Life at Indian Military Academy

About Indian Military Academy

The Indian Military Academy (IMA) is the oldest Military Academy in India and trains officers for the Indian Army. It is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It is one of the elite Institutions of the Country training Gentlemen Cadets for commission in the Indian Army. The IMA was established in 1932 after a recommendation by a military committee set up under the chairmanship of General (later Field Marshal) Sir Philip Chetwode. Starting from 40 male cadets in 1932, IMA now has a sanctioned capacity of 1,650. Cadets undergo a training course that has a duration of 3 and 16 months depending on the entry criteria. Upon completion of the course at IMA cadets are permanently commissioned into the army as Lieutenants. This post gives an insight into Life at Indian Military Academy.

Training at Indian Military Academy

The objective of training at IMA is the optimum development of intellectual, moral, and physical qualities essential for leadership in the profession of arms. Training at the Indian Military Academy thus inculcates those qualities in Cadets undergoing training at the IMA.

IMA Cadets are organized as a Regiment with four training battalions comprising three or four companies each. There were fifteen companies in 2010. Battalions are named after the generals of the Indian Army, while companies are named after the battles of the Army. The names of battalions and companies are as follows:

Cariappa Battalion: Kohima Company, Naushera Company, Poonch Company, Hajipir Company
Thimayya Battalion: Alamein Company, Meiktila Company, Dograi Company.
Manekshaw Battalion: Imphal Company, Zojila Company, Jessore Company, Sangro Company
Bhagat Battalion: Sinhgarh Company, Keren Company, Cassino Company, Basantar Company
Siachen Battalion (ACC Wing)

The IMA calls its trainee as Gentleman Cadet. The simple reason for calling them Gentleman Cadets is that the academy expects its trainees to hold the highest moral and ethical values. The GCs come from diverse backgrounds with different habits and grooming. The Academy plays a very significant role in narrowing those differences and help them to develop common bonding as human beings. There is no preferential treatment to any GC. All GCs shape up together; together they break bread, together they play and together they shed sweat and blood. This bonding helps them to develop values like camaraderie, esprit-de-corps, and oneness.

The training at IMA is full of action and comprises route marches, photography, painting, seminars, term papers, tours, and sports. It is fast and the aim of the training is to develop the physical and mental potential of cadets.

The IMA equips and prepares cadets to handle situations that they would face on the battlefield where there is no room or scope for failure or explanation. A GC learns plenty of values of life during his short stay in the Academy. The training curriculum consists of Physical Training, Drill, Weapon Training, and Leadership Training. The academy trains GCs to cope with high levels of stress and strain through rigorous training sessions. On completion of training, the GCs are trained and confident enough to handle any kind of situation.

The daily routine of GCs at IMA

On a normal routine day, the GCs generally wake up at 0400 hours and report to their senior. After a rigorous training session, the GCs are ready for their morning periods. The next part of the daily routine is the PT Ground or Drill Square, where they put in all their strength for the next one and a half hours. Then they return to their cabin by maintaining proper squads. They take bath and change over to next rig. Now, to have something good for breakfast, they head towards the Vikram Batra mess for breakfast.

The GCs have to reach their classes in time. After the lectures are over, they proceed for lunch in proper squads. During the afternoon, they undergo unofficial training in the name of course spirit. Now comes the toughest part of the day – the study period. Then comes the order to fall in followed by dinner, which they either skip out of tiredness or have very little time so as to leave the mess as soon as possible. The GCs, though completely tired, have to go for night Physical Training (PT) but thanks to the Battalion Duty officers that lights out is observed strictly.

IMA does not just prepare soldiers and warriors, they develop complete human beings.

Activities at IMA

There are more than 30 clubs at the IMA to impart complete training to the Gentlemen Cadets. These include interesting hobby clubs that conduct indoor and outdoor activities twice a week under the guidance of officers. The GC office bearers manage the activities of the club and the Officer in Charge provides guidance to make the best utilization of available time and resources.

Adventure activities are a part of the routine in the Indian Army. These activities develop a sense of purpose, determination, camaraderie, and courage in individuals, which are hallmarks of a warrior. The IMA organizes a wide range of activities to imbibe the spirit of adventure in the Gentlemen Cadets (GCs). IMA procures expert coaching and the latest equipment available in the world market for the conduct of adventure sports. The GCs go for various hikes during the mid-term break which include treks to Joshimath, Hemkund Sahib, Badrinath, Pong Dam, Valley of Flowers, Kedarnath, Chakrata, Tiger Falls, Nainital, Yamnotri, Gangotri, Shimla, Varanasi, and Kulu – Manali.

How to prepare for CDS Exam?

Lakhs of students dream to be a part of the Indian Military Academy, one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. But, only a few can finally make it. It requires sincere dedication and utmost hard work to make it to the Indian Military Academy. Consequently, candidates need to do deep intensive study, a lot of practice, and above all, they must develop meticulous time management skills to clear the written examination. These skills don’t develop in a day. It is a result of continuous hard work and perseverance. One needs to put in consistent effort to get ready to face the final challenge.

Here, Shaurya Bharat Defence Exams Learning App comes to your rescue. The app provides comprehensive study material for students to study. The experienced and dedicated team of Shaurya Bharat leaves no stone unturned for its students. Mock tests, live exams, and practice sets give a lot of practice to students and prepare them to face any challenge. For more details on the CDS examination, logon to https://shauryabharat.com/officers/upsc-cds-exam/

For details refer to the official website of UPSC – https://www.upsc.gov.in/

To apply online visit https://upsconline.nic.in/

Use the following link to download the Shaurya Bharat app – The best digital platform to prepare for the CDS entrance examination: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shauryabharat