The Indian Army has released the notification for the NCC Special Entry Scheme 58th Course, scheduled to commence in October 2025. This scheme invites applications from unmarried male and female candidates, including wards of battle casualties of Army personnel, to join as Short Service Commission (SSC) Officers.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. For NCC ‘C’ Certificate Holders:
   • Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any stream with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. Final-year students may apply if they have secured at least 50% marks in the first two/three years of their degree.
   • NCC Service: Minimum of two/three years in the Senior Division/Wing of NCC.
   • NCC Certification: At least a ‘B’ grade in the NCC ‘C’ Certificate.
2. For Wards of Battle Casualties of Army Personnel:
   • Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any stream with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
   • NCC Certification: Not mandatory.
3. Nationality: Candidates must be: (i) Indian citizens, (ii) Nepalese subjects, or (iii) Persons of Indian origin from specified countries intending to settle in India, with a Government of India eligibility certificate (except Gorkha subjects of Nepal, who do not require one).
4. All final-year appearing candidates whose final year/final semester exam will be scheduled after 01 Apr 2025 are not eligible to apply for this course.
5. Final-year students may apply but must provide proof of graduation with all mark sheets by the prescribed date. No extensions will be granted for delays in exams or results.
6. Vacancies:-

NCC Men- 70 (63 for General Category and 07 for Wards of Battle Casualties of Indian Army personnel only).

NCC Women-06 (05 for General Category and 01 for Wards of Battle Casualties of Indian Army personnel only).

Age Limit:

• Candidates must be between 19 and 25 years old as of 1st July 2025 (born between 2nd July 2000 and 1st July 2006, inclusive).

Selection Process:

1. Shortlisting of Applications: Based on academic performance and NCC credentials.
2. SSB Interview: Includes Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test, Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT), Psychological Tests, Group Tasks, and Personal Interviews.
3. Medical Examination: For candidates recommended after the SSB interview.
4. Merit List: Final selection based on SSB performance and medical fitness.

Training Details:

• Selected candidates will undergo 49 weeks of training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai. Upon successful completion, they will be granted a Short Service Commission (SSC) and awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Defence Management and Strategic Studies by the University of Madras.

Terms and Conditions of Service

• (a) Tenure: Short Service Commission (SSC) is granted for 10 years, extendable to 14 years. Eligible SSC officers may be considered for Permanent Commission (PC) in the 10th year. Those not selected for PC but deemed fit may serve the full 14 years before release.
• (b) Probation: Officers are on probation for six months. Unsuitability during this period may lead to termination.
• (c) Ante Date Seniority: No ante date seniority is granted.
• (d) Termination: SSC may be terminated any time due to misconduct, unsatisfactory service, medical unfitness, redundancy, or failure in prescribed tests. Officers may resign on compassionate grounds with three months’ notice but will forfeit terminal gratuity.
• (e) Reserve Liability: Released SSC officers may be recalled for five years (plus two voluntary) or until age 37 (women) / 40 (men), whichever is earlier.

Important Notes & Selection Procedure

1. Application & Details:
   • No changes can be made after submission.
   • CGPA must be converted to marks as per university guidelines. Discrepancies may lead to cancellation.
   • Name, parents’ names, and date of birth must match the matriculation certificate.
2. Documents for SSB Interview:
   • Signed printout of the application.
   • Matriculation, 12th, and graduation certificates with mark sheets.
   • NCC ‘C’ Certificate (if applicable).
   • CGPA conversion certificate (if applicable).
   • Final-year candidates must provide a principal’s certificate and a declaration of passing by April 1, 2025.
   • Original documents must be carried for verification.
3. Selection Procedure:
   • Applications are shortlisted by the Ministry of Defence, and center allotment is communicated via email.
   • Shortlisted candidates undergo SSB interviews at designated centers. No requests for center changes are entertained.
   • SSB includes a two-stage process; those failing Stage I are sent back the same day.
   • Recommended candidates undergo a medical exam.
   • Merit-listed, medically fit candidates receive joining letters based on vacancies.

Download Official Notification of 58th NCC Special Entry

Centurion Defence Academy

Centurion Defence Academy is the best defence coaching institute in India, known for its high selection rate in the officer cadre. The academy provides holistic guidance for various defence entrance exams, such as NDA, CDS, MNS, AFCAT, and others. With four centers in India, including three in Lucknow and one near IMA Dehradun, Centurion has established a benchmark in defence exam preparation. Centurions have earned recommendations for almost every defence exam, including NDA, CDS, MNS, AFCAT, Army 10+2 TES, Navy 10+2 (B.Tech.) Cadet Entry Scheme, NCC Special Entry, TGC, and SSC (Tech.) Entry. Under the active guidance of Team Centurion, many defence aspirants have achieved their dreams of becoming officers in the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard.