The uniform services always tend to set apart an individual apart in a crowd, and growing up in the army environment of our college just keeps on adding on to that charm. While there are many ways to join the Indian Armed forced forces, law graduates enjoy an exclusive entry that is the JAG branch of these services. This article deals with the JAG Branch of the Indian Army.
ABOUT THE BRANCH
JAG stands for the Judge Advocate General Branch. It can be in a way said to be the judicial pillar of the force. The main motive of this article is to highlight the exclusive entry that is available to a law graduate to join the Indian Army. If you wish to see more about the JAG life, movies like A few Good Men and Shaurya are a must watch. It is an ideal place for an individual who has a thing for the defence services and at the same time wants to deliver justice to the people in the forces.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION
The JAG entry of the Indian Army is the one which most of us are familiar with. The notification of the same are released biannually usually in the month of July and January for courses which begin in the proceeding April and October respectively. The age group specified is from 21 to 27 years. Further, it specifies that only unmarried candidates are eligible to apply. Out of the total number of vacancies, there are separately reserved seats for men and women, e.g. in the current JAG 23 notification out the total of 14 seats for JAG, 07 each are reserved for men and women.
This entry is different from the regular entry as the requirement of passing a written exam like for the CDS entry is done away with and the minimum requirement to apply is 55% marks in LLB, which is followed by the regular SSB interview. However, it is subject to the cut off percentage decided by the army post application. Candidates are supposed to apply online on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.
It is a three step process after a candidate applies, where the first one is short listing of candidates amongst the applications received. The second stage is the 5 day SSB interview. The final stage is the medical test by the army to ensure that the recommended candidate meets the physical standards required.
TRAINING and COMMISSION
The candidates after selection undergo a 49 weeks training at the prestigious Officers Training Academy, Chennai. Further after the commission officers are subject to 6 months of probationary period during which if they are found unsuitable their services may be terminated.
As far as the tenure is considered it is granted short service commission for a period of 14 years, where the initial period is of 10 years post which the candidates if suitable and willing can continue in the army and are granted permanent commission and if the situation is to the contrary, they are released from the army after the completion of 14 years.
A common myth among some people is that JAG officers are granted ante date seniority however the notification leaves no ambiguity about the fact that it is not granted.
So its time that I ask the mandatory question, Do you have it in you?, if the answer is yes JAG branch is the right option for you.
I hope that this article was helpful in bringing some clarity regarding the JAG branch of the Army.
Useful Links
Jag 23 Notification –
http://joinindianarmy.nic.in/Alpha/writereaddata/Portal/NotificationPDF/JAG_23.pdf
SSB Procedure –
https://www.ssbcrack.com/2012/09/5-days-procedure-in-ssb-interview.html
Written by Ojas Kainthla (5th year)
