The Indian Army has released its recruitment notice for the 125th Short Service Commission (SSC) Officer Entries, inviting applications for the JAG Entry Scheme Course and the NCC Special Entry Scheme Course, both commencing April 2027. Unmarried men and women — including wards of Army personnel who lost their lives in battle — can apply online at joinindianarmy.nic.in.
The application process opens in three separate phases, which is the single most common source of confusion with this notification: 17 July 2026 for JAG (Men & Women), 20 July 2026 for NCC Special Entry (Men), and 21 July 2026 for NCC Special Entry (Women). Each has its own closing date. Full details below.
Indian Army Officer Recruitment 2026 – Overview
| Organisation | Indian Army |
| Post Name | Short Service Commission Officer (JAG Entry & NCC Special Entry) |
| Advertisement Number | CBC 10601/11/0010/2627 (EN 15/89) |
| Course | 125th SSC Course, April 2027 |
| No. of Vacancies | Not announced yet |
| Job Type | Central Government (Defence) Job |
| Qualification | Law Graduate (JAG) / Graduate with NCC ‘C’ Certificate (NCC Special Entry) |
| Age Limit | 19 to 25 years (as on 01.04.2027, for NCC Special Entry) |
| Application Fee | Nil (completely free) |
| Official Website | joinindianarmy.nic.in |
Important Dates – Phase-wise
| Course | Eligible Candidates | Application Window |
| 125th SSC JAG Entry Scheme Course (Apr 2027) | Law Graduates – Men & Women | 17 July – 17 August 2026 |
| 125th SSC NCC Special Entry Scheme Course (Apr 2027) | Men, including Wards of Battle Casualties | 20 July – 20 August 2026 |
| 125th SSC NCC Special Entry Scheme Course (Apr 2027) | Women, including Wards of Battle Casualties | 21 July – 21 August 2026 |
The notification was published on 10 July 2026. Note that the closing dates differ by course and gender — mark the correct one for your entry.
Eligibility Criteria
JAG Entry Scheme Course
Open to Law Graduates (LLB), both unmarried men and women, who meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Indian Army in the official notification.
NCC Special Entry Scheme Course (Men & Women)
- Graduate with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
- Valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate with ‘B’ grade or above.
- Wards of Army personnel killed in battle are also eligible under this scheme.
Age Limit (NCC Special Entry)
Candidates must be between 19 and 25 years of age as on 1 April 2027. Age relaxation applies to eligible reserved categories as per government norms.
Application Fee
No application fee is applicable for any category — General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen or Women. Recruitment in the Indian Army is completely free of cost. Candidates are strongly advised to be cautious of touts or agents promising selection for money.
Selection Process
- Initial shortlisting of applications based on graduation percentage
- Two-stage SSB Interview (Stage I and Stage II)
- Medical fitness examination
- Document verification and final merit list preparation
Key advantage: Candidates holding a valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate are exempted from the written examination and proceed directly to the SSB Interview stage. This makes NCC Special Entry one of the shortest routes to an Army commission for graduates.
How to Apply for Indian Army Officer Entries 2026
- Visit the official website joinindianarmy.nic.in.
- Click the ‘Officer Entry Apply/Login’ option on the homepage.
- Register with your basic personal, contact and academic details.
- Log in and select the relevant course — JAG Entry Scheme or NCC Special Entry Scheme.
- Fill in your detailed profile and upload the required documents — photograph, signature, degree mark sheets, and NCC ‘C’ Certificate (for NCC entry).
- Verify all details carefully before final submission and submit ahead of the applicable closing date.
- Take a printout of the submitted application for future reference.
Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Website | joinindianarmy.nic.in |
Prepare for the SSB Interview
Since NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders skip the written exam, the SSB Interview is effectively the entire competition. Focus on psychological tests (TAT, WAT, SRT), Group Testing Officer tasks and the personal interview rather than academic revision. Our curated Best Books for Government Exams 2026 includes the standard defence and SSB preparation titles alongside general studies resources.
Related Defence Recruitment 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the last date to apply for Indian Army Officer Entries 2026?
17 August 2026 for the 125th SSC JAG Entry Scheme, 20 August 2026 for NCC Special Entry (Men), and 21 August 2026 for NCC Special Entry (Women).
Q2. Who is eligible for the Indian Army NCC Special Entry Scheme 2026?
Candidates must hold a graduate degree with at least 50% aggregate marks and a valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate with a minimum ‘B’ grade. Unmarried men and women, including eligible wards of battle casualties, can apply.
Q3. What qualification is required for the Indian Army JAG Entry Scheme 2026?
Applicants must be Law Graduates (LLB) meeting the eligibility conditions prescribed by the Indian Army. Both unmarried male and female candidates are eligible for the 125th SSC JAG Entry Scheme Course.
Q4. Is there any application fee?
No. There is no application fee for any category. The Indian Army recruitment process is completely free — be cautious of anyone claiming otherwise.
Q5. Is there a written exam for NCC Special Entry?
No. Candidates with a valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate are exempted from the written examination and proceed directly to the two-stage SSB Interview.
Q6. How many vacancies are there in Indian Army Officer Entries 2026?
The number of vacancies has not been announced in this short notice. It is expected to be released with the detailed notification on joinindianarmy.nic.in.
Source & Verification
All details above are taken from the Indian Army short notice for the 125th SSC Officer Entries, Advertisement No. CBC 10601/11/0010/2627 (EN 15/89), published on 10 July 2026 at joinindianarmy.nic.in. This page was last verified on 21 July 2026.
Disclaimer: Sarkari Job Wale compiles this information from the official Indian Army notification and reliable sources for the convenience of aspirants. Candidates must read the detailed notification on joinindianarmy.nic.in before applying. Indian Army recruitment is entirely free of cost — never pay any agent or tout. We are not affiliated with the Indian Army or the Ministry of Defence.