Pervin Malhotra

Q.After I missed the NDA deadline, I joined an engineering college instead after Class XII. I am currently pursuing BTech (Civil). However, I am still very keen to join the Indian Army, if it’s still possible. Please tell me how I can do so.

— ujagar singh bisht

A.Sure, it certainly is possible! And it’s so wonderful to hear you say that joining the army is your first career choice.One of the finest fighting forces in the world, the Indian Army gives you opportunities for continuous professional growth at every step. Where else will you get such an opportunity to constantly upgrade your skills?And, there are specific entry routes for engineering students like you who wish to join the Army:

• University Entry Scheme (Permanent Commission)

Eligibility: Pre-final / final year Engineering studentsAge: 19 – 25 yearsSelection: WSSB Interview, Medical ExamNotification for the UES usually appears in May every year.Upon selection, you’ll undergo training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.

• Technical Graduate Entry Scheme (Permanent Commission)

Eligibility: Final year Engineering students / Graduate EngineersAge: 20 – 27 yearsSelection: Group Tests; Psychological Tests; Interview; Medical Exam.Recruitment through TGES is conducted twice a year with the notifications appearing in April and October.Upon selection, you’ll undergo one year of training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.

• Short Service Commission (Technical) Men / Women

Eligibility: Graduate Engineers in notified disciplinesAge: 20 – 27 years

Selection: Direct SSB interview

Recruitment for SSC (Technical) is done twice a year with the notifications appearing in January and July.Upon selection, you’ll be sent for 49-weeks of training at the Officer Training Academy (OTA), Chennai.You’ll find a wealth of details on: joinindianarmy.nic.in

Engine driver in Railways

Q.I am a diploma holder in mechanical engineering. Can you please tell me how I can become an engine driver in the railways?

— mahinder paliwal

A.Engine drivers are now called Loco Pilots. So, you can apply for the post of Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) and work alongside the Loco Pilot to ensure the safe and punctual running of trains in the Indian Railways.Besides assisting the Loco Pilot in driving the train, you’ll also watch out for signals, carry out minor repairs and perform regular safety checks.The job requires you to remain alert and focussed for long stretches of time. Presence of mind is essential to this job.As far as the eligibility is concerned, you’ll be glad to know that you have what it takes. The minimum academic qualification is matriculation (passed class 10) plus an ITI Diploma (recognised by AICTE) in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics or Automobile Engineering.The selection process comprises a written exam followed by an interview, aptitude test and a medical test.The 90-minute test consists of 120 multiple-choice questions ranging in topics from General English/Hindi, Basic Arithmetic, and General Knowledge as well as some subject-specific questions based on the specified minimum qualifications.Your next promotion will be to the level Sr Assistant Loco Pilot and thereafter, Loco Pilot. Loco Pilots can further go on to become Loco Foremen (Loco Supervisors), Power Controllers or Crew Controllers.It may perhaps surprise you to know that our Indian Railways happens to be the country’s biggest recruiter (over 14 lakh people are employed presently). And with our swiftly proliferating railway network, IR is expected to emerge as the world’s largest within the coming decade.Recruitment for the post of ALP as well as several other posts in the Indian Railways is done each year by the Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs). These 21 RRBs spread across the country have clearly defined Railway Zones, Divisions, Production Units, etc. for which they select candidates.Do make sure you keep out an eye for the recruitment notices that are issued in the leading newspapers including the Employment News as well as this paper.

Practising law in India with a foreign degree

Dehradun, April 4

Shemsher Singh Bisht, president of the PBOR (personnel below officer rank) Purva Sainik Welfare Association, has said the association will take every possible step to address grievances of ex-servicemen in the state. Creating awareness on beneficiary schemes introduced for the retired defence personnel is a regular feature of the association.Bisht said Rajkumari Thapa was appointed president of the newly constituted women cell of the association. He said Shobha Tamang and Kamla Gurung were appointed vice-president of the women cell. The cell was constituted to address grievances of the women members of the association and also women family members of the retired defence personnel. — TNS

The landmark step is bound to bring down the grievances of civil and military employees, pensioners and disabled soldiers since the MoD was known to litigate till the Supreme Court in cases decided against it.

In a move which will provide major relief to military personnel involved in litigation with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has issued strict guidelines to reduce frivolous appeals filed in Supreme Court against serving and retired personnel.

The new policy, passed last week, states that no appeals would be filed in sensitive matters or those involving public policy unless approved by the defence minister himself. Taking a strong view regarding routine filing of appeals in the Supreme Court, Parrikar, passed orders to curb this tendency by overhauling the procedure of litigating in service related matters.The landmark step is bound to bring down the grievances of civil and military employees, pensioners and disabled soldiers since the MoD was known to litigate till the Supreme Court in cases decided against it. On implementation, the Ministry is expected to shed the ‘compulsive litigant’ tag. In the fresh MoD policy, the concern of the defence minister over rising litigation in routine matters and those involving meager financial implications has been noted. The fresh procedure would now involve the processing of proposals by the defence services headquarters whether to file an appeal or not through a set channel. The approval will be sought from the concerned joint secretary who would either send the file back without approval or for the views of legal advisor (Defence) if he feels that the case is fit for appeal. If the legal advisor too feels that the case is not fit for appeal and the joint secretary agrees, then also the file would be sent for implementing the lower courts orders. In case the joint secretary still is in favour of filing an appeal, the approval of additional secretary would have to be taken before moving the Supreme Court. The step also comes soon after the submission of the Report of the Committee of Experts constituted by Parrikar which expressed displeasure on the MoD for ‘indulging in litigation of luxury’ and which recorded that appeals were being filed as a default reaction and by indulging in ‘ego-fuelled’ litigation. The committee, comprising Lt Gen (retd) Mukesh Sabharwal, Lt Gen (retd) Richard Khare, lawyer Maj Navdeep Singh, Kargil veteran Maj DP Singh and former Judge Advocate General Maj Gen (retd) T Parshad, had reminded the MoD that the government was not an ordinary litigant trying to win against its own citizens by hook or crook and it was its duty to settle honest claims and policies already adjudicated by High Courts and Supreme Court. The Committee had further recommended that in case of both civil and military employees, decisions of tribunals in their favour should normally be accepted and a challenge should only lie in exceptional cases at best till the high court and only in the rarest of rare cases to the Supreme Court. –

Shaurya Karanbir Gurung

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1

Pakistan’s Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has promised the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take action against anyone linked to the Pathankot IAF base attack if evidence is provided. After the assurance, the Indian agency has given “credible” inputs to the JIT on the involvement of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar.The NIA sleuths also told the JIT they would like to visit Pakistan to carry forward the investigation. “The dates will be worked out later,” said NIA Director General Sharad Kumar at the end of five days of discussions with JIT, which returned to Pakistan today.He said the agency had presented the JIT with “concrete evidence” against the JeM bosses who conspired in the attack and the handlers of the terrorists.Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the result of the JIT visit was “positive” and it had “not contradicted our findings”. He, however, said no date had been fixed for an Indian team’s visit. On March 28, when the talks began, NIA had shown the JIT intercepts of conversations between the slain terrorists and Azhar, his brother Rauf Asgar and their handler.

Idea ‘welcomed’

• They (Pak) welcomed the idea (of NIA visit) and dates will be worked out later— Sharad Kumar, NIA Director General