SSB Interview 2022: Difference between SSB and AFSB

Service Selection Board(SSB) is an institution responsible for the selection of officers for the Armed Forces including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. The board evaluates the candidates on different officer like parameters which are called Officer Like Qualities through its various tests.

The board not only tests the candidates physically but mentally also. The candidates who possess officer like qualities are selected for the training process in different academies including Officer Training Academy(Chennai), Indian Military Academy (Dehradun), Airforce Academy(Dundigal), and Indian Naval Academy(Ezhimala).

Let's understand what is an SSB interview and the SSB Interview procedure in detail to help you efficiently target SSB interviews. Also read ahead to find various entry criteria, pay scale, written exam information, and medical requirements for SSB Interview. Follow the SSB Interview dates to keep track of your preparation.

The SSB Interview 2021 is a five days long procedure that is conducted in two different stages. Stage I consists of two different tests which are OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating) and PP & DT (Picture Perception & Description Test) & the selection rate in Stage I is just 1%. Stage II consists of 3 different tests which are Psychology Tests, Personal Interview & Ground Tasks.

The last day or the 5th day of the interview is called the Conference Day, where a candidate gets a chance to see all the assessors who assessed him/her during the earlier 4 days. Post Conference the result is declared. The complete process carries 900 marks.

The Air Force Selection Board conducts this Interview for the selection of candidates in the Indian AirForce. There is no major difference in the SSB & AFSB. There is a slight difference between the 2 which is mentioned below. 

There are a plethora of entries to appear for the SSB Interview 2021 :

Direct SSB Interview Procedure for Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force

SSB Interview Written Exam for Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force

SSB Interview Stage: Day 1

It is also known as Screening day. Those candidates clear this stage, continue the SSB process for the rest of the days.

It is divided into two parts:

• Officers Intelligence Test(Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning): It consists of two tests, including Verbal and Non-verbal. Two booklets are given to the candidate consisting of 40 questions each and questions of each booklet have to be solved within 15-17 minutes.

• Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT): It is also divided into three parts.
• Picture Perception-The candidate is shown an image for 30 seconds. He/she has to identify the mood, sex, age, and actions performed by the characters and write a story based on this information within 4 minutes.
• Individual Narrations: The Larger Groups are divided into smaller groups of 10-15 each and the candidates then have to narrate the story they have written. The candidates have to memorize the story they have written as they will not be given the answer sheets for the same. 
• Discussion Test- After the Individual narration they have to do group discussion to reach a common consensus (Common Story)

SSB Interview Stage: Day 2 (Psychology Test)

The Psychology Test Consists of 4 different kinds of tests, which are conducted to see the candidate's natural reaction. 

1. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is the first test of the Psychology test. This process is similar to PPDT, but in this process, each picture remains on the screen for 30 seconds, and the candidate has to write a story on it in 4 minutes. After this, a bell rings, and a new picture appears on the screen. This process continues for a total of 12 pictures. Out of 12 pictures, 11 pictures contain some images, but the last picture is a blank slide on which the candidate has to write a story based on his own life experiences.
2. Word Association Test (WAT) is conducted after TAT. In this test 60 words are displayed for 15 seconds each, the candidate has to write the first that comes to their mind after seeing the word.
3. Situation Reaction Test (SRT): In this test, a booklet consisting of a total of 60 real-life situations is provided to the candidate, and he/she has to write his/her reaction to these situations within 30 minutes. 
4. Self Description(SD) candidate has to write the opinion of his/her Parents, Teachers/Employees, Friends/colleagues, the candidate's opinion about himself/herself, and then their aim. The total time allocated for this test is 15 minutes.

SSB Interview Stage: Day 3 and Day 4 (Ground Tasks)

It is conducted by the Ground Task Officer. In these two days, candidates are tested by the Ground Task Officer(GTO) for the officer-like qualities. In this regard, the candidate has to go through multiple tests including   

• Group Discussion(GD)

• Group (military) planning exercises(GPE)

• Progressive group tasks(PGT)

• Half group tasks(HGT)

• Individual tasks (obstacles) 

• Group obstacle(snake race) 

• Command tasks 

• Lecturette 
• Final group task(FGT)

SSB Interview Stage: Day 5 (Conference Day)

This day is known as Conference day or Board Conference. All the testing Officers of the Board attend the conference. The candidate has to appear in front of them in formal attire, few questions are asked from the candidate, and he/she has to answer them with confidence, positive attitude, and honesty. After some time, the result announced by one of the testing officers and the name of the recommended candidates is called out for the further process.

SSB Interview Stage: Medical

This test is conducted only for those candidates who are recommended by the Service Selection Board, SSB. Completing the medical board takes 4 to 5 days for the respective Military Hospital, and then the candidates are dispersed.

Mostly the Tasks between the AFSB and SSB remain the same, but there are minor changes which are as follows.

The Medical Examination Procedure is as follows:

1) Special Medical Board: - This board contain tests like – Blood test, Urine test, Chest x-ray, Ultrasound, Ear, Nose & Tongue(ENT) Test, Surgical Examination, Eye & Dental Test, General Medical (Height, weight, blood pressure, heartbeat) & Medical Conference.

2) Medical and Vision Standards: - Below are some Medical Standards and Vision Standards against which a candidate is tested:

Medical Standards:

• The candidate should be free from wax (EARS), DNS, Hydrocele/Phimosis. Defective Colour Vision, LASIK Surgery, Over/Under Weight, Under Chest, Piles, Gynecomastia, Tonsillitis, Veri-Cocele, and Aids.
• You should be able to read 6/6 in a Distant Vision Chart
• Colour Vision Standard should be CP-III
• Minimum 14 Dental Points With Sound Teeth

Vision Standards:

• Uncorrected without glass: 6/6, 6/9
• Corrected with glass: 6/6 (only for Hypermetropia)
• Nil limits for myopia
• Limits for Hypermetropia: +2.00 D

3) Physical Fitness Standard: -

• Running: 2.4 KM in 15 minutes
• Push-ups: 13 Nos
• Sit-ups: 25 Nos
• Chin-ups: 6 Nos
• Rope climbing: 3-4 meters

For more details, you can check out the full procedure of Medical Test After SSB Interview here.

Following are the various tests that are conducted by the medical board at various days:

Day 1 – Blood test, Urine test, Chest x-ray, Ultrasound.

Day 2 – Ear, Nose & Tongue(ENT), Eye

Day 3 – Surgical Examination

Day 4 – Eye & Dental

Day 5 – General Medical (Height, weight, blood pressure, heartbeat) & Medical Conference

Medical Standards:

• The candidate should be free from wax (EARS), DNS, Hydrocele/Phimosis. Defective Colour Vision, LASIK Surgery, Over/Under Weight, Under Chest, Piles, Gynecomastia, Tonsillitis, Veri-Cocele, and Aids.
• You should be able to read 6/6 in a Distant Vision Chart
• Colour Vision Standard should be CP-III
• Minimum 14 Dental Points With Sound Teeth

Vision Standards:

• Uncorrected without glass: 6/6, 6/9
• Corrected with glass: 6/6 (only for Hypermetropia)
• Nil limits for myopia
• Limits for Hypermetropia: +2.00 D

Physical Standards for SSB & AFSB

• Running: 2.4 KM in 15 minutes
• Push-ups: 13 Nos
• Sit-ups: 25 Nos
• Chin-ups: 6 Nos
• Rope climbing: 3-4 meters

SSB Interview Process: Medical Rejection

Some of the important tests that lead to Medical Rejection are:

1. Sweaty Palms
2. Flat Foot
3. Knock Knee
4. Kidney Stones
5. If any organ is missing
6. Colour Perception
7. Pigeon Chest
8. Color Perception CP2 and CP3 (Flying Branch) and CP3 (CDS entry)
9. Carrying Angle of Elbow

Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Indian Air Force Academy (IAFA) and Officers Training Academy (OTA) offer great perks and salary, apart from a well-reputed profile.

• Pay Scale of Officers

(b) Details of MSP (Military Service Pay)

• Officers in the rank of Lieutenant to Brigadier are also entitled to a Military Service Pay(MSP) of Rs. 15.500 p.m. (fixed).

(c) The stipend for Cadet Training

• Gentlemen and Lady cadets are entitled to a stipend of Rs. 56,100/- per month during their complete training duration in service academies, i.e. during the training period at OTA and IMA.