Indian Army Opens SSC NCC 124th Course — 76 Vacancies For Men and Women

The Indian Army has officially opened applications for the SSC NCC Special Entry – 124th Course, scheduled for October 2026, offering an opportunity for unmarried male and female graduates to join as Short Service Commission (non-tech) officers. Interested candidates must apply online through the official website, joinindianarmy.nic.in, by March 16, 2026. This recruitment drive aims to attract talented individuals who have demonstrated leadership potential through their NCC experience and wish to serve in the Indian Army.

Eligibility criteria for the entry are specific: applicants must be unmarried male or female graduates holding at least a ‘B’ grade in the NCC ‘C’ certificate examination. Candidates must also be aged between 19 and 25 years as of July 1, 2026. In terms of nationality, applicants must be citizens of India, subjects of Nepal, or persons of Indian origin who have migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, subject to Government of India certification where required. Gorkha subjects of Nepal are exempt from providing a certificate of eligibility.

A total of 76 vacancies have been announced for this course. For men, 70 vacancies are available, including 63 for the general category and 7 reserved for wards of battle casualties of Indian Army personnel. For women, six vacancies have been notified, with five for the general category and one for wards of battle casualties. Vacancies are allocated separately for each entry and gender based on operational and administrative requirements, and selection, including shortlisting and merit ranking, is conducted independently for each category.

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Selected candidates will undergo 49 weeks of pre-commission training at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. Upon successful completion, officers will be placed on probation for six months. During this period, all officer cadets will receive a postgraduate diploma in defence management and strategic studies from the University of Madras. The training emphasises both leadership and operational skills, ensuring that newly commissioned officers are well-prepared for their responsibilities in the Army.

Physical standards are mandatory and clearly outlined. Male candidates must complete a 2.4 km run in 10 minutes 30 seconds; perform 30 push-ups, 40 pull-ups, six sit-ups, two sets of 30 squats, and two sets of 10 lunges; and swim 25 metres. Female candidates are required to complete a 2.4 km run in 13 minutes, 15 push-ups, two pull-ups, 25 sit-ups, two sets of 30 squats, two sets of 10 lunges, and demonstrate basic swimming skills. Meeting these standards is critical for candidates to progress through the selection process.

Candidates are prohibited from marrying during training, with marriage during this period resulting in discharge and recovery of training costs. All training expenses are borne by the government, though candidates who withdraw voluntarily must refund Rs 20,482 per week of training, applicable in 2026. The final allocation of arms and services will be made prior to passing out from the academy based on merit and vacancy availability, ensuring that officers are assigned roles in accordance with both their performance and the operational needs of the Indian Army.

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