This document provides information about pursuing a career as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the Indian military. It outlines the scope of work, induction process, training requirements, pay and benefits, and career progression opportunities for legal officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Some key points covered include the range of functions performed by JAG officers, physical and analytical skills required, pre-commission training of 49 weeks, pay bands ranging from Lieutenant to Major General, and advantages of serving the nation as a military lawyer.

1. A CAREER
IN
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL’S
DEPT.
BE A MILITARY LAWYER

2. Presentation
by
Maj. Gen. Nilendra Kumar,
Director
Lex Consilium Foundation

3. SCOPE
Military Law as a career offers a fascinating and
rewarding experience. This presentation explains the
process of induction in the Judge Advocate General’s
Department of three services and Coast Guard.

4. 1. All India employment
2. Security of tenure of Service
3. Scope for service abroad
4. Life of adventure & outdoor
5. Honourable profession
6. Exposure to higher judiciary

5. RANGE OF FUNCTIONS OF JAG OFFICERS
1.Judge Advocate at Courts Martial
2.Legal Advisers
3.Staff Officers
4.Tenure with Legal Cells
5.Instructor at Institute of Military Law
6.Litigation at Courts Martial & Armed Forces
Tribunal

6. 1. Physical fitness
2. Analytical ability
3. Hard work & professional competence
4. Communication skills
5. Speedy disposal with decisiveness
6. Independence & courage of conviction
7. Self confidence
8. High integrity

7. JAG officers have to follow the same unit
routine as other officers and have to qualify in
annual physical tests.

8. Competence to undertake the study of a problem
to find relevant facts, legal issues involved and
applicable statutory/regulatory provisions.
Where needed give available options with
requisite evaluation.

9. It is not a 10 to 5 or Monday to Friday job. The
JAG officer is responsible to discharge his
functions and render time bound advice during
his tenure of duty.

10. A high degree of verbal and written
communication and ability to demonstrate clear
and concise advise in simple & non technical
language.

11. Time bound and need based ability to render
legal opinion in the best service interest.

12. To discharge one’s duty unmindful of any
extraneous considerations.

13. Conviction that the opinion rendered is fair,
frank and objective. Expressed with a degree of
requisite confidence.

14. Subject matters often involve national defence
and security considerations. The advice
rendered must not be based on any extraneous
considerations.

15. 1.Service in JAG Department of
three services ( both for men &
women)
2. Practice in Military Law
3. Service in Para military forces
4. Central Government
Standing Counsel /Panel
Counsel
5. (a) Ministry of Law & Justice
(b) Law Commission
(c) Ministry of External
Affairs
(d) ICRC
6. Law Teaching
7.Corporate Sector
8.Arbitration
9.MACT cases
10.Cantonment Management
11.Teaching of Military Law

16. 1. Armed Forces Tribunal
2. National Human Rights Commission
3. International Criminal Court
4. Peacekeeping Department of the UN

18. Grant of short service commission to law
graduates through Officer’s Training
Academy Chennai.

19. Officers with a law degree who are already
serving in different arms and services may seek
inter arm transfer to JAG Dept.

20. JAG Dept is one of the smallest cadre in the
regular Army. Its total strength is less than
300.
ANNUAL INDUCTION
Due to the small size of the Department, there is
no fixed intake which is based on annual
wastage rate.

21. Only Indian nationals Martial status unmarried

22. LAID DOWN PARAMETERS
 Open to male and female candidates.
 Educational Qualification- minimum 55% in law
degree of 5 years or 3 years streams.
 The candidate should be eligible for enrollment with
Bar Council of India.

23. PHYSICAL STANDARDS
Minimum acceptable height
Male- 157 cm
Female- 153 cm
See official website of Dte. Gen of
Recruiting
www.joinindianarmy.nic.in

24. 1. Online Application
2. Short listing of applications
3. Result posted on website
4. SSB interview and Psychological test
5. Medical examination
6. Final merit list

25. Full time six days screening schedule.
Each candidate is assessed and evaluated by-
 Interviewing Officer (IO)
 Group Testing Officer(GTO)
&
 A Psychologist

26.  Military Service has its own demands and
challenges. The induction process has been
designed to select requisite candidates, who
best meet the laid down criteria.

27. A candidate who is not selected at the SSB
may still do very well in other careers.
It is not the end of the world. Don’t feel
disappointed or defeated.

28. DAY 1 – SCREENING DAY
 A series of two aptitude tests named as OIR ( Officer’s Intelligence
rating) tests are conducted.
 Two booklets consisting of 50 questions each and half an hour is
given for each test.
 Followed by OIR, there is PPDT test (Picture perception and
description test).
 A very hazy picture is shown for 30 seconds and 5 minutes are given
to write a story on the picture.

29. PPDT – Picture Perception Description Test
 A hazy picture is shown on the projector screen for 30 seconds.
 Candidates must look at the picture carefully and keep in mind the number
of characters, their age and mood, items visible in the background.
 Candidates are given 5 minutes to fill the box, write the action and the story.
 They are advised to write M for male and F for female and also mention their
approximate ages.
 Mention (+ - o ) for positive, negative and neutral moods of the characters
in the picture.
 Encircle the character that you feel is the main character of the story.
 In space provided for the action, write what’s happening in the picture.
 Candidates are divided into groups and taken into rooms and made to sit in a
semicircular fashion, everyone has to narrate their story in 1 min. if not then
next candidate is asked to continue and after all the candidates have spoken
the group discussion starts.

37. PRE- COMMISSION TRAINING
 Training for 49 weeks at Officers Training
Academy, Chennai.
 Not allowed to marry during training.
 Not allowed to reside with parents/guardians.

38. WHILE AT OTA CHENNAI
1.Training at government expense.
2. Stipend of Rs. 21,000/- per month.
3. Awarded PG Diploma in Defence Management and
Strategic Studies by University of Madras.

39.  On successful completion of training candidates are
commissioned in regular Army as Lieutenant.
 Tenure of engagement is 10 years under Short
Service Commission extendable by a further period
of four years.

40. Grant of Commission by the President of India.
Class One gazetted officer.

41. Service in JAG’s Department reckons as judicial
Service.

42. Pay Band Grade Pay MSP
Lieutenant 15600-39100 5400 6000
Captain 15600-39100 6100 6000
Major 15600-39100 6600 6000
Lt. Colonel 37400-67000 8000 6000
Colonel 37400-67000 8700 6000
Brigadier 37400-67000 8900 6000

43. Per month
1. Field area - Rs. 4,200/-
2. High attitude/ - Rs. 11,200/
Uncongenial climate
3. Parachute pay - Rs. 1,200/-
4. Instructional Allowance - Rs. 1,800/-

44. 1.Subsidized accommodation
duly furnished
2.Canteen facilities
3.Medical treatment for self
and family
4.Clubs/institutes membership
5.Sports/games/adventure
activities
6.Education for children in
good schools
7.Separated family
accommodation
8. Annual leave for two
months with full pay & 20
days casual leave.
9.Leave Travel Concession
10.Study leave
11.Army Group Insurance
Cover of Rs. 50 Lacs for
monthly subscription of
Rs. 5,000/-

45. CAREER ADVANCEMENT
 Scope for Promotion to the rank of Major General.
Army takes care of your needs but not your greed.

46. 1. Frequent moves
2. Continuous screening
3. Grant of permanent Commission
not guaranteed
4. No pension, if released, as a short
service commission officer
5. The spouse, even if in same service,
may not get to serve in the same station.

47. 1. Service to the nation
2. High quality career
3. Glamour of uniform

48. Service as a military lawyer by way of commission
to any of the three wings of the Indian Armed
Forces is an attractive career option for law
graduates.

49. THANKS.