14 Complete List of SSB Centers: Army, Airforce, and Navy

COMPLETE LIST OF SSB CENTERS FOR ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND NAVY IN INDIA

The Services Selection Board (SSB) is responsible for selecting officers for the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy through a rigorous 5-day interview process. Candidates appearing for NDA, CDS, AFCAT, TES, INET, and other officer entry exams are assigned an SSB center based on their entry type and service preference.

If you’re aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces, knowing the SSB center locations and their respective boards will help you prepare better for your selection process. Below is the detailed list of SSB centers across India for the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Indian Army Entries
NDA (National Defence Academy	After 12th (Army, Navy & Air Force)
CDS (Combined Defence Services Exam)	– After graduation
TES (Technical Entry Scheme	– For candidates with PCM in 12th
TGC (Technical Graduate Course	Engineering graduates
SSC (Short Service Commission) Entry	Technical & Non-Technical
JAG Entry	For law graduates

 

Indian Navy Entries
NDA (Naval Wing) & CDS (Naval Academy
10+2 B.Tech Entry	For PCM students
INET (Indian Navy Entrance Test) –	For officer-level technical/non-technical branches
SSC Executive/Technical Branches

 

Indian Air Force Entries
NDA (Air Force Wing) & CDS (AFA - Air Force Academy
AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test)	Flying, Technical, and Ground Duty branches

 

Army SSB Centers (Indian Army)

The Indian Army conducts SSB interviews at four major Selection Centers across India:

1. Selection Center East (SCE), Allahabad (Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh

SSB Boards: 11 SSB, 14 SSB, 18 SSB, 19 SSB
One of the largest SSB centers in India, conducting assessments for various Army entries like NDA, CDS, and TES.

2. Selection Center Central (SCC), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

SSB Boards: 20 SSB, 21 SSB, 22 SSB
Known for its efficient evaluation process, this center assesses candidates for different officer entries.

3. Selection Center South (SCS), Bangalore, Karnataka

SSB Boards: 17 SSB, 24 SSB
One of the most prestigious SSB centers, with state-of-the-art training and testing facilities.

4. Selection Center North (SCN), Kapurthala, Punjab

SSB Boards: 31 SSB, 32 SSB
This center mainly evaluates candidates from Northern regions aspiring for a career in the Indian Army.

Air Force SSB Centers (Indian Air Force – AFSB Centers)

Candidates applying for Air Force officer entries (such as NDA, AFCAT, CDS, and Meteorological Branch) undergo AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) interviews at five different centers:

1. 1 AFSB, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

One of the oldest AFSB centers, conducting tests for NDA, AFCAT, and CDS candidates.

2. 2 AFSB, Mysore, Karnataka

Known for its excellent training infrastructure and high selection rate.

3. 3 AFSB, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

A relatively new selection board evaluating Air Force aspirants with modernized selection techniques.

4. 4 AFSB, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

One of the major centers for AFCAT and NDA Air Force entry selections.

5. 5 AFSB, Guwahati, Assam

This center mainly caters to candidates from North-East India aspiring to join the Air Force.

Navy SSB Centers (Indian Navy – NSB & SSB Centers)

The Indian Navy has its own Naval Selection Boards (NSB) and SSB Centers to evaluate officer candidates for different entries like INET, NDA (Navy), CDS (Navy), and 10+2 B.Tech Entry.

1. Naval Selection Board (NSB), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

📌 One of the primary selection boards for Indian Navy officer candidates.

2. Naval Selection Board (NSB), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

📌 Known for its structured selection process with a focus on leadership and decision-making skills.

3. Naval Selection Board (NSB), Kolkata, West Bengal

📌 Conduct assessments for various technical and executive branch officer entries in the Indian Navy.

4. Naval Selection Board (NSB), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

📌 A key testing center with advanced facilities for screening and psychological assessments.

SSB Selection Process: What to Expect?

The SSB interview is a five-day selection process designed to assess a candidate’s officer-like qualities (OLQs), leadership skills, intelligence, and personality. Here’s a brief overview of the process:

Day 1: Screening Test

• Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test – Basic verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
• Picture Perception & Description Test (PPDT) – Writing and narrating a story based on a given picture.

🔹 Only candidates who clear the screening test proceed to the next rounds.

Days 2 to 4: Psychological, GTO & Interview Round

• Psychological Tests – Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Word Association Test (WAT), Situation Reaction Test (SRT), and Self-Description Test (SDT).
• Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks – Group discussions, outdoor obstacle tasks, command tasks, and teamwork-based exercises.
• Personal Interview (PI) – A one-on-one interview to assess the candidate’s suitability for officer training.

Day 5: Conference Round & Result Announcement

• Final interaction with SSB officers before results are declared.
• Recommended candidates proceed for medical examinations before final merit list selection.

Key Qualities Assessed in SSB (Officer-Like Qualities - OLQs)

The SSB interview focuses on testing the 15 Officer-Like Qualities (OLQs) that are essential for leadership roles in the Armed Forces:

Planning & Organizing

• Effective Intelligence
• Reasoning Ability
• Organizing Ability

Social Adaptability & Interaction

• Social Adaptability
• Cooperation
• Sense of Responsibility

Leadership & Decision Making

• Initiative
• Self-Confidence
• Speed of Decision

Dynamism & Determination

• Ability to Influence Group
• Liveliness
• Determination

Mental Strength & Stamina

• Courage
• Stamina
• Willpower

Candidates who demonstrate these qualities stand a better chance of getting recommended.

Key Notes for Candidates:

1. SSB interviews for Army, Air Force, and Navy follow a similar pattern but have service-specific variations.
2. Candidates are allocated centers based on their entry type (NDA, CDS, AFCAT, TES, INET, etc.).
3. The selection rate is low, so candidates must prepare thoroughly with self-practice and expert guidance.
4. Personality, confidence, logical thinking, and leadership skills play a crucial role in getting recommended.

SSB Medical Examination & Final Merit List

1. Recommended candidates undergo a detailed medical examination at a designated military hospital.
2. After medical clearance, the final merit list is prepared based on SSB performance, medical status, and exam marks (NDA/CDS/AFCAT, etc.).

How to Prepare for SSB Interviews?

1. 📌 Understand the OLQs (Officer-Like Qualities) and work on improving them.
2. 📌 Practice psychological tests (TAT, WAT, SRT, SDT) to improve response time.
3. 📌 Improve communication skills for group discussions and personal interviews.
4. 📌 Stay updated with current affairs for better performance in the interview round.
5. 📌 Enhance physical fitness for outdoor GTO tasks.

Read more:

What are the Nine GTO Tasks in SSB Interview?