Indian Army NCC Special Entry 125th Course 2026
The Indian Army has released the official notification for the NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course (April 2027) for unmarried men and women candidates. This recruitment offers an opportunity to join the Indian Army as a commissioned officer through the Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) route without appearing for the CDS written examination.
Candidates holding a valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate and meeting the prescribed eligibility conditions can submit their applications online through the official Indian Army recruitment portal. The registration process has already started for male candidates and has begun separately for female candidates as per the schedule mentioned in the notification.
In this article, candidates can check complete details regarding eligibility, vacancy distribution, important dates, selection process, training details, stipend, and application procedure for the Indian Army NCC Special Entry 125th Course 2026.
Indian Army NCC Special Entry 125th Course 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Indian Army |
| Post Name | NCC Special Entry Officer |
| Course Name | NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course (SSC-NT) |
| Advertisement Number | CBC 10601/11/0010/2627 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Training Academy | Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai |
| Training Duration | 49 Weeks |
| Course Commencement | April 2027 |
| Official Website | joinindianarmy.nic.in |
NCC Special Entry 125th Course 2026 Notification Released
The Indian Army has issued separate detailed notifications for male and female candidates under the NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course. The notification contains complete information regarding eligibility requirements, vacancies, application process, shortlisting criteria, SSB interview procedure, medical examination, and training details.
Candidates are advised to read the notification carefully before submitting the online application form to ensure they fulfill all prescribed conditions.
Indian Army NCC Special Entry 2026 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Indian Army (Directorate General of Recruiting) |
| Entry Scheme | NCC Special Entry Scheme |
| Commission Type | Short Service Commission (Non-Technical) |
| Eligible Candidates | Unmarried Men and Unmarried Women |
| Special Category | Wards of Battle Casualties |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Training Academy | OTA Chennai |
| Training Duration | 49 Weeks |
| Official Portal | joinindianarmy.nic.in |
NCC Special Entry 125th Course 2026 Important Dates
For Men Candidates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start | 20 July 2026 (1500 hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply | 20 August 2026 (1500 hrs) |
| Shortlisting for SSB | Tentatively First Week of September 2026 |
| SSB Centre & Date Selection | September 2026 (14 Days Window) |
| SSB Interview | November/December 2026 |
| Course Start at OTA Chennai | April 2027 |
For Women Candidates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start | 21 July 2026 (1500 hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply | 21 August 2026 (1500 hrs) |
| Shortlisting for SSB | Tentatively First Week of September 2026 |
| SSB Centre & Date Selection | September 2026 (14 Days Window) |
| SSB Interview | November/December 2026 |
| Course Start at OTA Chennai | April 2027 |
Indian Army NCC Special Entry 2026 Vacancy Details
The Indian Army has notified vacancies separately for men and women candidates.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| NCC Men | 70 (63 General + 7 Wards of Battle Casualties) |
| NCC Women | 06 (05 General + 1 Ward of Battle Casualties) |
| Total | 76 |
Note: Selection and merit preparation for men and women will be conducted separately as per the notified vacancies.
NCC Special Entry Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must satisfy all eligibility conditions mentioned in the official notification before applying online.
Nationality
Applicants must be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal, or
- A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, specified East African countries, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
An eligibility certificate from the Government of India is required where applicable. This condition does not apply to Gorkha subjects of Nepal.
Age Limit
Candidates should be between 19 and 25 years as on 1 January 2027.
- Born not earlier than 2 January 2002
- Born not later than 1 January 2008
Both dates are inclusive.
Educational Qualification
- Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
- Final-year students are also eligible to apply provided they complete the degree before commencement of the course.
- For final-year candidates, aggregate marks obtained in the completed years of the degree course will be considered for shortlisting.
NCC Certificate Requirement
Applicants must have:
- Minimum ‘B’ Grade in NCC ‘C’ Certificate examination.
- At least two/three years of service in the Senior Division/Wing of NCC as applicable.
Only the final NCC ‘C’ Certificate is accepted during SSB verification. Provisional certificates are not accepted.
Eligibility for Wards of Battle Casualties
The following candidates are eligible under the Battle Casualty category:
- Unmarried sons
- Unmarried daughters
- Legally adopted children
They must belong to Army personnel who were:
- Killed in action
- Died due to wounds or injuries
- Wounded or injured
- Missing and presumed dead
Candidates applying under this category are not required to possess an NCC ‘C’ Certificate but must submit the prescribed battle casualty certification.
NCC Special Entry 2026 Selection Process
The selection process consists of multiple stages.
1. Application Shortlisting
Applications are shortlisted based on bonus marks out of 100.
NCC ‘C’ Certificate Marks
| Grade | Marks |
|---|---|
| A Grade | 50 |
| B Grade | 25 |
Graduation Marks
Graduation performance carries a maximum of 50 marks, ranging from 0 marks for below 60% to 50 marks for 85% and above.
2. SSB Centre and Date Selection
Shortlisted candidates will select their preferred SSB centre and interview date during the designated selection window on a first-come-first-served basis.
3. Services Selection Board (SSB) Interview
The SSB interview is conducted for a maximum duration of five days at:
- Prayagraj
- Bhopal
- Bengaluru
- Jalandhar
Candidates failing Stage I are returned on the first day itself.
4. Medical Examination
Candidates recommended by the SSB will undergo a medical examination.
5. Final Merit List
The final merit list is prepared based on SSB marks. Candidates falling within the notified vacancies and declared medically fit will receive joining instructions for OTA Chennai.
Training and Career Details
Selected candidates will undergo pre-commission training at the Officers Training Academy.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Training Academy | Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai |
| Training Duration | 49 Weeks |
| Course Start | April 2027 |
| Monthly Stipend During Training | ₹56,100 |
| Rank After Successful Training | Lieutenant |
| Salary After Commissioning | Approx. ₹17–18 Lakh CTC Per Year |
| Commission Type | Short Service Commission |
| Release Option | After 5th, 10th, or 14th Year |
| Permanent Commission Option | After 10 Years |
| Service Allocation | All Arms & Services of the Indian Army |
Physical Standards
Physical standards are prescribed separately for male and female candidates before joining the academy.
Men
- 2.4 km run in 10 minutes 30 seconds
- 30 push-ups
Women
- 2.4 km run in 13 minutes
- 15 push-ups
Additional sit-up, squat, lunge, and swimming standards are also specified in the notification.
Documents Required During Verification
Candidates must carry original documents to the Selection Centre for verification.
Required Documents
- Matriculation/Secondary Certificate
- Class 12 Certificate
- Graduation Degree/Provisional Degree
- NCC ‘C’ Certificate
- CGPA Conversion Certificate (if applicable)
Important: DigiLocker certificates are not accepted in place of original documents.
How to Apply for Indian Army NCC Special Entry 125th Course 2026
Candidates can submit applications only through the official Indian Army website.
Steps to Apply
- Visit the Indian Army recruitment portal.
- Complete registration or login through the Officer Entry Application/Login section.
- Select the Short Service Commission NCC Special Entry Course application link.
- Fill in personal, communication, educational, and previous SSB details.
- Verify all information carefully.
- Submit the application form online before the closing date.
Candidates should ensure that all information entered is correct because modifications will not be allowed after the application window closes.
NCC Special Entry Notification 2026 PDF — MEN || WOMEN
Important Points for Candidates
- Applications are accepted only through online mode.
- Separate registration schedules have been announced for men and women.
- Candidates can appear for only one of the SSC(NT) CDSE interview or NCC Special Entry interview for the same course cycle.
- Original certificates must be produced during document verification.
- Shortlisting is based on bonus marks awarded for NCC performance and graduation marks.
Conclusion
The Indian Army NCC Special Entry 125th Course 2026 provides a valuable opportunity for eligible NCC cadets to join the Indian Army as commissioned officers through the Short Service Commission route. With 70 vacancies for men and 6 vacancies for women, candidates meeting the eligibility criteria should complete their applications within the prescribed registration period and prepare for the SSB selection process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the application dates for NCC Special Entry 125th Course 2026?
For men, applications are open from 20 July 2026 to 20 August 2026. For women, applications are open from 21 July 2026 to 21 August 2026.
How many vacancies are available under NCC Special Entry 2026?
There are 70 vacancies for men and 6 vacancies for women, making a total of 76 vacancies.
What is the age limit for NCC Special Entry 125th Course?
Candidates must be between 19 and 25 years as on 1 January 2027.
What stipend is provided during training?
Selected candidates receive a stipend of ₹56,100 per month during training at OTA Chennai.
What rank is awarded after successful training?
Candidates are commissioned as Lieutenant after successful completion of training.
