Eligibility criteria

• Age Limit:   21 to 27 years as on July 1, 2023.

• Educational qualification: Minimum of 55% aggregate marks in their LLB degree examination. CLAT PG score of the previous year is mandatory. The candidates must be eligible for registration as an advocate with Bar Council of India/State. Candidate should be from a university or college recognised by the BCI. Only those candidates who are holding LLB degree and marksheet are eligible to apply for this course.

• Nationality: Citizen of India or subject of Nepal or person of Indian origin migrating from another country with the intention of permanently settling in India (check list of countries eligible in the notification on the official website.)

Selected candidates who meets all the eligibility criteria will go through a 49 week training at OTA Chennai according to their position in the final order of merit, up to the number of available vacancies. Candidates will neither be allowed to marry during the period of training nor will they be allowed to live with parents/guardians. Candidates must not marry until they complete the full training at OTA.

All candidates who successfully complete the pre-commission training at OTA, Chennai will be awarded a ‘Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management and Strategic Studies’ by University of Madras.

Terms and Conditions of service

• The short service commission will be granted to male and female candidates in the regular army for 14 years (10 years + 4 years extendable). Candidates that are willing to serve the Indian Army after 10 years, if eligible will be considered for the grant of permanent commission in accordance with the relevant policies. Those who are not eligible will be will be given options to continue as SSCOs for a total period of 14 years (including the initial tenure of 10 years) on expiry of which they will be released from Indian Army.

• Termination of commission can happen if there is misconduct by the candidates, unsatisfactory service, if they become medically unfit, if services are no long required or if they fail to qualify in any prescribed test or course.

Selection process

The integrated HQ of MoD (Army) will be in-charge of shortlisting of applications, without assigning any reason. After shortlisting of applications, the Centre allotment will be intimated to candidates via their email. After allotment of Selection Centre, candidates will have to log in to the website and select their SSB dates which are available on a first come first serve basis initially.

Only shortlisted eligible candidates will undergo SSB at Selection Centres. Candidates will be put through two stage selection procedure. Those who clear Stage I will go to Stage II. Those who fail in stage I will be returned on the same day. Candidates recommended by the SSB and declared medically fit, will be issued joining letter for training in the order of merit.

Interested and eligible candidates are advised to visit the official website – joinindianarmy.nic.in.  for further information on eligibility criteria, probation, termination, and rank-wise pay scale before applying.