Quick Answer — JAG 125 and NCC Special Entry 125 (April 2027)
The Indian Army’s JAG Entry Scheme 125th Course (10 vacancies, law graduates with CLAT PG 2026) and NCC Special Entry Scheme 125th Course (76 vacancies: 70 men, 6 women) both commission Short Service officers through Officers Training Academy, Chennai, from April 2027. Neither has a written exam: candidates are shortlisted on paper (CLAT PG score for JAG; NCC ‘C’ grade plus graduation marks for NCC), then face a 5-day SSB Interview at Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru or Kapurthala, followed by a medical and a merit list drawn only from SSB marks. Cadets draw a stipend of ₹56,100 per month during 49 weeks of training.
Last updated: 2 October 2026, from the official JAG 125 and NCC Special Entry 125 notifications published on joinindianarmy.nic.in. Vacancies are tentative and may be revised by the Army.
JAG 125 vs NCC Special Entry 125 — Side by Side
| Particular | JAG Entry 125 (Apr 2027) | NCC Special Entry 125 (Apr 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | SSC (Non-Technical), Judge Advocate General Branch | SSC (Non-Technical) |
| Vacancies | 10 (unmarried men and women) | Men 70 (63 general + 7 wards of battle casualties); Women 6 (5 + 1) |
| Age on 1 Jan 2027 | 21–27 years (born 2 Jan 2000 – 1 Jan 2006) | 19–25 years (born 2 Jan 2002 – 1 Jan 2008) |
| Qualification | LL.B. (3- or 5-year) with 55% aggregate; appeared in CLAT PG 2026; eligible for Bar Council registration | Graduate with 50% aggregate; NCC Senior Division/Wing 2–3 years; NCC ‘C’ Certificate with minimum ‘B’ grade (not required for wards of battle casualties) |
| Applications | 17 Jul – 17 Aug 2026 | Men 20 Jul – 20 Aug 2026; Women 21 Jul – 21 Aug 2026 |
| Shortlisting | CLAT PG 2026 score | Bonus marks out of 100: NCC ‘C’ grade (max 50) + graduation % (max 50) |
| Written exam | None — selection is SSB Interview + medical examination | |
| SSB centres | Prayagraj (Allahabad), Bhopal, Bengaluru, Kapurthala — allotted by DG Recruiting | |
| SSB window | October 2026 – January 2027 (tentative) | |
| Training | 49 weeks at OTA Chennai from April 2027; stipend ₹56,100 per month; commissioned as Lieutenant | |
| Tenure | SSC for 10 years, extendable by 4; Permanent Commission may be considered after 10 years as per policy | |
| Official site | joinindianarmy.nic.in | |
What Happens Now — Shortlist, Date Selection and Call Letter
- Shortlist on the dashboard. Log in at joinindianarmy.nic.in → Officer Entry Apply/Login → Dashboard. If you are shortlisted, the entry shows a Select SSB Date option. There is no separate PDF merit list — the dashboard is the only official confirmation.
- Centre and date selection. The allotted Selection Centre (Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru or Kapurthala) is fixed by the Directorate General of Recruiting; you choose only the date from the slots shown, first come first served. The window typically stays open for about two weeks.
- Call letter by email and SMS. The Selection Centre sends the call-up letter to your registered email and mobile. Print it, along with two copies of the application form carrying your roll number.
- Documents at the board. Class 10 and 12 certificates, all semester mark sheets, degree or provisional degree, and for JAG the CLAT PG 2026 scorecard and Bar Council eligibility proof; for NCC the original ‘C’ Certificate (provisional certificates must be converted before SSB). DigiLocker copies are generally not accepted.
- Medical after recommendation. Candidates recommended at Stage II go straight to the medical board. The final merit list is prepared only from SSB marks — academic percentage and CLAT rank play no further role.
How NCC Special Entry 125 Shortlisting Works (Bonus Marks)
NCC candidates are ranked on 100 bonus marks: up to 50 for the NCC ‘C’ Certificate grade and up to 50 for graduation percentage (for final-year students, the aggregate of the first two or three years).
| NCC ‘C’ grade | Marks | Graduation aggregate | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| A grade | 50 | Up to 60% | 0 |
| B grade | 25 | 60 – 64.99% | 5 |
| 65 – 69.99% | 10 | ||
| 70 – 74.99% | 20 | ||
| 75 – 79.99% | 30 | ||
| 80 – 84.99% | 40 | ||
| 85 – 100% | 50 |
Example: a cadet with 78% in graduation and a ‘B’ grade scores 30 + 25 = 55; a cadet with 72% and an ‘A’ grade scores 20 + 50 = 70.
The 5-Day SSB for JAG and NCC Candidates
Both entries use the standard two-stage board. Stage I is on Day 1 and sends a large share of the batch home the same day; Stage II runs Days 2–5.
| Day | Test | What the assessors look for |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — Screening | OIR (verbal + non-verbal reasoning) and PPDT (picture story, narration, group discussion) | Basic intelligence, a clear positive story, and whether you can hold your ground in a noisy group without shouting |
| Day 2 — Psychology | TAT (11 pictures + blank), WAT (60 words), SRT (60 situations), Self-Description | Spontaneous, consistent responses; the psychologist cross-checks your SD against your stories |
| Days 3–4 — GTO | Group discussions, GPE, PGT, HGT, Lecturette, Individual Obstacles, Command Task, FGT | Cooperation, physical courage, ability to plan and influence a group; NCC cadets are expected to be visibly fit and natural outdoors |
| Days 2–4 — Interview | Personal Interview with the Interviewing Officer (slotted between other tests) | Truthful PIQ, knowledge of your law/NCC background, service awareness, why the Army over civil options |
| Day 5 — Conference | Board conference and result | Recommended candidates stay for the medical; others leave the same afternoon |
15 Interview Questions JAG and NCC Candidates Are Asked
For JAG 125 (law graduates):
- Why the JAG Branch and not litigation, a corporate firm or the judiciary?
- What does a Judge Advocate General officer actually do in a formation?
- Explain court-martial types under the Army Act, 1950 in two minutes.
- Your CLAT PG score and LL.B. percentage — what do they say about you?
- Which recent Supreme Court judgment affecting the armed forces do you know, and what was your view?
- You are asked to advise on a disciplinary case where the facts are weak. What do you do?
- You are 25 and giving up a Bar licence for a 10-year commission — why?
For NCC Special Entry 125:
- Tell me about your NCC unit, your camps and the biggest responsibility you held as a cadet.
- Why did you get a ‘B’ and not an ‘A’ in your ‘C’ Certificate?
- What did RDC / TSC / a national camp teach you that college did not?
- Name three things you would change about NCC training if you were the DG.
- Why NCC Entry rather than CDS — are you avoiding the written exam?
- What is your graduation subject, and how does it help an infantry or support-arm officer?
- What will you do if you are not recommended this time?
- Why should the board recommend you over the cadet sitting outside?
Prepare true answers, not model answers — the IO cross-checks every claim against your PIQ, your certificates and the psychologist’s notes.
Shortlisted and 3–6 Weeks Out? Prepare With an SSB Crash Course
Most JAG and NCC candidates are final-year students or young professionals who cannot take months off. NCA Academy runs the five-day board as a compressed course: psychology tests written and marked daily, GTO on our own ground in Mohali, mock interviews with retired assessors, and a conference-style feedback session. Law graduates get JAG-specific interview drills; NCC cadets get GTO and PI work that builds on what their unit already taught them.
- Online SSB coaching — live evening batches, psychology and interview practice from home, ₹7,000. Built for candidates outside Punjab and for working professionals.
- SSB coaching in Chandigarh — classroom batch at the Mohali campus with GTO ground tasks, ₹12,000 (+₹1,000 registration), hostel available. New batch every Tuesday.
- Entry-specific pages: JAG SSB coaching and NCC SSB interview coaching.
Both options are taught by retired officers who have sat on selection boards — the team listed under “Your SSB Mentors” below. Call +91-95010-70051 or WhatsApp with your SSB date and we will tell you which batch fits before it.
The SSB Is Everything — How to Prepare
With no written exam, the SSB Interview is the entire selection for both entries, and the final merit is drawn from SSB marks alone. Start with NCA’s SSB OIR Test Complete Guide for Day 1, work through the psychology tests guide, prepare with 100 real SSB interview questions, and avoid the most common SSB rejection reasons. Know your centre before you travel: see SSB interview centres in India. Still deciding between entries? Read SSC vs Permanent Commission, the NCC Special Entry guide for Army, Navy and Air Force, and for women the CDS OTA for Women route. Engineers should look at SSC Tech 68 and TGC 145, which are at the same SSB stage.
Why Choose New Careers Academy (NCA) for Your JAG or NCC SSB
New Careers Academy in Chandigarh, founded in 1967, has 39,000+ selections across NDA, CDS, AFCAT, SSB and other defence entries. For SSB-only entries like JAG and NCC, that record matters because the board is the whole exam: our assessors are retired Army and Air Force officers who have sat on selection boards, our Mohali campus has its own GTO ground, and batches start every Tuesday so a shortlisted candidate can slot a crash course in front of any SSB date.
Your SSB Mentors at NCA
Capt. Dhaliwal
Director · ex-Indian Army · SSB & PI specialist since the 1990s
Col. Ravi Sharma (Retd.)
Ex-Indian Army Colonel · GTO & PI specialist · 25+ yrs service
Group Captain Aggarwal (Retd.)
Ex-IAF Group Captain · AFSB lead · interview specialist
Hartaj Dhaliwal
Cleared NDA 1 & 2 · SSB strategy lead
Real NCA cadets selected via SSB: Yashwardhan (NDA 149), Vansh Sharma (NDA 1 2022, Rank 40), Tejas Chandel (NDA 2 2022, AIR 15), Rajvansh (Rank 2), and many more now training at IMA, INA, AFA and OTA.
👋 Try a Free Mock SRT Before You Pay
Take a free 10-situation SRT session online with Capt. Dhaliwal and get your OLQ-wise feedback. No card needed.
Join NCA for SSB — Online or Offline
- Online: Online SSB Coaching in India — live mock interviews, GTO & psychology training.
- Offline: SSB Coaching in Chandigarh — in-person ground tasks and mock interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions — JAG 125 and NCC Special Entry 125
Is the JAG 125 or NCC 125 shortlist out?
Shortlists for the April 2027 courses are published on each candidate’s joinindianarmy.nic.in dashboard, not as a public PDF. The notification timeline placed shortlisting in September 2026 with SSB boards from October 2026 to January 2027, so log in and check for a “Select SSB Date” option; if it is absent, your application was not shortlisted or the list for your entry is still pending.
How many vacancies are there in JAG 125 and NCC Special Entry 125?
JAG Entry 125 has 10 vacancies for unmarried male and female law graduates. NCC Special Entry 125 has 76 vacancies: 70 for men (63 general and 7 for wards of battle casualties) and 6 for women (5 general and 1 for wards of battle casualties). All are tentative and may be revised by the Army before the course begins in April 2027.
Is there a written exam for JAG or NCC Special Entry?
No. Neither entry has a written exam. JAG candidates are shortlisted on their CLAT PG 2026 score; NCC candidates are shortlisted on bonus marks for the NCC ‘C’ Certificate grade and graduation percentage. Shortlisted candidates then attend a five-day SSB Interview and a medical examination, and the final merit list is prepared only from SSB marks.
Which SSB centres are used for JAG 125 and NCC 125?
SSBs are held at the Army’s Selection Centres at Prayagraj (Allahabad), Bhopal, Bengaluru and Kapurthala. The centre is allotted by the Directorate General of Recruiting and cannot be changed on request; candidates choose only the date from the slots shown on their dashboard. The call-up letter is emailed and sent by SMS by the respective Selection Centre.
What is the age limit for JAG 125 and NCC Special Entry 125?
For JAG 125 the age limit is 21 to 27 years on 1 January 2027, i.e. born between 2 January 2000 and 1 January 2006. For NCC Special Entry 125 it is 19 to 25 years on 1 January 2027, i.e. born between 2 January 2002 and 1 January 2008. Both dates are inclusive and the matriculation certificate is the only accepted proof of date of birth.
Can final-year students apply for NCC Special Entry 125?
Yes. Final-year graduates may apply provided they complete the degree before the course begins in April 2027; the aggregate of their first two or three years is used for shortlisting. They must already hold the NCC ‘C’ Certificate with at least a ‘B’ grade at the time of application — candidates without the certificate are not eligible, except wards of battle casualties.
What is the stipend and salary after JAG or NCC entry?
During the 49-week course at OTA Chennai, cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month. On commissioning as a Lieutenant, pay is Level 10 of the 7th CPC matrix (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) plus ₹15,500 Military Service Pay, along with dearness, kit, transport and other allowances. The commission is for 10 years, extendable by 4, with Permanent Commission considered as per policy.
What is the difference between JAG Entry and NCC Special Entry?
JAG Entry is for law graduates and leads to the Judge Advocate General Branch, the Army’s legal arm, with shortlisting on CLAT PG. NCC Special Entry is for NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders from any graduation stream, leads to a general Short Service Commission, and shortlists on NCC grade plus academic marks. Both train at OTA Chennai, both select only through the SSB, and both start in April 2027.
How should I prepare for the SSB in the weeks before my date?
Treat the board as a five-day exam with four parts: practise OIR and PPDT for Day 1, write daily TAT, WAT and SRT sets so your responses become spontaneous, train outdoors for GTO tasks, and rehearse a truthful personal interview built on your PIQ. A short, assessor-led crash course such as NCA’s online SSB coaching or the Chandigarh classroom batch compresses this into three to six weeks.
Conclusion
JAG 125 and NCC Special Entry 125 are two of the cleanest routes into the Indian Army for the April 2027 term — 86 seats between them, no written paper, and a merit list decided entirely by five days in front of a selection board. If your dashboard shows a date-selection option, pick the earliest slot you can prepare for, assemble your documents now, and spend the remaining weeks on the board itself rather than waiting for the call letter. For the other April 2027 entries at the same stage, see our SSC Tech 68 guide.
Start your JAG 125 / NCC 125 SSB preparation with NCA today. New Careers Academy, Chandigarh — defence coaching since 1967, 39,000+ selections. Call +91-95010-70051 or WhatsApp +91-90410-12051.
Written by
Capt. Dhaliwal · Director, New Careers Academy
Ex-Indian Army officer and SSB mentor at NCA Academy, Chandigarh (est. 1967), coaching NDA, CDS, AFCAT and SSB aspirants since the 1980s. About the author →
Reviewed by Hartaj Dhaliwal — SSB Strategist, NCA · third-generation officer · recommended by the SSB three times.
