Indian Army to recruit religious teachers at Kamptee rally, selection on 10 September

The Army’s recruitment rally at Kamptee Cantonment, 20 kilometres from Nagpur, will see clerics entering the process alongside Agniveers next month. Pandits, maulvis, granthis, priests and Buddhist monks are among those who will compete. The rally will begin on 3 September, with the round for preachers scheduled for 10 September.

Those selected will be inducted as Religious Teachers-Junior Commissioned Officers (RT-JCOs). Unlike Agniveers, who serve a four-year tenure with a quarter absorbed permanently, RT-JCOs hold a permanent commission. Army officials said these officers have long been part of battalions, offering both spiritual guidance and moral support.

Fitness tests first
Applicants must be between 19 and 34 years of age. To qualify, each will have to cover 1.6 kilometres in under eight minutes. They will then attempt chin-ups, long jumps and high jumps. The Army Recruitment Office in Nagpur will handle only the physical tests and verification of documents. Those who pass will later face assessments on their religious knowledge in Delhi.

"RT-JCOs have been in the army since early times, with an objective to boost the morale of troops. They also double up as soldiers in times of combat, with duties that include carrying out rituals or prayer service in the war zone," said an official. Sources added that while the recruitment of RT-JCOs takes place periodically, it has not happened in Nagpur in recent years.

The role inside battalions
The work of an RT-JCO extends beyond prayer duties. "An RT-JCO plays an important role in keeping the troops in good spirits. The RT-JCO's job is to also remind troops of their religious obligation to serve the country. The officer also counsels them on domestic matters and mandir parade where everyone gathers for a prayer. This is a regular feature in army units," said Major Anand Patharkarpp, the zilla sainik officer at Nagpur.

Officials explained that RT-JCOs are posted in units depending on the religious composition of troops. Many also take the effort to learn about other faiths to serve mixed regiments.

Educational qualifications
The recruitment brochure lays down clear academic requirements. A pandit must hold a university degree and also possess qualifications in religious studies, including ‘karam kand’ as a subject. A one-year diploma in ‘karam kand’ is also considered valid.

For a maulvi, the requirement is to be an alim or adeeb-e-mahir in Arabic, or a mahir in Urdu, along with a degree. Priests need to have ordained priesthood by ecclesiastical authority, while Buddhist monks must be ordained by the relevant body.

Rally coverage and numbers
The rally will cover candidates from Vidarbha, Gujarat, Goa, Daman and Diu. Aspirants from other states will be considered separately for the specialised cadre. The number of candidates appearing for RT-JCO recruitment will only be known on the day itself.