Electronics gets him army entry,not NDA,SSB tests

“After working in the two companies,I realised that I lacked confidence,which is why I failed to qualify in the NDA and SSB exams. After successfully completing projects in the two companies,I gained confidence and learnt effective communication. It also helped me develop my personality,” Sagar said,adding that it helped him during the group discussion and group tasks of the Army technical entry examination. Sagar will be joining the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on April 12 for a 49-week module.

Elaborating on the army’s short service commission scheme,Sagar said that it is a lucrative career option for engineers.

“Today,many mechanical engineers do MBA,join a software firm and end up writing softwares. There is no application of their core qualification. The army’s technical entry is a good option for budding engineers to use their training for the country,” he said.

“The army received around 12,000 applications for this exam,of which 1,500 were shortlisted. Only 36 of these have been selected for posting under various engineering branches,” said Lt Col (retd) Pradeep Brahmankar of Apex careers where Sagar prepared for his exam.

Sagar will be joining the ‘corps of signals’ in the army to manage the war equipments such as radar,tracking weapon locations and so on. “After finishing my 10-year-term of army short service commission,I wish to join the Paratroopers regiment of the Indian Army,” he said.

Sagar is the only child of Suresh Kharpudikar and mother Saroj – both in private service. “My parents’ support and encouragement to pursue various army exams was a major boost,” he said.