JAG Entry Scheme 125 Course 2026 – 10 Posts | Indian Army

The Indian Army released the notification for the JAG Entry Scheme 125th Course on its official website. Applications are invited from unmarried male and female law graduates for the grant of Short Service Commission in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch. As per the official JAG 125 Course notification, online applications open on 17 July 2026 at 3:00 PM and close on 17 August 2026 at 3:00 PM. This entry suits law graduates who want to serve as commissioned officers and practise military law.

The total number of vacancies is 10, combined for men and women. There is no discipline-wise split; the full vacancy and pay structure is given in the tables below. Selected candidates train at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, and postings after commissioning can be anywhere in India. Candidates should check all details in the article below.

Information verified from the official Indian Army notification for JAG Entry Scheme 125th Course (Apr 2027). Last verified: 18 July 2026.

The Indian Army is recruiting 10 unmarried law graduates (men and women) as Short Service Commission officers in the Judge Advocate General Branch through the JAG Entry Scheme 125th Course, starting April 2027. The last date to apply online is 17 August 2026 at 3:00 PM on the joinindianarmy.nic.in portal. Selection is through shortlisting based on CLAT PG 2026 score, a five-day SSB interview, and a medical examination.

JAG Entry Scheme 125 Course 2026: Quick summary

Also Read | BSI Field Attendant Recruitment 2026

About the Judge Advocate General Branch

The Judge Advocate General Branch is the legal wing of the Indian Army. Officers commissioned through the JAG entry work on matters of military law under the Army Act and Army Rules. The notification states that the primary service for this commission is the JAG Branch itself, so selected candidates work as legal officers, not in combat arms. Training is at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, and all who complete pre-commission training receive a Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras. See the latest Indian Army recruitment notifications for other entries.

How this entry compares to other officer entries

This section is added context, not part of the official notification. Confirm with the hiring office.

The JAG entry is one of the few Indian Army officer entries with no separate written exam conducted by the Army — shortlisting for the SSB uses the CLAT PG 2026 score, an exam law graduates often take anyway for LLM admission. This makes it a natural second use of the same score. Compared with the CDS (OTA) route, which is open to graduates of any stream, JAG is narrower: only law graduates eligible for Bar Council registration can apply. With only 10 posts open nationwide and every CLAT PG candidate with an LLB potentially eligible, competition for the SSB shortlist is realistically very high. Candidates who miss this course can watch for the next JAG course notification, which the Army issues roughly on a recurring cycle.

Important dates

The application window is one month. The dates below are from the official notification.

One timing note from the notification: queries sent through the website’s Feedback/Queries option will be replied to only if received up to 3 days before the closing of online applications.

Also Read | ITAT Recruitment 2026

Vacancy details and salary

The notification announces 10 posts, combined for men and women, with no separate category or discipline split. The Army notifies combined vacancies based on operational and administrative needs.

Rank-wise pay scale after commissioning, as given in the notification:

In addition, Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month is fixed for officers from Lieutenant to Brigadier. The notification states the CTC on commissioning is approximately ₹17–18 lakh per annum. Other benefits listed include Dearness Allowance, dress allowance of ₹20,000 per year, transport allowance, ration in peace and field areas, children education allowance, hostel subsidy, field area allowances by posting, and Army Group Insurance cover of ₹1.25 crore (monthly AGIF subscription of ₹12,500 payable by cadets).

Also Read | RITES Assistant Manager Mechanical 2026

Eligibility for JAG Entry Scheme 125 Course

The notification applies one standard to all 10 posts.

• Nationality: Citizen of India, subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin migrated from the specified countries with a Government of India eligibility certificate where required. Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not need the certificate.
• Age limit: 21 to 27 years as on 01 January 2027 (born between 02 January 2000 and 01 January 2006, both dates inclusive). The date of birth in the Matriculation/Secondary School certificate is final.
• Marital status: Unmarried (men and women). Candidates who marry after the application date become ineligible, and marriage during training leads to withdrawal with recovery of training costs.
• Education: Minimum 55% aggregate marks in LLB (three-year professional course after graduation, or five-year course after 10+2). Candidates must be eligible for registration as an advocate with the Bar Council of India/State, and the college/university must be recognised by the Bar Council of India.
• CLAT PG 2026 score is mandatory for all candidates, including LLM-qualified and LLM-appearing candidates. Only the CLAT PG 2026 exam conducted in December 2025 is valid. The result must be verified at the Selection Centre before the SSB, failing which the candidature is cancelled.
• Candidates withdrawn from NDA/IMA/OTA/Naval Academy/Air Force Academy on disciplinary grounds, or ever arrested, convicted, or involved in a criminal case, or debarred by UPSC, are not eligible.

Selection process

There is no written exam conducted by the Army for this entry. Shortlisting for the SSB is based on the CLAT PG 2026 score against the vacancy-to-call-up ratio. The stages are:

1. Online application on joinindianarmy.nic.in
2. Shortlisting of applications based on CLAT PG 2026 score
3. Five-day SSB interview at Prayagraj, Bhopal, Bengaluru, or Jalandhar (two-stage; Stage-I failures return the same day)
4. Medical examination for candidates recommended after Stage-II
5. Merit list based on SSB marks alone
6. Joining letter for training at OTA Chennai

One practical point from the notification: candidates appearing for an SSB for this type of commission for the first time are entitled to AC 3-Tier return rail fare or bus fare within Indian geographical limits. The SSB centre and date, once selected, will not be changed.

Also Read | CWC Young Professional Recruitment 2026

How to apply for JAG Entry Scheme 125 Course

Applications are accepted online only. The steps as per the notification:

1. Visit www.joinindianarmy.nic.in and click ‘Officer Entry Appln/Login’.
2. Click ‘Registration’ and fill the online registration form (skip if already registered).
3. After registering, click ‘Apply Online’ under Dashboard; the ‘Officers Selection – Eligibility’ page opens.
4. Click ‘Apply’ against the Short Service Commission JAG Entry Course.
5. Read the instructions, click ‘Continue’, and fill personal information, communication details, education details, and previous SSB details, using ‘Save & Continue’ at each segment.
6. Check the ‘Summary of your information’ page, then click ‘Submit’. Click ‘Submit’ again each time the application is opened for editing.
7. Take two printouts of the application with the roll number, 30 minutes after the final closure of online applications on the last day.

CGPA/grades must be converted into marks using the university’s own formula. Details cannot be changed after the application closes, and only one application per candidate is allowed.

Documents to keep ready (self-attested copies plus originals for the Selection Centre):

• Signed printout of the application with self-attested photograph
• Matriculation/Secondary School certificate and mark sheet
• Class 12 certificate and mark sheet
• Graduation degree/provisional degree (for three-year LLB after graduation; provisional degree issued between 01 Oct 2026 and 01 Apr 2027)
• LLB degree/provisional degree (same six-month condition)
• Mark sheets of all years/semesters
• Bar Council of India/State registration, or a college/university certificate that the LLB course is BCI-recognised
• University certificate stating the CGPA-to-percentage conversion formula
• CLAT PG 2026 score card

DigiLocker certificates are not accepted in place of originals. If an institution issues only e-certificates, a certificate from the principal/registrar stating this, plus an authenticated colour printout of the e-certificate, is required.

Important links

Should you apply?

This entry suits law graduates aged 21–27 who took CLAT PG 2026 and want a uniformed legal career rather than courtroom practice. The terms are clearly stated: a 14-year Short Service Commission (initial 10 years, extendable by 4), with a Permanent Commission option considered in the 10th year and release options after 5, 10, or 14 years. Pay is strong for a first job — a ₹56,100 monthly stipend during training and a stated CTC of about ₹17–18 lakh per annum on commissioning.

The honest trade-offs: only 10 posts exist nationwide, the merit list is built purely on SSB marks, and this is a short service commission, not a guaranteed permanent one — PC depends on selection in the 10th year. Candidates must also stay unmarried through training, meet the physical standards listed in the notification (for example, a 2.4 km run in 10 minutes 30 seconds for men and 13 minutes for women), and carry reserve liability after release. Candidates who did not appear for CLAT PG 2026 cannot apply to this course at all.

FAQs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandeep Khati is the founder of India Job Alerts and a B.Tech in Computer Science from JGEC (2010). He started his career as a Systems Engineer at TCS and has been active in digital publishing since 2011, beginning with SearchDarjeeling.com(2011) and working as a web developer and designer at Darjeeling Informatics. Launched in April 2025, India Job Alerts is his most focused project — dedicated to publishing verified government and PSU job notifications for West Bengal, Sikkim, and All-India candidates. Every post is cross-checked against official notifications before publishing.. Know more

Join me on social media – Facebook | LinkedIn