Services Selection Board (SSB) is the selection board which conducts Personality and Intelligence Interview spread over 5 to 6 days which scientifically analyses each candidate's potential and compatibility for commission into the Armed Forces of India. Complete 5 to 6 days procedure is called as SSB interview.

There are many ways of being commissioned as an Officer in Indian Armed Forces, both for civilians (after 10+2, graduation, post graduation), as well as for Serving Personnel. Whatever be the mode, all except army medical corps have to clear the SSB interview. There is no limit on the number of attempts that can be made and the SSB Assessors encourage candidates to appear again for SSB interview.(India)

The interview exercise is mainly a psychological tests of the personality quiz of the candidate, to gauge his/her potential as a future Officer in Indian Armed Forces. The tests conducted by the SSB aim at selecting individuals with OLQs (Officer-Like Qualities).

The selection system is designed over a five-day process, Day 1 is the screening test, Day 2 is the Psychologist Tests, Day 3 & 4 is the group tasks and Day 5 is the Conference (Results). The personal interview will be conducted either in day 2,3 or 4 during the post lunch or evening hours.

These qualities include Effective Intelligence, sense of responsibility, initiative, judgment (under stress), ability to reason and organize, communication skills, determination, courage, self-confidence, speed in decision-making, willingness to set an example, compassion and a feeling of loyalty to the nation.

Most of the tests require average intelligence. The SSB attempts to gauge the natural responses of the individuals. The tests are graded into various categories of both individual and group variety and each batch of candidates goes through the subtle testing pattern in the course of a few days. They are under observation not only while they perform in various psychological tests but even as they conduct themselves during the course of their stay at the SSB headquarters, where they are billeted for that duration.

The SSB Board is not concerned with the number of vacancies. Its responsibility is to assess and then, recommend. After recommendation, the candidates appear for medical examination and after that is the Merit List. Those who finally make the grade join for training and hence become Commissioned Officers.

Origin of these type of testing belongs to first world war era. In the First World War, large numbers of casualties on battlefields necessitated recruitment of best fighting talent in armed forces. For this need, psychologists designed some scientific tests which assesses candidate's Officer Like Qualities (OLQs). Over the years SSB testing has been improved based on feedback and has been proved to be an effective and accurate way of selecting candidates who are capable of being at least an average officer after training, although SSB is the world's toughest army test.

FACILITIES FOR CANDIDATES BY SSB

• Pick-up and Drop from reporting Railway Station.
• Furnished accommodation.
• Messing.
• Medical facilities.
• Game, Magazines, Newspapers, etc.

These and some other facilities for candidates to ensure that they feel at home.