Indian Navy Chargeman Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility

Multiple choice, in English and Hindi except the English section. That's 54 seconds a question.

The qualifying figure applies to the whole paper, with no section minimum. It's higher than SSC Constable's 30, 25 and 20 per cent, but still only a floor.

• No technical paper. A Chargeman (Mechatronics) candidate and a Tradesman Mate sit the same paper.
• No negative marking is stated in the advertisement.
• Normalisation may be applied if the exam runs in several shifts.
• An online window for comments on the question paper and provisional key opens after the exam; watch the website and portal for it.

Ties: the older candidate first, then alphabetical order of first names. No section is used.

The indicative syllabus is printed in the advertisement in two versions. Chargeman, as a Group B (NG) post, uses the wider one.

General Intelligence

General Awareness

Same for both groups: the environment and its application to society, current events, everyday science, and India and its neighbours, especially Sports, History, Culture, Geography, Economic Scene, General Polity including the Indian Constitution, and Scientific Research. "These questions will be such that they do not require a special study of any discipline."

Quantitative Aptitude

Arithmetic only: number systems; whole numbers, decimals, fractions and relationships between numbers; fundamental operations; percentages; ratio and proportion; averages; interest; profit and loss; discount; use of tables and graphs; mensuration; time and distance; ratio and time; time and work. No algebra, trigonometry or geometry.

English Language

Age, by discipline

Three disciplines go to 30; the rest stop at 25. A 27-year-old can apply only for Naval Aviation, Mechanic, or Ammunition and Explosive.

Age is reckoned on the closing date for online applications, and proven only by the matriculation or SSC certificate, or a birth certificate from the board or competent authority. Relaxations follow Government of India rules, including Ex-Servicemen, sportspersons (up to 5 years, 10 for SC and ST) and departmental candidates with three years' regular central service (up to 5 years). No relaxation unless your category is filled in correctly on the form.

Qualification: three routes

An Ex-Serviceman who held Petty Officer rank or equivalent for seven years in a technical branch can apply for Chargeman (Naval Aviation) without a diploma.

Eligibility is checked as on the closing date, and the full requirement for each post is in the Recruitment Rules. Meeting the criteria doesn't guarantee a call to the test; the Navy shortlists applications.

Skill, physical, swimming and proficiency tests exist only for Fireman, Fire Engine Driver, Civilian Motor Driver, Bhandari and some Multi Tasking Staff trades. Chargeman has none of them, and no interview. Appointment is strictly on relative merit in the online exam, above the 35, 30 or 25 per cent floor.

Because many disciplines have one post per Command, the real cut-off is the top of a small field. Your discipline and Command can't be changed after applying.

Document verification

Age, education, identity, address, category and caste validity are checked under DoP&T policy. For Chargeman, expect close checks on experience and service certificates. The date and venue come by mobile, email and post, the only stage notified by post.

Lists keep moving

As at September 2026 the Navy's civilian personnel page was still publishing revised provisional select lists for Chargeman (Ammunition Workshop) from INCET-01/2023, reserve list nominations for Chargeman (Mechanic) from INCET-01/2024, and revised score and ranking documents for Chargeman (Factory). If you're on a reserve list, keep checking.

DA, HRA and transport allowance are paid on top, plus station allowances where they apply.

Same paper, nearly double Fireman's entry pay. Level 6 is also the grade of a CAPF Sub-Inspector (GD) recruited by SSC.

Promotion channels for each grade, up to Foreman and the supervisory grades, are in the Navy's Recruitment Rules. Serving government employees can also enter these grades through the separate INCET (ABS-DEP) advertisement, by deputation, short-term contract, re-employment or absorption.

Online only, at joinindiannavy.gov.in.

Pay by net banking, Visa, Master or RuPay card, or UPI, and pay early. An application without the fee is rejected, and only those who've paid or are exempt get an admit card.

• Eligibility is judged on the closing date; date of birth only from the matriculation or SSC certificate or a board-issued birth certificate.
• Enter your category correctly or you lose any age relaxation.
• Choose your discipline and Command deliberately; you can't change them.

The Indian Navy recruits its civilians itself, with no commission in between.

INCET-01/2025 advertised more than thirty posts, from Staff Nurse (Level 7) to Tradesman Mate (Level 1).

Applications go through joinindiannavy.gov.in; advertisements, select lists and score documents are on the Navy's civilian personnel page.

INCET is computer based, and no fixed centre list is published with the advertisement. The date, time and venue are sent to your registered mobile and email. Document verification is the one stage also notified by post.

Check joinindiannavy.gov.in and the Navy's civilian personnel page for instructions. Keep your registered mobile and email working throughout.

INCET-01 is advertised once a year; the 2025 window opened in early July and ran for two weeks. Watch the civilian personnel page.

Cycles run long. As at September 2026 the page still carried revised select lists from INCET-01/2023, reserve list nominations from INCET-01/2024, amended timelines for INCET-01/2025, and a separate INCET-01/2026 (ABS-DEP) advertisement and corrigendum for posts filled by deputation, short-term contract, re-employment or absorption. Commands also advertise some posts on their own (Boat Crew Staff, Staff Nurse, Pharmacist and Tradesman Mate by absorption), outside INCET.

There's no public admit card page. The Navy sends the date, time and venue to your registered mobile and email, and issues admit cards only to those who've paid the fee or are exempt. Further instructions go up on joinindiannavy.gov.in.

Candidates with a benchmark disability of 40 per cent or more (blindness, locomotor disability affecting both arms, or cerebral palsy) can use a scribe and get 20 minutes per hour extra, 30 additional minutes on this paper. Photographing or filming the question paper is malpractice.

Results go up on the Navy's civilian personnel page:

Score and ranking documents have been published for posts including Fireman, Fire Engine Driver, Chargeman (Factory), Chargeman (Armament Workshop), Tradesman Mate and Senior Draughtsman. Appointment follows document verification and a medical, and select lists are sometimes revised years later.

No cut-off is published in advance; only the qualifying floor in the exam pattern. Afterwards, the Navy publishes Score and Ranking of the Candidates post by post, for those who consented under DoP&T's office memorandum of 21 June 2016, on its civilian personnel page. These exist for INCET-01/2023 and INCET-01/2024 and are the real evidence of a winning score.

• Check the age limit for your discipline first. 18 to 30 for Naval Aviation, up to 30 for Mechanic and Ammunition and Explosive, 18 to 25 for the rest.
• Pick discipline and Command with the vacancy table open. One-post tables mean a tiny, competitive field, and the choice is final.
• Don't study engineering for this. The paper is general aptitude only.
• Use the Group B syllabus. Its reasoning (verbal, syllogisms, statement conclusion) and English (cloze, sentence shuffling, comprehension) are close to SSC CGL Tier-I, so practise from those papers.
• Finish Quantitative Aptitude. It's closed arithmetic: no algebra, trigonometry or geometry.
• Don't over-prepare General Awareness. Current affairs and a standard static base are enough.
• Maximise the total. There's no section minimum and no section-based tie-break.
• Gather experience and service certificates early, enter your category correctly, and pay the ₹295 fee well before the deadline.

No sample or previous year papers are available for INCET. The Navy doesn't publish them.

After a cycle it has let candidates view their question paper (see the INCET-01/2024 notice), and it posts score documents on its civilian personnel page. The 2025 advertisement came out in July.

Applying

• Join Indian Navy, the application portal
• Join Indian Navy: Civilian entry

The advertisement and the rules

• Advertisement for INCET-01/2025 (49 pages)
• Recruitment Rules and Revised Recruitment Rules for the Navy's civilian posts
• Standard Operating Procedure for the direct recruitment of civilians

Results, select lists and marks

• Indian Navy, Civilian personnel: advertisements, select lists, reserve list nominations, score and ranking documents and Command notices
• Provisional Select List, INCET-01/2024
• Notice: candidates may view the question paper, INCET-01/2024

The Navy itself

• Indian Navy
• Port bases and basic organisation

Is "Chargeman" one post?

No. About twenty disciplines, each with its own vacancies, age limit and qualification.

Is it a uniformed post?

No. It's a civilian Group B (Non-Gazetted) post in the Navy.

What is the pay?

Level 6, ₹35,400 to ₹1,12,400, plus DA, HRA and transport allowance.

What is the age limit?

18 to 30 for Naval Aviation, up to 30 for Mechanic and Ammunition and Explosive, 18 to 25 for the rest.

What qualification do I need?

Depends on the discipline: a relevant diploma, a B.Sc for some, or trade or service experience. Chargeman (Mechanic) needs a diploma plus two years' quality control experience.

Is there a route for ex-servicemen?

Yes. Naval Aviation accepts a Petty Officer or equivalent with seven years in a technical branch, without a diploma.

Is there a technical paper?

No. 100 general aptitude questions in 90 minutes.

Is there an interview or physical test?

No, nor a skill test.

What marks do I need?

At least 35 per cent (UR), 30 (OBC, EWS), 25 (others) overall; selection is then on merit.

Is there negative marking?

The advertisement doesn't mention any.

How much does it cost to apply?

₹295 plus taxes; nil for women, SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen.

How do I find my marks?

From the Score and Ranking documents on the Navy's civilian personnel page, if you consented.