What is the full form of SSB?

What is SSB?

The full form of SSB is Service Selection Board and candidates who want to go into the Indian armed forces like the army, navy, and air force are chosen through this organization. All the tests necessary for the selection are conducted by this board. These tests are taken to know the abilities of the candidates and determine whether they are fit to join the Indian armed forces or not.

SSB Panel

There are three officers included in the SSB Panel and they are as follows −

Group Task Officer

The Group Task Officer is responsible for organizing physical tests of the candidates.

Psychologist

Psychologist is responsible for organizing written tests in which the mental abilities of candidates are taken into account.

Interviewing Officer

The interviewing officer is responsible for taking interviews of the candidates to know about their communication skills.

Number of SSBs in India

There are 13 SSBs all over India that conduct exams and select candidates to join the armed forces. Out of these −

• 4 boards belong to the Indian Army

• 4 boards belong to the Air Force

• 5 boards belong to the Indian Navy

Eligibility Criteria

Here is the list of candidates who are eligible to take the SSB test −

• Candidates have to pass the UPSC exam

• Candidates recommended by the Preliminary Interview Board

• Technical Entries

• NCC special entries

• Candidates who are asked to present the SSB

Selection depends on the following

• Mind

• Speech

• Actions

Test Pattern

SSB conducts the test for five days in which various activities are organized to check the abilities of candidates. The exam does not have any right or wrong answers candidates need to perform the given task as best as they can. They have to make the best decisions for task completion so that they can be selected as defence officers. Here are the details of each day and the tasks that candidates have to perform −

Day 0 Reporting

This is the reporting day and candidates have to reach their respective centers allotted to them. Candidates have to reach the railway station from where the officials pick them up and take them to the center. After reaching the center the next task conducted is the verification of their educational and other documents. A chest number is allotted to the candidates after the completion of the verification which has to be used for the entire test. Candidates will be introduced to the test and their schedule.

Day 1 Screening

On this day a verbal and a non-verbal test is arranged and each of them consists of 50 questions. Along with this a Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT) is also arranged in which candidates have to look at a given picture for 30 seconds and have to identify the characters in a minute. After that, a story of 70 words has to be written. This story is based on the characters available in the picture. Candidates will not be eligible if they just describe the picture.

After this, stage 2 of PPDT is conducted in which candidates have to narrate the story in front of the SSB officials. The next step is the group discussion in which candidates have to combine the characters that they have seen in the picture and make a story. Candidates who are unable to give their best performance have to leave while the selected candidates have to answer 5 questionnaires.

Day 2 Psychological Test

There are four types of psychological tests which are briefly described below −

Thematic Appreciation Test

In this test, each candidate has to write 12 stories after looking at 12 pictures. A picture will be shown to candidates for 30 seconds and they have to write the story in 4 minutes. Out of these 12 pictures, the 12th picture will be blank and candidates have to write a story as per their own ideas.

World Association Test

This is a test in which candidates have to see 60 words. A candidate has to see a word for 15 seconds and write anything about it.

Situational Reaction Test

This is a test in which unexpected situations will be put in front of the candidates and their ability is tested to react to the situation. There will be 60 situations and candidates have to respond to each of them in 30 minutes.

Self-Description

This is a test in which candidates have to face 5 questions. Which will be related to their parents, friends, teachers, and what they think about a candidate. The duration of the task will be 30 minutes.

Day 3 and 4 Group test by GTO

This is a test which will consist of outdoor tasks. GTO will check the ability of the candidates to perform a task. Students have to perform these tasks well as this will decide their future in the SSB test. The tasks that will be conducted are as follows −

Task	Duration
Group Discussion	40 minutes
Group planning exercises	30 minutes
Progressive group task	45 minutes
Half group task	10 minutes
Group obstacle race	30 minutes
Command task	5 to 15 minutes
Lecturette	6 minutes approximately
Final group task	5 minutes approximately

Day 5 Results

On this day, officers talk to candidates and check their communication skills., speaking skills, self-confidence, positivity in any situation, and many more things. Selected candidates have to stay for 4 or five more days so that their medical examination can be done in a military hospital. Candidates who are not selected have to leave for their homes.

Conclusion

SSB stands for Service Selection Board. This is a board which is used to select candidates for the Indian armed forces. SSB holds an exam whose duration is five days. Various activities are conducted during these days and candidates are selected or rejected on the basis of their performance. SSB is considered as one of the toughest exams.

FAQs

FAQ 1: What is the full form of SSB?

Ans: SSB stands for Service Selection Board.

FAQ 2: What is the task of SSB?

Ans: SSB conducts exams and organizes activities to select candidates for the Indian armed forces.

FAQ 3: How many SSBs are there in India?

Ans: There are 13 SSBs in India.

FAQ 4: Is the exam easy?

Ans: No! The SSB exam is considered as one of the toughest exams which is conducted by the government of India.

FAQ 5: Can I answer my question in Hindi?

Ans: Yes! You are allowed to give the answers to the questions in Hindi.