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SSB Full Form, You All Need to Know About SSB

The SSB Stands For  Service Selection Board, a pivotal organization in India, tasked with identifying the next generation of leaders for the Indian Armed Forces. Aspiring Candidates who wish to join the Indian Armed Forces of Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force has to undergo a five day selection process commonly known as SSB Interview.  The Accessors will judge the candidate by psychological tests, group activities, and personal interviews and other Tasks. SSB has designed the the interview process in a way that  each day will uncover potential of candidates. The process not only evaluates candidates academic and physical capabilities but also their character and mental fortitude. Those who succeed in this rigorous assessment become part of a proud legacy, ready to serve and protect the nation. The SSB isn’t just a selection board; it’s the gateway to a thrilling and honorable career in the military, where every candidate has the chance to rise to greatness.

SSB Full Form

The Service Selection Board (SSB) evaluates candidates for officer positions in the Indian Armed Forces, assessing their mental and physical fitness, personality, and intelligence. The SSB Interview selection process is divided into two stages: Stage I includes a OIR ( Officers Intelligence Rating Test) and a Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT), while Stage II involves psychological tests, group tasks, and individual interviews. A panel of experts, including psychologists, GTO, and interviewing officers, focuses on measuring leadership potential, decision-making skills, and performance under pressure.

SSB Full Form Overview

The SSB Interview is considered one of the most challenging selection processes for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces, The SSB is comprehensive, focusing on various aspects such as psychological fitness, leadership qualities, and teamwork skills and other officer like qualities.

SSB Overview
Full Form Service Selection Board
Total SSB Boards 13
Duration 5 Days
Covered Exams
  • National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination (NDA & NA Exam)
  • Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE)
  • Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT)
SSB Direct Entry
  • Technical Graduate Course
  • Tech Entry Scheme
  • Advocate General
  • NCC Special Entry Scheme
  • University Entry Scheme
  • Navy’s Executive and Technical Branch Entry
  • Navy’s Education Branch Entry
  • Navy’s Pilot/ Observer Entry
  • IAF’s Meteorology Branch Course
  • Non-Technical Short Service Commission Courses
  • Technical Short Service Commission Courses
Test Types Physical Efficiency Tests – Personality Tests – Psychological Tests – Intelligence Tests

The candidates who clear written exams such as CDS, NDA, TA, INET and AFCAT are then called by respective military boards for SSB Interview. One can also appear for SSB Interview by getting shortlisted direct entries – TES, TGC, UES, SSC Tech etc. The selected students then need to appear before a Service Selection Board for an Intelligence and Personality Test.

SSB Interview Procedure

The SSB interview procedure consists of a comprehensive five-day evaluation aimed at assessing candidates for officer positions in the Indian Armed Forces. It begins with Stage I, which includes a written test and a Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Candidates who qualify then move to Stage II, featuring psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interviews conducted by a panel of experts. The SSB aims to identify those with officer-like qualities (OLQs), and successful candidates undergo a medical examination before being placed on a merit list for commissioning.

Day 0 (Reporting)

The candidates are usually received at the station by an officer(s) of the board and from there they are taken to the selection center.

  • After the candidates are settled in, an ‘Opening Address’ takes place where an officer of the board briefs the candidates of their stay for the next 5 days.
  • Document Verification takes place after that where the original documents of the candidates are verified.

In some boards (esp. Air Force) the Reporting day is regarded as the Day 1 of SSB and the testing starts on the same day

Day 1 (Screening)

The first day of SSB involves 3 tests:

  • Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PP&DT)
  • Officer Intelligence Rating Test (OIR Test)

Candidates are called for the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test in the morning. The OIR test is a multiple-choice reasoning test with 50 questions based on both verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Candidates have 17 to 20 minutes to complete the test. Based on their performance, they are ranked from OIR I (highest rank) to OUT 5 (lowest rank).

Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PP&DT): This test can be further categorized into:

Assessment Stage Description
Picture Perception An image is displayed for 30 seconds.
Candidates note down details like sex, age, and mood of characters, and actions performed by them.
Candidates create a story based on the image within a time period of 4 minutes.
Group Discussion A group of 10-15 candidates is formed.
Each candidate narrates his/her story.
Group discusses individual stories to reach a common consensus.

The results are declared after which the shortlisted candidates are retained for the subsequent round of testing. The Candidates who are clears the Stage 1 are screened in and rest who did not qualify the Stage 1 are Screened Out and send back on the same day.

Day 2 (Psychology Test)

On the second day of SSB, a Psychological Test is conducted. Following tests take place on this day: The Psychology test is conducted next day in Army entries and on the same Day 1 in the Airforce Entries.

Test Type Description Time Allotted
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Candidates view 12 images (including 1 blank). 4 minutes per image
Write a story on each image.
Word Association Test (WAT) 60 words are displayed for 15 seconds each. 15 seconds per word
 Candidates write down a sentence for each word based on their immediate thoughts.
Situation Reaction Test (SRT) A booklet with 60 real-life situations is provided. 30 minutes
Candidates write their reactions to each situation.
Self-Description Test (SDT) Candidates write paragraphs covering their self-description. 15 minutes
Include opinions of parents, teachers, friends, and qualities candidates wish to develop.

These tests are aimed to gauge the psychological suitability of a candidate for the defence forces.

Day 3 (Group Testing – I)

SSB Day 3 involves Group Testing. Here several outdoor tests are conducted where the candidates need to take part in groups. This day involves the following group tests:

Test Type Description Duration
Group Discussion Two consecutive discussions on current events or social issues. 15- 20 minutes each
Group Planning Exercise (GPE) Candidates, in groups of 10-15, are given a story with issues. Time not specified
Identify issues and provide practical solutions.
Progressive Group Task (PGT) Overcome 4 obstacles in a group with provided helping material and rules. Time not specified
Group Obstacle Race (GOR) Groups compete in a snake race, tackling 6 given obstacles. Time not specified
Half Group Task (HGT) Similar to PGT but conducted with a smaller group over a single obstacle. Time not specified

Day 4 (Group Testing – II)

Day 4 is again dedicated to Group Testing. Following tests are conducted on this day:

Test Type Description Duration
Lecturette Candidates choose one topic from 4 options and speak on it for 3 minutes. 3 minutes
Individual Obstacles (IO) Candidates individually clear 10 obstacles within 3 minutes, marked for difficulty. 3 minutes
Command Task (CT) Each candidate acts as a commander, given an obstacle similar to HGT to overcome with subordinates. Time not specified
Final Group Task (FGT) The entire group reunites to complete a task similar to PGT within a stipulated time. Time not specified
Personal Interview Conducted on Day 2, 3, and 4 after daily tasks. Questions cover everyday experiences, work, education, family, hobbies, etc. Time not specified

Day 5 (Conference)

Day 5 is the last day in which the assessor starts with a closing address, then the conference of candidates starts.

  • A board conference is conducted where all the officers who assessed the candidates in the previous days are present. Each assessor discusses among themselves with respect to the suitability of a candidate.
  • Each candidate then appears individually before the board where their total assessment is narrated, and the board makes a recommendation accordingly.
  • The candidates who are borderline are given certain situations and then a collective decision is taken.

After the result is announced the shortlisted candidates are retained for further medical examinations. And once you clear the medicals and made it to merit list then you become worthy of wearing the stars of pride after the rigorous training process.

Attributes Assessed by SSB

SSB assesses the following attributes of the candidates:

Category Traits
Officer-like Qualities Effective intelligence and reasoning ability
Organizing and social adaptability skills
Cooperation and sense of responsibility
Effective leadership qualities
Psychological Attributes Positive attitude and self-confidence
Clear and logical expression of thoughts
Ability to handle stress and pressure
Group Dynamics Teamwork and cooperation
Problem-solving skills
Effective communication

Full Form

Related Articles
List of SSB Centers Daily Routine for Defence Aspirants
Difference between AFSB and SSB Interview? SSB Interview Questions

FAQs

How many Days  the SSB interview take ?

SSB interview is a five Days Long process .

Is SSB difficult ?

Yes, SSB is difficult if you don't prepare properly. But with right guidance and study material you can easily able to crack SSB.

What is the Full form of SSB ?

SSB stands for service selection board .

What is Picture Perception test in SSB?

An image is displayed for the time period of 30 seconds and the candidates need to note down its details such as sex, age, and mood of the characters, action performed by them. The candidates then create a story based on that image in a time period of 4 minutes.

What is Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?

In this test, candidates are shown 12 images (including 1 blank) and then they need to write a story on each for 4 minutes. The time limit is imposed to gauge the natural response of each candidate.

What is Command Task?

In command task, each candidate is made the commander and is given an obstacle similar to HGT which he/she needs to overcome with the help of his subordinates.

Who is eligible for SSB Interview?

The Candidates who clears the competitive examinations like NDA, CDS, AFCAT etc and those who are eligible for the direct entry in the Army from TES, TGC, ACC, NCC, SSC ( Technical) , SSC ( Non Technical) , JAG Entry are eligible to appear for the SSB Interview.

How many attempts for SSB Interview?

There is no such limit to the number of attempts for SSB Interview. The Age limit factor affects the candidates number of attempts in the SSB Interview.

Can i clear SSB in 1st Attempt?

Yes, Candidates can clear the SSB in 1st attempt itself.

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