Merchant Navy jobs are highly reputed in both the private and government sectors in India. Aspirants for Deck or Officer and Engineer positions must appear for the Merchant Navy Entrance Exam (IMU-CET). Check out the complete Merchant Navy Syllabus or IMU-CET syllabus 2026 in this article.
Merchant Navy refers to an organisation or people involved in facilitating the transport of goods and services across international waters through commercial fleets of ships. It includes non-armed jobs in three categories: Deck Department, Engine Department, and Saloon Department.
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The Deck Department includes navigation officers such as captains, chief officers, etc. The Engine Department employs marine engineers and engine room staff. The Saloon Department consists of support roles like cooks, stewards, and housekeeping staff.
To get a job in the Deck and Engine Departments of the Merchant Navy in India, aspirants must appear for the Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test (IMU CET). Effective preparation is important to crack the exam. For this, candidates must be familiar with the Merchant Navy Entrance Exam Syllabus, also known as the IMU CET Syllabus. Check out the complete syllabus, exam pattern, and Merchant Navy recruitment process in this article.
About IMU CET 2026
IMU CET is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Indian Maritime University for admission to B.Sc. Nautical Science and B.Tech Marine Engineering programmes.
The IMU CET 2026 is likely to be conducted in May 2026. On clearing this entrance exam, candidates will be able to get admissions to B.Sc. Nautical Science and B.Tech Marine Engineering. Thereafter, they will undergo training to join the Merchant Navy Deck and Engine Departments and appear for companies that hire for merchant navy jobs and clear physical fitness test.
Merchant Navy Recruitment Process
The recruitment process for Merchant Navy jobs in India varies depending on the types of jobs within this professional field. Job aspirants can find an overview of the recruitment process for each department in the Merchant Navy in India below:
| Department | Roles | Recruitment Process |
| Deck Department | Captain, Chief Officer, Deck Cadet and other officer-grade jobs | Step 1: Pass class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths and obtain 60% in aggregate and 50% in EnglishStep 2: Appear for IMU CET and clear the entrance examStep 3: Enrol in B.Tech in Marine Engineering or B.Sc. Nautical Science at Indian Maritime UniversityStep 4: Complete pre-sea training and onboard trainingStep 5: Appear for 2nd Mate Competency Exam conducted by Directorate General (DG Shipping) in IndiaStep 6: Appear for job interviews and secure a job |
| Engine Department | Chief Engineer, 2nd Engineer and Junior Engineer | Step 1: Pass class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths and obtain 60% in aggregate and 50% in EnglishStep 2: Appear for IMU CET and clear the entrance examStep 3: Enrol in B.Tech in Marine Engineering or B.Sc. Nautical Science at Indian Maritime UniversityStep 4: Complete pre-sea training and onboard trainingStep 5: Appear for Class IV Engineer Certificate of Competency (COC) exam Step 6: Appear for an interview to get a job |
| Saloon Department | Stewards, Cooks, and other support roles | Step 1: Pass Class 10th. Candidates must have basic knowledge of English and hygiene. They must be physically fit.Step 2: Join a Saloon Rating Course offered DGipping-approved maritime training institutes in IndiaStep 3: Complete pre-sea trainingStep 4: Complete onboard training or internship on merchant shipsStep 5: Appear for interviews conducted by shipping companies to get a job |
Merchant Navy Exam Pattern 2026
Merchant Navy exam aspirants can check the Merchant Navy 2026 exam pattern, which follows the IMU CET 2026 exam pattern. This will help them understand the structure of the entrance exam question paper and perform better.
Check the overview of the exam pattern below:
| Pattern of IMU CET | |
| Exam Name | Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test (IMU CET) |
| Conducting Body | Indian Maritime University, Chennai |
| Official Website | imu.cbexams.com |
| Mode | Online (Computer-based test) |
| Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Type of Questions | Objective, multiple choice-based questions |
| Language | English |
| Subjects | 1. Physics – 50 questions, 50 marks2. Mathematics – 50 questions, 50 marks3. Chemistry – 20 questions, 20 marks4. English – 40 questions, 40 marks5. General Aptitude – 40 questions, 40 marks |
| Marking Scheme | Total Marks: 200+1 mark for each correct answer-0.25 mark for each wrong answer |
Merchant Navy Exam Syllabus 2026
The IMU CET exam syllabus includes Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, and General Aptitude. The difficulty level of these subjects corresponds to the Class 12 level. The topic-wise Merchant Navy exam syllabus after 12 (IMU CET syllabus) is as follows:
| Subject | Topics |
| Physics | Laws of Motion GravitationWork & EnergyThermodynamicsKinematicsElectrostaticsCurrent ElectricityMagnetismWavesOpticsModern Physics |
| Mathematics | AlgebraTrigonometryCoordinate GeometryCalculusVectorsProbabilityMatrices and DeterminantsDifferential Equation |
| Chemistry | Atomic StructurePeriodic TableThermodynamicsEquilibriumOrganic ChemistryHydrocarbonsPolymersSurface ChemistryBiomolecules |
| English | VocabularyGrammarComprehensionSentence Rearrangement Synonyms/AntonymsError Correction |
| General Aptitude | Logical ReasoningNumerical AbilityData InterpretationVerbal ReasoningSeriesPuzzlesCoding-Decoding |
How to Cover the Merchant Navy Syllabus in One Month?
Covering all the topics in the IMU CET syllabus for the Merchant Navy entrance exam requires a strategic study plan. The following recommendations can help you achieve this goal:
1. Practice mock tests and previous years’ question papers available in some of the best books for IMU CET preparation. Recommended books include:
- Guide for IMU-CET Entrance by Maritime 360
- IMU-CET Exam Full Package by LearnX
- IMU CET 2025–26 Merchant Navy Entrance Test Indian Maritime University Common Entrance Test by Vikas Grover
- IMU CET Entrance Exam Books Full Package by 2IMU
2. Focus on strengthening your understanding of Physics and Mathematics up to the Class 12 level, as the majority of questions will be based on these subjects.
3. Practice English vocabulary-based questions such as synonyms, antonyms, and error correction. These questions are generally less time-consuming and can help you score better while effectively managing time during the exam.
4. Analyse question papers from the past five years and identify the topics that were frequently asked. Prioritise studying these topics.
5. Avoid spending too much time on difficult topics right before the exam. Instead, revise the topics you are already confident about.
Conclusion
The syllabus for the Merchant Navy entrance exam is the same as the IMU CET syllabus. It includes five subjects: Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, English, and General Aptitude. The difficulty level of the questions is up to Class 12. Most of the questions are asked from Mathematics and Physics.