The Indian Army has released the NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course (April 2027) notification for Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) Officer posts. A total of 70 vacancies have been announced for unmarried male NCC candidates and wards of battle casualties of Army personnel.
Eligible graduates with a valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate can submit their online applications from 20 July 2026 to 20 August 2026 through the official Join Indian Army portal.
This article provides complete information about the vacancy details, eligibility criteria, age limit, educational qualification, important dates, selection process, salary, required documents and application procedure.
Indian Army Officer Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Organization Name | Indian Army |
| Entry Scheme | NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course |
| Course Commencement | April 2027 |
| Commission / Post | Short Service Commission (Non-Tech) Officer |
| Total Vacancies | 70 Posts |
| Qualification | Any Bachelors Degree |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Training Academy | OTA Chennai |
| Official Website | joinindianarmy.nic.in |
Important Dates
Start Date to Apply
20 July 2026 (03:00 PM)
Last Date to Apply
20 August 2026 (03:00 PM)
Shortlisting of Candidates (Tentative)
First Week of September 2026
SSB Centre & Date Selection
September 2026 (14 Days Window)
SSB Interview (Tentative)
November–December 2026
Course Commencement
April 2027
Note: Candidates are advised to complete their application well before the last date to avoid last-minute technical issues. Any changes to the schedule will be notified on the official Indian Army recruitment portal.
Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, candidates must ensure they meet all the eligibility requirements prescribed by the Indian Army for the NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course (April 2027). The eligibility criteria include nationality, age limit, educational qualification and NCC certification.
Educational Qualification
Candidates applying under the General NCC Category must have:
- A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised university.
- A minimum of 50% aggregate marks in graduation.
- Final-year students are also eligible, provided they complete the degree before 01 April 2027 and produce the required documents.
NCC Certificate Requirement
Applicants under the General category must:
- Hold a valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate.
- Have secured at least ‘B’ Grade in the NCC ‘C’ Certificate examination.
- Have served for the required period in the Senior Division/Wing of NCC
Note: A provisional NCC ‘C’ Certificate will not be accepted during the SSB Interview.
Nationality
Candidates must be one of the following:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India (subject to a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India, wherever applicable).
Marital Status
Only unmarried male candidates are eligible to apply under this recruitment notification.
Important: Candidates must satisfy all eligibility conditions on the prescribed cut-off date. Failure to produce the required certificates during document verification or the SSB process may lead to cancellation of candidature.
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 19 Years
- Maximum Age: 25 Years
- Candidates must be born between 02 January 2002 and 01 January 2008 (both dates inclusive) as on 01 January 2027.
Eligibility for Wards of Battle Casualties
Candidates applying under the Wards of Battle Casualties of Indian Army Personnel category must:
- Be an unmarried son or unmarried daughter (including legally adopted child) of eligible Army personnel classified as Battle Casualties.
- Possess a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognised university.
- NCC ‘C’ Certificate is not mandatory for this category.
Indian Army Officer Salary 2026
After successful commissioning, candidates are appointed as Lieutenant and receive salary under Level-10 Pay Matrix.
Apart from basic pay, officers receive:
- Military Service Pay (MSP)
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- High Altitude Allowance (where applicable)
- Uniform Allowance
- Transport Allowance
- Medical Facilities
- Canteen Benefits
- Leave Travel Concession
- Pension benefits (as applicable)
During training at OTA Chennai, cadets receive a monthly stipend of ₹56,100.
Application Fee
No application fee has been mentioned in the official notification.
Selection Process
The selection process includes the following stages:
1. Shortlisting of Applications
Applications are shortlisted based on the candidate’s graduation marks and NCC ‘C’ Certificate performance. Only shortlisted candidates are invited for the SSB Interview.
2. SSB Interview
Shortlisted candidates must appear for the Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview, which is conducted in two stages:
- Stage I: Screening Test (Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception & Discussion Test).
- Stage II: Psychological Tests, Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks, Personal Interview and Conference.
Candidates who do not qualify in Stage I are eliminated on the same day.
3. Medical Examination
Candidates recommended by the SSB undergo a detailed medical examination to ensure they meet the medical standards prescribed by the Indian Army.
4. Merit List
A final merit list is prepared based on the candidate’s SSB Interview performance, subject to medical fitness and the availability of vacancies.
5. Training at OTA Chennai
Candidates whose names appear in the final merit list receive a joining letter for Pre-Commission Training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. After successfully completing the training, they are commissioned as Lieutenants in the Indian Army.
How to Apply Online
Eligible candidates can apply online for the Indian Army NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course (April 2027) through the official Join Indian Army website. Follow the step-by-step process below to complete your application successfully.
- Visit the official Join Indian Army recruitment portal.
- Click on “Officer Entry Apply/Login” on the homepage.
- Register yourself using a valid email ID and mobile number if you are a new user. Existing users can log in with their credentials.
- After logging in, click on “Apply Online” under the dashboard.
- Select “NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course (April 2027)” from the list of available officer entries.
- Fill in all the required details, including your personal information, communication details, educational qualifications, NCC details and other necessary information.
- Upload the required documents and verify all the information entered in the application form.
- Carefully review the application on the Preview/Summary page before final submission.
- Click on “Submit” to complete the online application process.
- Download and print a copy of the submitted application form for future reference.
Important: Candidates should submit only one application. Ensure that all information provided is accurate, as no correction facility may be available after the final submission. Apply well before the last date to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Documents Required
The following documents are required:
- Printed copy of the submitted online application form with a recent passport-size photograph.
- Class 10 (Matriculation) Certificate and Mark Sheet (for proof of date of birth).
- Class 12 Certificate and Mark Sheet.
- Bachelor’s Degree or Provisional Degree Certificate from a recognised university.
- Mark sheets of all semesters/years of the graduation course.
- Valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate with a minimum ‘B’ Grade (mandatory for General NCC candidates).
- University certificate for CGPA to Percentage conversion, if applicable.
- Certificate from the Principal/Head of Institution for final-year students (if applicable).
- Government-issued Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving Licence, or Voter ID).
- Recent passport-size photographs.
- Domicile/Residence Certificate (if required).
- Category-related documents for Wards of Battle Casualties, including the Battle Casualty Certificate and Relationship Certificate issued by the competent authority.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Applying
Many applications are rejected due to avoidable mistakes. Before submitting your application, keep the following points in mind:
- Enter your name, date of birth and parents’ names exactly as mentioned in your Class 10 certificate.
- Ensure your graduation marks/CGPA are entered correctly according to your university’s official conversion formula.
- Upload only clear, readable and valid documents in the prescribed format.
- Use a valid and active email ID and mobile number, as all recruitment updates will be sent through them.
- Verify that you possess the required NCC ‘C’ Certificate with at least a ‘B’ Grade before applying (not applicable for Wards of Battle Casualties).
- Review the complete application carefully before clicking the Final Submit button, as corrections may not be allowed after submission.
- Submit only one application. Multiple applications from the same candidate may lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Do not wait until the last date to apply, as heavy website traffic may cause technical issues.
- Keep a printed copy of the submitted application form and save the registration details for future reference.
- Regularly check the official Join Indian Army website and your registered email for updates regarding shortlisting, SSB interview and further selection stages.
Important Links
| Link | Action |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF | View & Download Here |
| Official Website | Visit Website |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The last date to submit the online application is 20 August 2026 (3:00 PM).
A total of 70 vacancies have been announced, including 63 General and 7 vacancies for Wards of Battle Casualties of Army Personnel.
Unmarried male graduates aged 19 to 25 years with an NCC ‘C’ Certificate and a minimum ‘B’ Grade are eligible to apply.
No. Candidates are shortlisted based on academic performance and NCC achievements, followed by the SSB Interview and Medical Examination.
Selected candidates are commissioned as Lieutenant with a basic pay of ₹56,100 under Level-10 Pay Matrix, along with Military Service Pay and other allowances.
