By default, the Indian education system causes numerous stages of stress in students’ academic journey. The Higher Secondary Examination is arguably the most difficult of these. After their exams, Higher Secondary students are on the verge of picking their life path. This conundrum is unfathomable – for some, it is a shortage of possibilities, while for others; it is an ocean of choices. In any case, it puts a lot of pressure on young minds. Law as a profession provides students with numerous employment options to consider. As a result, it’s no wonder that an increasing number of young people are choosing law as their chosen career path, and for good reason. The legal arena is the place to be for anyone with communication abilities, keen and logical reasoning, analytical skills, and the ability to read and imbibe. Law schools enhance these abilities and prepare students to practice law. There are several steps to this procedure.

To begin, an entrance exam must be passed in order to get admission to a respectable and reputable law school. Then, you must decide which course to take. Bachelor in law is combined with other disciplines such as B.A., B.Sc., B.Com, and B.B.A. in this five-year graduate programme. Students can choose their subjects depending on their interests and proclivity, as well as the Higher Secondary stream they studied. A graduate of any discipline can pursue a three-year law degree. Lastly, they must decide during their final year of university/college, when the curriculum is divided into specializations such as corporate law, intellectual property law, criminal law, and so on. Furthermore, having learned the complexities of these specializations through internships, the student is well-equipped to make an informed decision at this point.

After graduation, a law graduate can join the Indian Army. Unmarried male and female law graduates are invited to apply for a Short Service Commission in the Indian Army in the Judge Advocate General department. The Judge Advocate General (JAG) department is the Indian Army’s legal department. A Judge Advocate is considered to be a Judicial Officer. A JAG officer’s principal responsibility is to provide independent, operationally-focused, solution-oriented legal advice and services throughout the whole spectrum of law to support Army operations and sound Army administration. Now we will see various aspects of this service like (i) Eligibility (ii) Vacancies, Terms, and Conditions of Service, and Training (iii) Promotion Criteria and Salary Structure (iv) How to Apply, and the Selection Procedure.

(i) Eligibility

A candidate must be one of the following: (I) an Indian citizen, or (ii) a Nepalese subject, or (iii) an Indian national who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia, as well as Vietnam, to permanently settle in India, provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii) and (iii) above must be a person in whose favour the Indian government has given an eligibility certificate. Those who are Nepalese Gorkha subjects, on the other hand, will not require an eligibility certificate. The age limit for applying is 21 to 27 years. Minimum of 55 percent in the LLB degree (three years as a professional after graduation or five years after passing the 10+2 exam). Candidates must be eligible to register as an advocate with the Bar Council of India/State. The candidate must have graduated from an institution or university recognized by the Bar Council of India.

(ii) Vacancies, Terms and Conditions of Service, and Training

The Indian army will notify the vacancy as per its requirement and availability of post. Male and female in the regular army will be granted a 14-year short service commission(SSC), which will last for an initial period of 10 years and can be extended for another four years. Male and female officers who wish to continue serving in the Army after their ten-year Short Service Commission has expired may be considered for the grant of a Permanent Commission (PC) in the tenth year of their Short Service Commission, if eligible and suitable in all respects, in accordance with the relevant policies as issued from time to time. SSC officers (both male and female) who are not selected for PC but are otherwise fit and suitable will be offered the opportunity to serve as SSCOs for a total of the term of 14 years (including the initial 10-year term), after which they will be released from the Army. From the time an officer earns his or her commission, he or she will be on probation for six months. If he or she is found unfit to keep his or her commission during the probationary period, his or her services may be terminated at any time, whether before or after the probationary period ends. Selected candidates would be detailed for Pre-Commission training at Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, based on their final order of merit and the number of vacant positions, if all eligibility conditions are met. Candidates will not be permitted to marry or live with their parents or guardians during the training period. Candidates are not allowed to marry until they have completed the Officers Training Academy’s full training. The University of Madras will grant a ‘Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management and Strategic Studies’ to all candidates who successfully complete Pre-Commission training at Officers Training Academy, Chennai. The government covers the entire cost of training at OTA. Before the passing out of gentleman and lady cadets from OTA, the final allotment of arms/services will be made. The training period at OTA, Chennai is 49 weeks. Stipend for Gentlemen or Lady Cadets during the duration of their training in Service Academies, i.e. while at OTA is Rs. 56,100/-p.m.

(iii) Promotion Criteria and Salary Structure

Promotion Criteria 

 Pay 

They will also receive other allowances like Military Service Pay (MSP), Dearness Allowance, High Altitude Allowance, Siachen Allowance, Uniform Allowance, Ration in Kind, Transport Allowance, and Children Education Allowance, etc. Please keep in mind that pay and allowances, as well as the regulations and provisions governing them, are subject to change at any time.

(iv) How to Apply and Selection Procedure

Only online applications will be accepted at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. click ‘Officer Entry Login,’ then ‘Registration’. After carefully reading the instructions, fill the online registration form. After registering, go to the Dashboard and click on ‘Apply Online.’ The page ‘Officers Selection – ‘Eligibility’ will be displayed. Then, against Short Service Commission JAG Entry Course, click ‘Apply.’ The ‘Application Form’ page will appear. The Ministry of Defence’s (Army) integrated Headquarters reserves the discretion to shortlist applicants, without giving any explanation. Candidates will be notified of their Center allotment through email after their applications have been shortlisted. Candidates will be examined in two stages. Those who pass the first stage (I Stage) advance to the second(II Stage). Those who do not pass the first stage will be returned the same day. The SSB interview lasts five days, and details are available on the Directorate General of Recruiting’s official website, www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Following Stage II, candidates who are recommended will undergo a medical examination. If all qualifying conditions are met, candidates who have been approved by the SSB and are medically fit will be granted a joining letter for training in the order of merit. Candidates who appear for their first SSB interview for a certain type of commission would be eligible to AC 3-tier to and fro train or bus fares, including reservation-cum-sleeper charges, within Indian limits. Candidates who appear for the same type of commission for the second time will not be eligible for travel allowances. Some personal restrictions in service shall be imposed upon joining the Army in accordance with Article 33 of the Indian Constitution as issued in the Army Act and Army Rules from time to time.

Thus, the JAG department is the backbone of the Indian Army’s legal system, contributing professionally to a disciplined force by providing focused legal solutions in the fulfillment of legal and judicial duties. The officer’s major responsibility in the Department of JAG(Army) is to attend Courts-Martial as a Trial Judge Advocate, where he decides any legal issues that arise during a trial. In dealing with disciplinary matters, monitoring court cases, and pursuing litigation in various courts at different levels, an officer in this department is supposed to provide advice and help to establishments/units of the Indian Army. A legal officer’s responsibilities include advising on various aspects of numerous laws, such as Army Law, Army Rules, Regulations, and Orders, Criminal and Civil Law, Contract Law, Personal Law, and others.