Indian Army has released the NCC Special Entry Scheme for the 124th October 2026 Course. This is a special entry for NCC 'C' Certificate holders to be commissioned directly as Lieutenant (Officer) in the Indian Army through Short Service Commission (SSC). Total 76 vacancies are available. This is one of the prestigious paths to becoming a commissioned officer in the Indian Army — no written exam required, direct SSB Interview shortlisting for NCC holders.
Short Service Commission (SSC) through NCC Special Entry gives a 14-year career as an Army Officer with the option to apply for Permanent Commission (PC) after 5 years of service. The NCC Special Entry is open to both men and women graduates who hold a valid NCC 'C' Certificate from Army Wing, Air Wing, or Naval Wing with minimum 'B' grade. Candidates will be commissioned as Lieutenant and start with a gross salary of approximately Rs.80,000–1,00,000/month with all military benefits.
IMPORTANT DATES
| Online Application Start | 20 May 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 05 July 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only — joinindianarmy.nic.in |
| SSB Interview (Shortlisted) | August – September 2026 |
| Medical Examination | After SSB clearance at designated Military Hospitals |
| Course Commencement | October 2026 at IMA Dehradun |
| Official Website | joinindianarmy.nic.in |
APPLICATION FEE
| All Candidates | NIL — No application fee for Army Officer entries |
| Application Mode | Online through joinindianarmy.nic.in |
AGE LIMIT — As on Commencement Date (October 2026)
| Minimum Age | 19 Years |
| Maximum Age | 25 Years |
| Age Calculation Date | 01 October 2026 (Course Commencement) |
| Born Between | 02 October 2001 to 01 October 2007 |
| No relaxation | Age criteria is STRICT for Army Officer entries — no exception for any category |
| Note | Candidates who have already appeared in SSB for the same course in a previous attempt are NOT eligible to apply again |
EDUCATION & NCC QUALIFICATION
| Minimum Education | Graduation (Bachelor's degree) in ANY discipline from a recognized university. No minimum percentage specified — but final merit considers academic marks. |
| Final Year Students | Candidates who have appeared in final year exam but result not declared are eligible to apply. Final year students will be given PROVISIONAL entry. |
| NCC Certificate (MANDATORY) | NCC 'C' Certificate from any wing — Army Wing (preferred), Air Wing, or Naval Wing. Minimum grade 'B' is mandatory. Grade 'A' in NCC 'C' will be given preference. |
| NCC Certificate Validity | NCC 'C' Certificate must be valid and obtained from a recognized NCC unit. Certificate number and Unit details must be filled in form. |
| Nationality | Indian Citizens only. Candidates must be physically and mentally fit to serve in any part of India and abroad. |
| Marital Status | Unmarried candidates preferred. Married candidates with prior permission may apply. |
PHYSICAL STANDARDS — ARMY OFFICER ENTRY
| Physical Parameter | Male Candidate | Female Candidate |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Height | 157.5 cm (163 cm for J&K, HP, NE States preferred) | 152 cm |
| Minimum Weight | As per height and age chart — BMI standards | As per height and age chart |
| Chest (Male) | 77 cm (unexpanded) — minimum 5 cm expansion required | N/A |
| Eyesight (Distant Vision) | 6/6 in one eye, 6/18 in other eye (without glasses) | 6/6 in one eye, 6/18 in other (without glasses) |
| Eyesight (Corrected) | 6/6 in each eye (with glasses/lens) — max myopia -5D, hypermetropia +4D | Same standards apply |
| No Knock Knee / Flat Foot | Assessed at Medical Examination | Assessed at Medical Examination |
| Overall | Must be FIT in all medical parameters as per Army Medical Standards | Same standards apply |
PAY SCALE & MILITARY ALLOWANCES
| Starting Rank | Lieutenant (on commissioning) |
| Basic Pay — Lieutenant | Rs. 56,100/- per month (Level-10 of Pay Matrix) |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | Rs. 15,500/- per month (all officers get MSP) |
| DA (Dearness Allowance) | As per Central Govt rate (currently ~50% of basic) |
| HRA (House Rent Allowance) | X, Y, Z city rates OR free government accommodation in military lines |
| Field Area Allowance | Rs. 10,500–25,000/month (when posted in field areas, high altitude, Siachen etc.) |
| Transport Allowance | As per posting location |
| Approximate Gross Monthly | Rs. 80,000 – Rs. 1,00,000/- per month (Lieutenant with all allowances) |
| After Promotion to Captain | Rs. 61,300/- Basic + MSP + allowances — approx Rs. 90,000–1,10,000/month |
| Military Benefits | Free ration, free accommodation (or HRA), uniform allowance, CSD canteen, Army Medical facilities (self & family), Leave Travel Concession |
| Post-Retirement | Army Group Insurance Scheme (AGIS), Ex-serviceman benefits, ECO/SSCO settlement assistance, one-time gratuity |
SSB INTERVIEW — 5-DAY SELECTION PROCESS
| Day | Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) + PPDT | Verbal and Non-verbal intelligence tests. Picture Perception & Discussion Test (group story narration). Screening — about 50-60% candidates screened OUT on Day 1. |
| Day 2 | Psychology Tests | Thematic Apperception Test (TAT — 11 stories), Word Association Test (WAT — 60 words), Situation Reaction Test (SRT — 60 situations), Self Description Test (SD). Reveals personality, leadership, social traits. |
| Day 3-4 | Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks | Group Discussion (GD), Group Planning Exercise (GPE), Progressive Group Task (PGT), Half Group Task (HGT), Individual Obstacles (IO), Command Task, Snake Race/Final Group Task. Tests leadership, teamwork, decision-making. |
| Day 3-4 | Personal Interview (PI) | 1-on-1 interview with Interviewing Officer (IO). Covers life history, family background, education, motivation to join Army, current affairs, NCC experiences. Duration: 30-60 minutes. |
| Day 5 | Conference | All assessors (GTO, IO, Psychologist) discuss each candidate in a Board Conference. Final Recommendation: Recommended (R) or Not Recommended (NR). Results announced same evening. |
HOW TO APPLY — STEP BY STEP
▶ Step 1: Visit joinindianarmy.nic.in — official Army Recruitment website
▶ Step 2: Click on 'Officer Entry Apply / Login' — then 'Registration'
▶ Step 3: Register with valid Email ID and Mobile Number — you will receive a unique Registration ID
▶ Step 4: Login with Registration ID and fill the Application Form
▶ Step 5: Select 'NCC Special Entry — 124th Course' from the available notification list
▶ Step 6: Enter personal details — Name, DOB, Category, State of Domicile
▶ Step 7: Enter NCC 'C' Certificate details — Certificate Number, Issue Date, NCC Unit, Wing (Army/Air/Naval), Grade (A/B)
▶ Step 8: Enter educational qualification — Graduation college, university, percentage, year of passing
▶ Step 9: Upload scanned Passport Photo (white background, 10-40 KB), Signature (3-30 KB)
▶ Step 10: Upload NCC 'C' Certificate (scanned PDF/JPG)
▶ Step 11: No fee — directly submit the application
▶ Step 12: Print Application Form — needed for SSB reporting
▶ SSB INTERVIEW: Shortlisted candidates will receive call letter at joinindianarmy.nic.in — check website regularly
