the new C295 variant, the aircraft can carry more payloads over longer distances in hot and arid circumstances, resulting in fuel savings of about 4% and increased safety margins in hilly areas. The demand for varied air transport missions among today’s military services is rising and the C295 is ready to carry out its mission successfully regardless of what is required for an operation.

The C-295 is effective at a wide range of tasks outside of its usage as a tactical transporter. These included marine patrol, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), electronic signals intelligence (ELINT), parachute and cargo dropping, and electronic signals intelligence. Some of the equipment for customizing the aircraft to perform different missions has been put onto pallets, making installation and removal quick and easy. Although civil certification was gained to allow its use by government agencies, a commercial version of the C-295 was not pursued for a while by the firm due to the CN-235’s poor sales performance in the commercial aviation industry.

Up to 71 soldiers, or 50 paratroopers with war packs, can be transported on board the C-295, which is propelled by two Pratt & Whitney PW-127 turboprop engines. It has the ability to transfer supplies to areas that are inaccessible to the IAF’s bigger transport aircraft, including the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Super Hercules, or Ilyushin 76.

Some Special features of C295 are

• The plane can be converted into a number of different configurations, such as water bomber, an air tanker (for air to air refueling), for transporting VIPs, and for medical evacuation.
• With the length of 12.7m (41ft 8in), the C295 has the longest unobstructed cabin in its class. With a far bigger capacity for personnel than its rivals, Airbus estimates the aircraft can carry up to 71 seats.
• The advanced integrated avionics system with malfunctional displays improves situational awareness and flight safety, lowers pilot workload, and increases mission effectiveness.
• The aircraft has glass cockpit with digital avionics, including four large active matrix liquid crystal displays that are compatible with night vision goggles.

40 will be produced in India

A total of 40 aircraft will be produced in India by the TATA led Consortium led by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), as a part of the deal. Between September 2023 and August 2025, Airbus, Spain is projected to deliver the first 16 fly-away aircraft, while the first aircraft to be made in India is anticipated to arrive in September.

The C-295 represents Airbus Defense’s first significant victory in India. The H135M and AS565 Panther are two potential future offerings in the navy utility helicopter market.

Airbus has fielded the A330 MRTT in order to assist the IAF in its acquisition of airborne refueling tankers

Follow The Sovereign SSB for more such articles.

Reading has multiple benefits. A regular reader, or someone who has inculcated the habit of reading had improved memory, better cognitive abilities, increased concentration, strengthened vocabulary, command over language, and most importantly, builds your knowledge. Being a defence aspirant, one must adhere to an improved lifestyle. Reading requires a lot of patience. But in the long run, provides us with multiple good outcomes which improve our way of life.

Here are 15 books every defence aspirant must read for personality development and motivation:

1. Attitude is Everything by Jeff Keller

This book follows the author, Jeff Keller’s journey of going from a lawyer to becoming a motivational speaker. The book consists of twelve chapters, covering topics like how to confront your fears, to turning problems into opportunities.

Your attitude is everything. A positive attitude leads to positive outcomes and a negative attitude leads to negative results. Being a defence aspirant, having a positive attitude is a crucial aspect as being calm and focused is a sought-after personality trait.

This book is a must by for improving your attitude to yield better results!

2. You Can Win by Shiv Khera

This is a motivational book by Shiv Khera. The language used is easy to follow and understand. Using real-life stories, the author has made the book more authentic.

The book targets mainly the youth, providing an action plan before each of its eleven chapters.

The book being an International Bestseller, has motivated many across the globe and continues to instill new ideas among people of doing things differently and standing out from the crowd.

3. The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories by Rachna Bisht Rawat

This book brings out emotions you didn’t know exist.

Rachna Bisht Rawat beautifully explores the hearts and minds of the brave soldiers who won the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military honor.

The book covers twenty-one extraordinary real-life experiences of soldiers from the battlefields. It is more than enough to motivate any defence aspirant and make every individual proud of their motherland.

‘The Brave’ is a must read. It encapsulates motivation and examples of vigor, perseverance and bravery.

4. India’s Bravehearts by Lt. Gen. Satish Dua

What better book to read about the Indian Army than one written by an officer himself?

‘India’s Bravehearts’ covers thrilling combat stories of the Indian Army. It provides a closer look into the lives of the serving soldiers, of what it is like at the LoC (Line of Control) and the various emotions running through a soldier’s mind at any given minute.

The book is extremely touching and provides a soldier’s perspective on encountering enemy attacks. It is a first-hand account on persons who have survived the operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The book leaves you teary-eyed but also pumps adrenaline, motivation, and a sheer feeling of proudness.

5. Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai, 26/11 by Sandeep Unnithan

‘Black Tornado’ is based on the 26/11 terrorist attack which was carried out in Mumbai. The terrorist attack is also widely regarded as the world’s first hybrid terrorist attack.

The book covers how all three wings of the armed forces came together to fight through terror. The book grasps how these men were needed in the most desperate hours and how they did not let their motherland down and prevented the siege of Mumbai.

‘Black Tornado’ is a gripping book that gives a contemporary example of terror attacks and how it was overcome.

It is also based on actual facts and stays true to the account of the attack.

6. Winning the War in your Mind by Craig Groeschel

‘Winning the War in your Mind’ is a self-help book. It teaches you how to rewire your mind and escape the pattern of destructive thinking.

The book has solid ideas backed by research. It teaches us how to remove self-doubt and negative thinking.

Changing your perspective about yourself to a positive outlook has major impacts on crucial aspects of your life.

This book is must read if you struggle with a negative identity of yourself. It will leave you with a developed personality by the time you finish the book.

7. India’s Most Fearless (Part 1&2) by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh

This book is no secret to anyone. Any defence aspirant has heard of this book.

‘India’s Most Fearless’ beautifully captures true stories of heroism and bravery of our soldiers. The book covers stories from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

The writers have done a great job capturing the real-life events without making it extra dramatic in any way. The book will leave you with goosebumps and huge amounts of motivation to be a part of our nations armed forces.

8. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

This book makes you realise how small changes in everyday life can lead to greater impacts.

The book explains seven principles that make a person more effective, personally and professionally. It shows you how to maximise your production but not to the stage of burnout.

The book shows that by just adding seven effective habits to your everyday routine can expand your potential and leave you feeling fulfilled.

9. Wings of Fire by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari

‘Wings of Fire’ is an autobiography on the Missile Man of India and former President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

It shows how a man coming from a modest background goes on to achieving all that he did.

The book is deeply personal and passionate and has a message of hard work and believing in what you do. The book includes personal insights for Abdul Kalam ji, and his journey to success.

Having seen the work and determination Kalam ji has put in, this autobiography is sure to fill you up with immense motivation.

10. Death Wasn’t Painful by Dhirendra S. Jafa

The book covers a true account of incidents of when Indian fighter pilots were taken as prisoners during the 1971 Indo-Pak, Bangladesh Liberation War.

The book is heart breaking and heart-warming at the same time.

It covers everything that happened between the two countries and the stories of the brave pilots who fought valiantly for their country.

This book is a definite must read for all the fighter pilot aspirants out there!

11. Kargil: From Surprise to Victory by Gen. V. P. Malik

The intrusion of the Pakistani Army into key vantage points at Kargil is what lead to the brief war between India and Pakistan.

The man in-charge, Gen. V. P. Malik, gives us facts and truths in a well-documented and put together manner.

We get a chance to experience the soldiers thought process that was put into their every move through the words in the book. It is an excellent book that states the strengths, weakness, preparedness and unpreparedness of the Indian Army.

One should definitely read this book to get insights into a soldiers’ life at war.

12. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: The Man and His Times by Brig. Behram Panthaki and Zenobia Panthaki

Perhaps the most renowned leader in India’s Military history, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was the Chief of the Indian Army from 1969 to 1973.

His clever insights and tactics are what gave India an upper hand against Pakistan.

The book encapsulates Sam Manekshaw in his entirety; his humor, his personality, his courage and everything that made his who he was.

Every Indian Army aspirant knows about Sam Manekshaw, this book will expand your knowledge about him and give you valuable tips and motivate you to become a great officer.

13. Four Miles to Freedom: Escape from a Pakistani POW Camp by Faith Johnston

The book records the escape of Flight Lieutenant Dilip Parulkar, whose flight was shot down in enemy lines, from a Pakistani Prisoner of War camp, along with Malvinder Singh Grewal and Harish Sinhji.

Based on facts taken from interviews of officers who helped plan the escape, this book is anything but fiction. It keeps the reader hooked till the end.

A must read for anyone who loves a good narrative, based on facts and real-life incidents.

14. Shoot, Dive and Fly by Rachna Bisht Rawat

The author carefully and completely outlines what it is like to walk in the shoes of a soldier; to live their lives of danger, adrenaline, the rigor and adventure they experience.

A career in the uniform is not for the faint-hearted.

This book beautifully captures it all, engaging the youth to serve their country with pride.

15. The One Thing by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan

This is a must-read book especially for those individuals who overwork themselves. The book emphasizes on picking out the one most important point of work in a particular task and giving it your all.

It revolves around the value of simplifying one’s work. A self-help guide that teaches us to overcome the hurdles we may face and succeed in the face of failure.

These books are sure to fill any person up with heaps of motivation to lead a better life filled with discipline and a strong-minded will to achieve great things.

Personality development is a must for any defence aspirant, and these books will help you inculcate an officer-like attitude and keep you grounded and focused.

As we are aware from the fact that our country India has the 4th largest army in the world. Our Indian army holds a lot of potential in it, whether it is out saving our borders or helping our country from terrorism, it has always proved its capabilities to us. We always have the Great stories of these brave warriors, but what most of us do not know is that where these great warriors are made.

Yes, you all got it right, I am talking about the Military Training Institutes where these soldiers get the training to the best of their capabilities So that they can give their best for the country. Here they not only learn about the Weapon training but also become familiar with brotherhood and leadership qualities. These training centers not only train them for the battlefields but also train them for their life. Today, we will be talking about some of the Training Institutes which are given below:

1. National Defence Academy (NDA) Pune: The NDA is the tri-service training academy at Pune and a prominent institute for the military ethos where young gallant starts their journeys. Here, we get candidates directly after their 12th Class who are trained to become well-rounded gentlemen. It is one of the oldest and biggest training academies in India. Here, Cadets have imparted a blend of outdoor and indoor training. Outdoor training is carried out in the hilly and wooded terrain in and around the NDA campus. Indoor training includes theoretical and practical simulated training. Cadets are taught subjects such as tactical training, weapon training, map reading, military writing, field engineering, organization and administration, and radiotelephony.

2. Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun: This is considered among one of the Finest Training academies of India. Cadets come here directly through CDS Entry and from the NDA also. Valor and Wisdom is the motto of this academy which shapes young boys into men and embarks them into the finest Army officers. The training is emphasized on Drill, weapons, map reading, etc, and from here only the officers are en route for their respective regiments. Training is broadly categorized into character building, service subjects, and academic subjects. Service subjects give basic military knowledge up to the standard required for an infantry platoon commander.

3. Officers Training Academy Gaya: This is the academy that trains fresh out school boys that are selected through TES and Service entry people that are selected through SCO entry. It gives basic military training and makes them capable of military education. The academy has been equipped with state-of-the-art training facilities, other pre-commissioning training institutions.

4. Officers Training Academy Chennai: It is also among one of the finest academies that train GCS for 49 weeks that are recruited through NCC special, CDS OTA, SSCT, SSCWT, and the JAG entry. In this, we get to see Both males and females training together. After training for 49 weeks nation gets newly commissioned officers ready to serve the motherland. Into the academy, Cadets are organized into six companies majorly known as Meiktila, Naushera, Kohima, Jessami, Zojila & Phillora.

5. Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) Secunderabad: After one year of Basic military training, the TES cadets come here for their second phase of training. This is a Field based training academy where they are imparted with technical skills in Electronics and Mechanical branches. After grueling training of 4 years, they are awarded with a Btech degree and later given posting to their respective regiments.

6. The Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE)Mhow: It is also one of the CTWs for TES cadets. The Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow is a premier training institute of the training of Corps of Signals. It has a variety of training modules that focuses on today’s need for advanced warfare and cadets are taught IT and CSE branches.

7. College of Military Engineering (Pune): This Academy is Famous for Civil Engineering and makes out a TES cadet into a good officer as well as a good engineer who is always ready for carrying out operations anytime. It is located in Pune, Maharashtra.

8. Infantry School Mhow: The Infantry School, Mhow is the Largest and the Oldest military training center of the Indian Army. The Institution is responsible for Developing the complete spectrum of tactical drills and concepts of infantry operating in varied terrain and environment. This institution also trains the National Shooting Team under the aegis of Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) which is part of Infantry School.

9. Commando School Belgaum: The school basically provides commando training to the young soldiers and officers of the Indian Army. The Officers and Soldiers, who graduate from this school after brainstorming 35 days join the Ghatak platoon of their Units. It is situated on the Cradle of Infantry Belgaum, Karnataka. A total of 350 trainees are taken into the single batch. The 35 days course is designed to train the Soldiers in Unarmed combat, Navigation, Cliff Climbing, Intense Physical Activities, Heliborne, and Commando Insertion.

10. Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) (Nashik): CAATS is the main training course for Aviators of the Airwing of the Army, called The Army Aviation Corps. It is located at the Army Aviation Base in Nashik Road. Previously It has replaced the Indian Air Force’s academy, the Helicopter Training School (HTS), as the main training school. It mainly operates Cheetahs and Chetaks and is also equipped with Simulators. The Pilots are trained in Valley Flying, Special Forces missions, Night Flying, Tactical Flying, and Medical Emergencies training.

11. High Altitude Warfare School Gulmarg: The High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), Gulmarg offers two training programs, the Mountain Warfare course, and the Winter Warfare course. The Mountain Warfare course is conducted in Sonamarg between May and October each year. The Winter Warfare course is conducted in Gulmarg between January and April. The two courses train personnel in High Altitude warfare, counterintelligence, and survival skills. Ice-craft is taught at Machoi across Zojila. Army personnel deployed to the Siachen Glacier and other high altitude forward posts on the Himalayan borders go through these courses.

12. School of Artillery Nashik: School of Artillery, Deolali Nasik district, Maharashtra is a Premier Institute of the Army and imparts Effective Training, Evaluation of new Equipment for induction, and development of new concepts/ doctrine for application of artillery fire. The officers and soldiers are trained here for effective functioning with field guns. Artillery is known as the god of war and hence the elite officers are made with greater efforts.

13. Army Air Defence College Gopalpur: The Army Air Defence College (AADC), Gopalpur provides training for the provision of effective Air Defence Artillery protection to ground forces against long and medium-altitude enemies air attacks. They are also trained to preserve specified tactical and strategic vital areas and pivotal points from critical danger and destruction from enemy air attacks. Officers and soldiers from all three services are trained here with real-time operability.

14. Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW School) Vairengte: The CIJW School in Vairengte, Mizoram, is an institution for Counter-Guerrilla Training. The institution has risen to be the nodal agency for imparting counter-insurgency training for the other branches. The officers are given a special badge after the course and that you can identify easily. The training imparted is full of the deadliest tactics and real-time situations making them capable to carry out operations at any time.

15. Army Airborne Training School Agra: The Army Airborne Training School (AATS), Agra imparts training in aerial delivery and air transportation of men and material. It is also responsible for carrying out research and trials on on-air portability and para dropping of all types of equipment. The fear of jumping is relieved off here and the journey of a paratrooper starts with jumping in various situations. The elite soldiers are a symbol of hard work and the dedication shown to their training.

So, these were the 15 Top Military Training Institutes of the Indian Army. Though it became a bit longer, it is important for the defense aspirants, that they should know about them. I hope you would have liked reading this.

Good Day !!

Jai Hind future warriors, today we are going to discuss some of the tips to keep ourselves physically fit. Physical fitness is not just important to the IO and GOR but also an important part of our personality as they are the visible signs of the amount of hard work we are putting in to achieve our dream of the olive green

1. Running in the morning is best because it keeps you energized for the rest of the day. Start making weekly/fortnightly targets like if you are a beginner then start with 5kms for the first 15 days then increasing to 6,7, so on. You can also just sprint a small distance and then stretch-out. But a long run would be helpful in building stamina. Making running buddies would be great as you will be there to push each other when feeling exhausted or low on motivation.
2. Sit-ups just after the body is warm due to running (at least 30) will be beneficial in not just strengthening the core but also reduce fat.
3. Push ups – This is like basic of fitness, anywhere be it military or civil, push ups are a part of fitness tests. If you are a newbie, then don’t directly go for the parallel ones there are various methods to get into it, available online.
4. Start playing team games which are physically exhausting like football, hockey, basketball, etc. as they test not just physical strength but also build up two of the most important virtues: Leadership and Team-Spirit. When I say play it, I mean you to be there sweat out no matter you are not able to make effective passes at start, just work hard and with time you will become good.
5. Swimming uses all the muscles in the body so whether you swim a gentle breaststroke or hammer butterfly, you will get a full body workout. Exercising in water makes your body work harder so 30 minutes in a pool is worth 45 minutes of running. If you are a student who has his SSB and has JEE as a backup option this would be better than gyming because swimming is a great way to burn calories but is also less exhaustive for the body thus beneficial as you would not be tired throughout the day as opposed to hard-workout.
6. Regular cycling stimulates and improves your heart, lungs and circulation, reducing your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Cycling strengthens your heart muscles, lowers resting pulse and reduces blood fat levels. There’s a well known saying you never see a joyous face on a runner because they all must be cycling to be happy. Cycling burns good amount of calories and it will never wear you out(until you are a pro and going for those mountain hikes). If you are living in a city, morning would be a good time as there is no traffic, to explore the whole city and its outskirts at the same time workout. You can also replace commuting with bike to cycling your way to work/school/college.
7. Rope climbing would be great not just for physical fitness but is also an important part of physical fitness tests in any academy. Start with the basic method of climbing using both legs and hands, then improve to using just hands and finally to using two ropes and both hands to climb. But for this you need strong muscles and core. That can be done using push-ups.
8. Have a weekend off after the exams, why waste on gaming, go for hiking with your group of friends. You can search on web for nearby hiking spots and the equipment required{hiking boots, a backpack (to carry water and supplies), and possibly a walking stick}. Believe me the experiences gained here are invaluable. Rather than writing crammed up stories/SRTs/wats related to hiking, you would write your own experiences.
9. Skipping ropes is one of the best form of cardio but if you do it everyday, your body gets acquainted to that form so gradually your calories burn will reduce and you will not feel much difference. So if you want to continue with skipping, try different forms and no of repetitions. In between, you can do some push ups and squats to increase your calorie burn rate and also it will help you to tone your thighs and calf muscles . Also feel stressed in between long studies at home you can do the reps.
10. Yoga, I think the word is enough, just look up online for the asans, and start doing them as per their guidance. Just to stress that yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility.

Conclusion

Please see that if you are a beginner, don’t go for extremes in josh or seeing your friends, a small muscle tear may hamper everything for a week/month even. Make a plan with small targets at first and then gradually improve ahead. But remember to be consistent, otherwise, muscles become stiff.

We know that both these forces have proven their combat capabilities time and again. In the case of most aspirants, the slight chance of ending up in one of these elite units is a major reason why they chose this path.

Both these forces operate in a very secretive manner, hence speculations are often all we get about them. For aspirants, we present the difference between PARA-SF and NSG.

PARA-SF

The Indian Army’s Para (Special Forces), often known as Para SF, is a special forces unit that is part of the Parachute Regiment. Hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counter-proliferation, counter-insurgency, search and destroy, and human recovery are among the unit’s specialties.

The 50th Parachute Brigade was formed in October 1941 during World War II, and the unit’s history dates back to that time. The 9th Parachute Special Forces Battalion, part of the Parachute Regiment, was created in 1966 as the 9th Parachute Commando Battalion. It is the oldest of the Indian Army’s nine para SF battalions. It has participated in several successful operations throughout its history, including the 1971 Indo-Pakistan conflict, Operation Bluestar, Operation Pawan, Operation Cactus, the Kargil War, the 2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar, the 2016 Indian Line of Control strike, and countless anti-terror operations.

Structure and Organisation

Nine Special Forces, five Airborne, two Territorial Army, and one Counter-Insurgency (Rashtriya Rifles) battalions make up the Parachute Regiment. The regiment attempted to raise additional battalions to supplement the special forces’ strength, but the mission was not accomplished owing to the difficult selection process. Furthermore, in the absence of a centralized command and a unified and regulated method for selection, selection procedures vary even across Para (SF) battalions. To put it another way, various Para (SF) battalions have varying entry requirements.

There were intentions in the mid-1980s to combine the three para commando battalions of the Parachute Regiment into a single specialized organization, the Special Forces Regiment. However, because of logistical and administrative challenges, these plans were shelved, and the Parachute Regiment continues to train and recruit them.

The 9 battalions are:

1. 1 PARA (SF) – for urban warfare and CI/CT
2. 2 PARA (SF) – for mountain warfare and CI/CT
3. 3 PARA (SF) – for desert warfare and CI/CT
4. 4 PARA (SF) – for mountain warfare and CI/CT
5. 9 PARA (SF) – for mountain warfare, urban warfare and CI/CT
6. 10 PARA (SF) – for desert warfare and CI/CT
7. 11 PARA (SF) – for jungle warfare and CI/CT
8. 12 PARA (SF) – for jungle & mountain warfare and CI/CT
9. 21 PARA (SF) – for jungle & mountain warfare and CI/CT

Functions

• Specil reconnaissance, gathering intelligence
• Deep penetration and precision strikes behind enemy lines to sabotage crucial enemy facilities and communications.
• The Indian Army’s counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations include both covert and overt/direct action special operations.
• Hostage rescue operations are carried out both within and outside of Indian territory.
• Special operations, direct action, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counter-proliferation, counter-insurgency, search and destroy, and people recovery are among the duties assigned to the force.

Selection & Training

Volunteers make up the whole Indian paratrooper force. Some new recruits join the Para regiments, while others move from regular army formations. They go through a three-month probationary period / selection process for Paratroopers (Airborne) Battalions (5,6,7,23,29) and six-month probationary period / selection process for Para (Special Forces) Battalions (1,2,3,4,9,10,11,12,21 PARA). To be a para (Special Forces), all personnel must first qualify as Paratroopers; once selected, candidates may choose to advance to the SF

The first training to become a special forces operator takes 3.5 years, which is the longest in the world, but the training is ongoing. Members of the special forces get both basic and advanced training. They learn specialized infiltration and exfiltration techniques, either by air (fight freefall) or by water (combat diving).

NSG

The National Security Guard (NSG) is the Ministry of Home Affairs’ special counter-terrorism organization (MHA). Following Operation Blue Star, the Golden Temple attack, and the death of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, it was established on October 16, 1984, under the National Security Guard Act of 1986, “to fight terrorist operations and defend states against internal disturbances.” The Black Cats are a nickname for members of the National Security Guard.

Structure and Organisation

Special Action Unit (SAG)

SAGs 51 and 52 are the two types of Special Action Groups. The counter terrorist force (CTF), which is NSG’s counter-terrorist arm, is made up of both of them, as well as 11 SRG. Counter-terrorist and counter-insurgency operations are handled by 51 SAG and 11 SRG, while anti-hijacking operations are handled by 52 SAG. SRG members are mostly selected from CAPFs, whilst SAG members are mostly drawn from the Indian Army.

Special Ranger Group (SRG)

Special Ranger Groups (SRG) 11, 12, and 13 are the three SRGs. Along with 51 SAG, 11 SRG is part of the counter-terrorist force (CTF) and is solely employed for counter-terrorist activities. Close protection and special security services are provided by the 12 and 13 SRG for India’s high-profile targets, such as the defence minister. Border guarding troops like the BSF, ITBP, and SSB, as well as Internal Security Forces like the CRPF, CISF, and Assam Rifles, make up the SRG. In recent years, the Government of India has opted to withdraw SRGs from protection responsibilities and refocus them only on NSG mandates such as SAG and 11 SRG.

Special Composite Group (SCG)

The Special Composite Group (SCG) of the National Security Group (NSG) has established five regional centers for regional deployment. SCG is made of of Army and CAPF troops who are responsible for counter-terrorist activities in their area of duty. As Group Commander, each SCG is led by a colonel-rank officer on deputation from the Indian Army. The five regional hubs are as follows:

• 26 SCG Mumbai
• 27 SCG Chennai
• 28 SCG Hyderabad
• 29 SCG Kolkata
• 30 SCG Gandhinagar

Functions

• Counter hijacking tasks on land, sea, and air
• Bomb disposal (search, detection and neutralization of IEDs)
• Post Blast Investigation (PBI)
• Hostage Rescue missions like in Taj Hotel during 26/11 Mumbai attack
• VIP security (like security to Cabinet Ministers and others eminent persons)

Selection & Training

Selection is difficult, with a dropout rate of 70–80 percent. The basics take up three months of their 14-month training in Manesar, Haryana. A cross-country obstacle course, jumping from heights and over divides, and ascending various types of terrain are among the 26 aspects of physical fitness training. At the end of an obstacle-filled cross-country marathon, one endurance test combines martial arts and target shooting. This is used to assess the candidate’s ability to perform under duress and tiredness. Those who pass the examinations will be assigned to advanced training for nine months.Aspirants must also pass a psychological examination before being accepted into the NSG. Urban counter-terrorism, underwater operations, home intervention, counter-UAV and anti-drone operations, bomb detection and disposal abilities, and several other specialisations are all included in the training.

Conclusion

Regardless of the challenges they face, both these forces are well trained and well equipped to overcome them. Although they are trained to serve different functions, one common factor between them would be their rigorous training and commitment to excellence. Aspirants should be inspired by this and aim to inculcate that relentless pursuit for the objectives set for themselves.

PIQ stands for Personal Information Questionnaire. PIQ is a paper or set of basic questions written which is a very important paper required during your SSB. It contains a certain standard of questions which are very helpful for evaluators to judge you and find qualities of you in the whole SSB testing.

When is a PIQ form filled?

After the screening test of the candidates, those who have cleared the screening test, are provided 3 PIQ forms in SSB and 1 PIQ form in AFSB.

Sample PIQ Form

What does a PIQ form contain?

The questions related to

• Place of residence
• Demographic details
• Details of your family members
• Educational Details
• Age, height & weight
• Activities like NCC & Sports or Games played with Position Held if any
• Participation in Extra-circular activities – Interests & Hobbies
• Details of your previous SSB Attempts

Importance of PIQ in SSB Interview

PIQ form forms a base of your whole personality and character and before accessors actually assess you, they form an image and opinion of your personality by reading it. The psychologist and the IO forms an opinion about the candidate through their PIQ form.

By reading the PIQ the assessors get to know about everything about your life and then they assess and confirm it by reading your psych assessment and by taking your interview.

By reading your PIQ form, the psychologist frames an initial opinion about you. Suppose in your PIQ it is written that you have scored good marks in your school and college and you have participated in various activities, so qualities that are required in such activities will be coming out while writing your TAT stories. The psychologist will now interpret such qualities in the stories. Similarly, if we take another example of you being a sportsperson, teamwork which is the main factor in sports will eventually come out as a quality in your stories and WAT answers.

In the interview, most of the questions revolve around your PIQ only. The IO will be asking about your family, your city details, your friends, and colleagues, your responsibilities with respect to your family, and your occupation. He will be finding out the qualities you are possessing and have acquired throughout your life.

Some other important things can also be like

The place of Residence – In terms of facilities available in any city, it may be different in a metro city compared to that of a very small town. The facilities the candidate might have got during his upbringing and how judicially they have used those facilities can be predicted. Clearly, it gives a lot of insight into the candidate. This shows how parameters are formed about different candidates and they aren’t judged on a single scale.

Your Family background and parents’ occupation – The education level of the candidate’s family can be used to predict the level of awareness that a candidate gets while growing up. Similarly, if a family has sufficient income then it is a higher possibility that the candidate must have got optimum resources for their overall personality development.

If a PIQ form is filled hurriedly, this shows that the candidate is careless. Also if there are too many cuttings and overwriting it shows the carelessness of the candidate while filling the form.

How to fill a PIQ form correctly?

Firstly the candidate should know about himself while filling out the form. Introspect yourself, and your hobbies. Basically, you should know everything about yourself.

Have good handwriting – Good handwriting shows that a candidate is well organized and it also gives a good initial impression.

Always write the truth – Never lie in a PIQ form. If you don’t possess any hobby don’t bluff about it. Develop some hobbies but don’t write anything which you are not pursuing. You will be caught.

Some Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Keep writing PIQ forms before your SSB. This will help in your actual PIQ form filling. Candidates should be prepared with all the details that they require to fill out the form.
• The candidate must keep full attention while filling out this form, and write legible and to the point.
• The candidate should fill out the PIQ form in simple language. If you are writing or Reading as your hobby, you should out in a bracket what type of books you are reading (fiction, nonfiction, self-help). It can be used to your advantage since it allows the candidate to showcase their best points to the assessing officers.
• The candidate should Analyze themselves to make a clear image of themselves in their mind to answer easily about themselves.
• Know your personal details and avoid mistakes in the basic information.
• Be aware of whatever you writing in the form – the candidate should be aware of the aspects and topics they have written in the Form. Educational details, outstanding achievements, the income of family members, position in sports and activities, etc. have to be remembered exactly as stated in the PIQ.

Don’ts

• Don’t hide anything about your attempts in SSB. All of your information is with the MoD. So always write the correct number of total attempts you have done so far. Also, try to remember the details of the boards you have appeared on and the chest number.
• Do not overwrite and exaggerate personal information. Don’t try to flaunt yourself in front of the IO.
• Whatever is written in the PIQ form has been written by you only so whatever you are saying should equally match whatever you have written.
• Do not overwrite and exaggerate personal information.
• Avoid cutting and overwriting.
• Avoid matching with others’ PIQ forms.

I hope this article has helped improve your insights about the PIQ form.