Sports Quota in the Armed Forces

24-March 2021........... 1 Comment(s)

Hello Defence Aspirants! In this article I have summed up sports quota entry details for all of you. The criteria for recruitment under sports quota is as under:-

INDIAN ARMY:

Direct Entry NaibSubedar / Equivalent : The recruitment is made to the extent of 2% of vacancies occurring in rank of NaibSubedar / equivalent every year and is limited to maximum 50 vacancies every year for Indian Army.

Terms and Conditions
(i)	Age – 16 to 24 years for Indian Army.
(ii)	Physical and Medical Standards – As per Service norms.
(iii)	Educational Qualifications – Minimum Matric.
Eligibility Criteria
(i)	Winner of any medal in Senior National Championship/National Games.
(ii)	Winner of Gold Medal at Junior National Championship.
(iii)	In case of team events, individual should be a playing member of National Team or playing member of finalist team in Senior National Championships / National Games.

Direct Entry Havildar:

Recruitment to extent of 2% of vacancies occurring in rank of Havildar every year, under aegis of DCOAS (IS&C) through Regimental Centres of respective Arms and Services.

Terms and Conditions
(i)	Age – 17 ½ to 22 years.
(ii)	Physical and Medical Standards – As laid down for recruitment.
Eligibility Criteria
(i)	Represented a State or Country in National/International competitions either at Senior or Junior level.
(ii)	Represented University in Inter-University Tournaments conducted by Inter University Sports Board.
(iii)	Represented State School Teams in National Sports or Games for Schools conducted by All India School Games Federation.
(iv)	Represented District Team in State Sports conducted by State Sports Federations.

Recruitment through Army Recruiting Offices (AROs)

Sportsmen can attend a recruitment rally of concerned ARO as a normal candidate. Sportsmen are given bonus marks commensurate to level of participation.

Recruitment in Open Category under Unit Headquarters Quota(UHQ)

To extent of maximum 20% of Soldier Category (General Duty) and Soldier Category (Technical) vacancies allotted to Regimental Centres under UHQ.

INDIAN NAVY:

Acting Petty Officer:

Eligibility Criteria
(i)	Educational Qualification: 10+2 Pass
(ii)	Age: 17- 22 years
(iii)	Sports Qualification: i) Team Games: Should have represented a State in Nationals, either at Junior or Senior level, or represented a University in Inter University Sports Tournaments.
(iii)	(ii) Individual Games: Should have attained a minimum of 6th position in Nationals (Sr.), 3rd position in Nationals (Jr.) or 3rd position in Inter University Tournaments.

Senior Secondary Recruit (SSR)

Eligibility Criteria
(i)	Educational Qualification: 10+2 Pass
(ii)	Age: 17- 21 years
(iii)	Sports Qualification: Should have represented at International / National / State level or represented a University in the Inter University tournament.

Matric Recruit (MR)

Eligibility Criteria
(i)	Educational Qualification: 10th Pass
(ii)	Age: 17- 21 years
(iii)	Sports Qualification: Should have represented at International / National /State level tournament.

INDIAN AIR FORCE:

Indian Air Force recruits outstanding sportsman against the authorized cadre vacancies of Airmen in the rank of Aircraftsmen.

Eligibility Criteria
(i)	Educational Qualification: 10+2 equivalent
(ii)	Age: 17- 21 years (as on date of enrolment)
(iii)	Sports Achievement: The individual should have achieved any of the following: Individual representing country in the Junior International meets in any discipline. Individual attaining the standard of fifth place in the Junior National Championship and Inter University Championship. In team events, the individual should have represented state in Junior National Championship and National School Tournaments conducted by School Games Federation of India (SGFI)

The details of sports quota recruitment in the Armed Forces during the last three years are as follows. (This information was tabled in a written reply by RakshaRajyaMantriShriShripadNaik to a question asked by ShriAkhilesh Prasad Singh in RajyaSabha).