The Indian Army has invited online applications from unmarried women holding an NCC ‘C’ Certificate (and Wards of Battle Casualties of Army personnel) for the NCC Special Entry Scheme, 125th Course (April 2027) — Short Service Commission (Non-Technical). Applications are open from 21 July 2026 to 21 August 2026 at joinindianarmy.nic.in.
This is a coveted route to an officer’s commission that skips the written exam entirely — eligible NCC ‘C’ certificate holders go straight to the SSB Interview. With just 6 vacancies, it is highly competitive, but it offers a Lieutenant’s commission, a ₹56,100 training stipend and a CTC of ₹17–18 lakh per annum. Full eligibility, physical standards, pay and selection details are below.
Indian Army NCC Special Entry 125 (Women) – Overview
| Organisation | Indian Army |
| Type of Entry | NCC Special Entry Scheme – 125th Course (April 2027), SSC (Non-Tech), Women |
| Total Vacancies | 06 (05 General + 01 Wards of Battle Casualties) |
| Age | 19 to 25 years (as on 01 January 2027) |
| Open For | Unmarried female graduates |
| Qualification | Graduation + minimum ‘B’ Grade in NCC ‘C’ Certificate |
| Training Academy | Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai |
| Training Duration | 49 weeks from April 2027 |
| Stipend During Training | ₹56,100 per month |
| Rank After Training | Lieutenant |
| Official Website | joinindianarmy.nic.in |
Important Dates
| Online Application Opens | 21 July 2026, 1500 hrs |
| Online Application Closes | 21 August 2026, 1500 hrs |
| SSB Shortlisting (tentative) | First week of September 2026 |
| SSB Interviews (tentative) | November/December 2026 (max 5 days) |
| Course Commencement | April 2027 |
| Deadline for Final Degree Certificate (final-year candidates) | 01 April 2027 |
Vacancy Details
| Category | Vacancies |
| General Category (Women) | 05 |
| Wards of Battle Casualties of Indian Army Personnel | 01 |
| Total | 06 |
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
19 to 25 years as on 01 January 2027 — born between 02 January 2002 and 01 January 2008 (both inclusive). The date of birth in the Matriculation certificate is final.
Educational & NCC Criteria (NCC ‘C’ Certificate Holders)
- A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognised university. Final-year candidates may apply, provided they complete the degree before the course begins.
- Minimum two/three years of service (as applicable) in the Senior Division/Wing of NCC.
- Minimum ‘B’ Grade in the NCC ‘C’ Certificate exam. A Provisional NCC ‘C’ Certificate is not accepted at the application or SSB stage.
Important: Candidates may appear for only one SSB interview — either as a CDSE candidate for SSCW (NT) (Women)-125, or for NCC (Special) Entry-125 (Women). An undertaking to this effect must be given in the online application.
Eligibility for Wards of Battle Casualties
- Available to unmarried daughters (including legally adopted) of Army personnel killed in action, died of wounds/injuries, wounded/injured, or missing presumed dead (other than self-inflicted).
- A Graduate degree from a recognised university is required (final-year candidates also eligible).
- NCC ‘C’ Certificate is not required for this category.
- Requires the Battle Casualty certificate number and Part II Order classifying the casualty as a “Battle Casualty”.
Physical Standards (Women)
| Activity | Minimum Standard |
| 2.4 km run | 13 minutes |
| Push-ups | 15 |
| Pull-ups | 02 |
| Sit-ups | 25 |
| Squats | Two sets of 30 repetitions |
| Lunges | Two sets of 10 repetitions |
| Swimming | Should know fundamentals of swimming |
Application Fee
No application fee — Indian Army recruitment is completely free. Be cautious of any agent or tout claiming to secure selection.
Salary and Pay Scale
| Rank | Pay Level | Pay (₹) |
| Lieutenant | Level 10 | 56,100 – 1,77,500 |
| Captain | Level 10B | 61,300 – 1,93,900 |
| Major | Level 11 | 69,400 – 2,07,200 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Level 12A | 1,21,200 – 2,12,400 |
| Colonel | Level 13 | 1,30,600 – 2,15,900 |
- Stipend during training: ₹56,100 per month (fixed at OTA, Chennai for the 49-week course).
- Military Service Pay (MSP): ₹15,500 per month, fixed, from Lieutenant to Brigadier.
- Approximate CTC on commissioning: ₹17–18 lakh per annum, plus free medical cover and allowances (DA, Transport, Children Education, Dress Allowance ₹20,000/year, and field/hardship allowances).
Selection Process
Application → Shortlisting → SSB Interview → Medical Examination → Merit List → Joining Letter. There is no written examination — NCC ‘C’ certificate holders proceed directly to the SSB Interview, which makes it the single decisive stage.
Tenure & Service
- Liable to serve for 10 years, extendable by a further 4 years.
- Permanent Commission may be considered in the 10th year of service.
- Release options are available in the 5th, 10th and 14th years, subject to Army HQ approval.
How to Apply
- Visit the official website joinindianarmy.nic.in.
- Click ‘Officer Entry Apply/Login’ and register with your personal and academic details.
- Select the NCC Special Entry Scheme (Women) – 125th Course.
- Fill your profile and upload the required documents — degree mark sheets and NCC ‘C’ Certificate (or Battle Casualty documents).
- Give the single-SSB undertaking and submit before 21 August 2026, 1500 hrs.
- 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
With no written exam, the SSB Interview and physical standards decide everything. Practise the psychological tests (TAT, WAT, SRT), Group Testing Officer tasks and the personal interview, and build up to the physical benchmarks in advance. Our curated Best Books for Government Exams 2026 includes standard SSB and defence preparation titles.
Related Defence Recruitment 2026
- Indian Army Officer Recruitment 2026 – 125th SSC JAG & NCC Special Entry
- IAF Agniveervayu Musician Recruitment 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the last date to apply for Indian Army NCC Special Entry 125 (Women)?
The online application closes on 21 August 2026 at 1500 hrs. It opened on 21 July 2026.
Q2. How many vacancies are there?
6 vacancies — 5 for the General category (women) and 1 for Wards of Battle Casualties.
Q3. Is there a written exam for the NCC Special Entry?
No. NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders are exempt from the written examination and proceed directly to the SSB Interview.
Q4. What is the salary during and after training?
A ₹56,100 per month stipend during the 49-week training at OTA Chennai. On commissioning as Lieutenant, the CTC is approximately ₹17–18 lakh per annum, plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 and allowances.
Q5. What is the age limit?
19 to 25 years as on 01 January 2027 (born between 02 January 2002 and 01 January 2008).
Q6. Can married women apply?
No. Only unmarried female graduates are eligible.
Source & Verification
All details above are taken from the Indian Army NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course (Women) notification, published on 21 July 2026 at joinindianarmy.nic.in. This page was last verified on 22 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 course notification on joinindianarmy.nic.in before applying. Indian Army recruitment is entirely free — never pay any agent. We are not affiliated with the Indian Army or the Ministry of Defence.