Merchant Navy Coaching & Admissions
Merchant Navy Eligibility & Age Calculator
Enter your date of birth and 10th/12th marks. The calculator works out your exact age, aggregate and PCM percentage, and shows which merchant navy courses you qualify for.
Enter your date of birth and 10th/12th marks. The calculator works out your exact age, aggregate and PCM percentage, and shows which merchant navy courses you qualify for.
Merchant navy course eligibility at a glance
Minimum conditions for the main merchant navy courses in India, as published by IMU and DG Shipping–approved institutes. Use the calculator above to check them against your own marks and date of birth.
| Course | Qualification | English | Age limit | Marital | Entrance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Sc Nautical Science3-year degree · Deck officer cadet | Class 12, PCM ≥60% | 50% in Class 12 | 17–25 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | Unmarried | IMU-CET |
| DNS – Diploma in Nautical Science1-year diploma leading to B.Sc (Applied Nautical Science) · Deck cadet | Class 12, PCM ≥60% OR B.Sc (Physics / Chemistry / Maths / Electronics) ≥55% OR B.E./B.Tech Mechanical / B.E./B.Tech Naval Arch. / Marine / B.E./B.Tech Electrical / Electronics / B.E./B.Tech other branch ≥50% | 50% in Class 10 or 12 | 17–25 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | Unmarried | IMU-CET + shipping company sponsorship test |
| B.Tech Marine Engineering4-year degree · Engine officer cadet | Class 12, PCM ≥60% | 50% in Class 10 or 12 | 17–25 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | Unmarried | IMU-CET (some private colleges also accept JEE Main) |
| B.Tech Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering4-year degree · Ship design (shore-based career) | Class 12, PCM ≥60% | 50% in Class 10 or 12 | 17–25 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | – | IMU-CET |
| BBA Logistics, Retailing & E-Commerce (IMU)3-year degree · Shipping & port management (shore) | Class 12, aggregate ≥60% | 50% in Class 10 or 12 | 17–25 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | – | IMU-CET |
| GP Rating (General Purpose Rating)6-month pre-sea course · Deck & engine rating (crew) | Class 10 (English, Science, Maths), aggregate ≥40% OR Class 12, aggregate ≥40% | 40% in Class 10 or 12 | 17½–25 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | – | Institute entrance test & interview |
| CCMC (Certificate Course in Maritime Catering)6-month course · Cook & steward (saloon) on ships | Class 10, aggregate ≥40% | 40% in Class 10 or 12 | 17½–25 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | – | Institute entrance test & interview |
| GME (Graduate Marine Engineering)1-year course for mechanical & naval engineers · Engine officer | B.E./B.Tech Mechanical / B.E./B.Tech Naval Arch. / Marine ≥50% | 50% in Class 10 or 12 | up to 28 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | – | Institute test & interview |
| ETO (Electro-Technical Officer)4-month course · Electrical officer on ships | B.E./B.Tech Electrical / Electronics ≥50% OR 3-yr diploma (Electrical / Electronics) ≥60% | 50% in Class 10 or 12 | up to 35 yrswomen +2, OBC +3, SC/ST +5 | – | Institute test & interview |
How the calculator works
Age on the course start date
Merchant navy age limits are counted on the day the course begins, from the date of birth in your Class 10 certificate. IMU counts it on the first day of the session, about 1 August.
Born 14 Sep 2008 → on 1 Aug 2027: 18 yrs 10 mo 18 days
PCM percentage
Add your Physics, Chemistry and Maths marks and divide by their maximum marks. Officer cadet courses need 60%. Percentages are not rounded up: 59.99% is below 60%.
(62 + 58 + 71) ÷ 300 × 100 = 63.66%
English and aggregate
Most officer courses need 50% in English (B.Sc Nautical Science counts Class 12 only). GP Rating and CCMC need 40% overall and 40% in English. Aggregate = total marks obtained ÷ total maximum marks of all subjects entered.
Relaxation: women +2 yrs · OBC +3 yrs · SC/ST +5 yrs and 5% in PCM
Merchant navy eligibility: questions students ask
What is the age limit for merchant navy?
For B.Sc Nautical Science, B.Tech Marine Engineering and DNS the age must be 17 to 25 years on the session start date. Women can apply up to 27, OBC (NCL) candidates up to 28 and SC/ST candidates up to 30. GP Rating and CCMC need 17½ to 25 years. GME allows up to 28 years and ETO up to 35 years.
How much percentage is required in 12th for merchant navy?
Officer cadet courses (B.Sc Nautical Science, DNS, B.Tech Marine Engineering) need at least 60% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry and Maths, and at least 50% in English. SC/ST candidates get 5% relaxation in PCM but not in English. GP Rating and CCMC need 40% marks and 40% in English.
How do I calculate my PCM percentage?
Add the marks you got in Physics, Chemistry and Maths, divide by the total maximum marks of those three subjects and multiply by 100. For example, 62 + 58 + 71 = 191 out of 300 gives 63.66%. Percentages are not rounded up, so 59.99% does not count as 60%.
Can I join merchant navy without PCM?
Yes. GP Rating (deck and engine crew) and CCMC (ship catering) accept Class 10, or Class 12 from any stream, with 40% marks and 40% in English. Officer cadet courses need PCM in Class 12. BBA Logistics at IMU is a shore-side option open to any stream with 60%.
Can girls join merchant navy?
Yes. Women apply on the same academic criteria and get 2 extra years on the upper age limit in IMU and DG Shipping courses, for example up to 27 years for B.Sc Nautical Science.
Can I apply for IMU-CET while I am in 12th?
Yes. Students appearing in Class 12 can take IMU-CET, but they must have the required PCM and English marks before admission.
What eyesight is needed for merchant navy?
Deck courses (B.Sc Nautical Science, DNS) need unaided vision of 6/6 in the better eye and 6/9 in the other, with normal colour vision. B.Tech Marine Engineering allows 6/12 in each eye. ETO allows up to ±2.5 with glasses. Colour blindness is not accepted for sea-going courses.
Which merchant navy course can I do after graduation?
Mechanical or naval architecture engineers with 50% can join GME. Electrical and electronics engineers can join ETO, which also accepts a 3-year diploma with 60%. B.Sc (PCM) graduates with 55% and B.E./B.Tech graduates with 50% can join DNS if they are within the age limit.
On which date is age calculated for merchant navy admission?
Age is counted on the course start date, using the date of birth in your Class 10 certificate. For IMU programmes this is the first day of the academic session, usually around 1 August. For GP Rating, CCMC, GME and ETO it is the start date of the batch you join.
