The National Testing Agency (NTA), under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has released the Information Bulletin for the Common Entrance Examination for Army Cadet College (ACC) – January 2027. The examination covers ACC (10+2)-136, SCO Series 61/Med (NT), and ACC (Graduate)-136. It will be conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode on 4 January 2027.
This examination serves as Stage-1 of the selection process for eligible serving Indian Army personnel seeking commissioning as officers through the Army Cadet College Wing at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. The ACC provides a structured pathway from the ranks to the officer cadre, focusing on leadership, discipline, professional competence, and overall personality development.
Important Dates at a Glance
| Event | Tentative Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Opens | 6 November 2026 |
| Last Date for Registration & Fee Payment (without late fee) | 30 November 2026 (up to 09:00 PM registration; fee up to 11:50 PM) |
| Late Submission Window (with ₹500 late fee) | 1–3 December 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Correction Window | 5–6 December 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Intimation of Examination Cities | 21 December 2026 |
| Download of e-Admit Card | 28 December 2026 |
| Date of Examination | 4 January 2027 |
| Timing of Examination | 10:30 AM to 01:30 PM (3 hours) |
| Entry Starts / Gate Closing | 08:30 AM / 10:00 AM |
The examination is held twice a year (January and July cycles) in bilingual mode (English and Hindi). Results of Stage-1 will be shared with ADG AE Dte for subsequent stages of selection. No re-evaluation or re-checking is permitted.
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee | Late Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General / Unreserved / OBC / OBC-NCL | ₹1,150 | ₹500 (additional) |
| SC / ST | ₹950 | ₹500 (additional) |
Fees are payable online only via Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI through integrated payment gateways (UBI/Canara Bank). Processing charges and GST are extra. Duplicate payments are refunded after reconciliation. No refund is otherwise admissible.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- ACC (10+2)-136: Higher Secondary or equivalent, or candidates appearing for 12th.
- ACC (Graduate)-136: Graduate degree or equivalent, or candidates appearing in the final year.
- SCO-61: As promulgated by the Recruiting Directorate.
- MED (NT): As promulgated by DGAFMS.
Age Criteria
As promulgated by the Recruiting Directorate (for ACC 10+2, ACC Graduate, and SCO) and DGAFMS (for MED NT). Existing policies on quotas, categories, relaxations, reservations, subject combinations, and preferences remain applicable. Candidates may apply for only one type of entry. Those applying for SCO Ser 61/Med (NT) must choose the ACC (10+2) stream.
Examination Scheme and Pattern
Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT) only.
Medium: Bilingual (English and Hindi).
Duration: 180 minutes.
Total Questions: 150 (all compulsory).
Total Marks: 300.
Marking Scheme: +2 marks for each correct answer; –0.50 mark for each incorrect answer. Minimum qualifying marks: 100.
For ACC (10+2)-136, SCO Ser 61/Med (NT) (6 subjects, 25 questions each):
- Part-I: Reasoning
- Part-II: Mathematics
- Part-III: General Knowledge
- Part-IV: English
- Part-V: General Science
- Part-VI: Humanities
For ACC (Graduate)-136 (3 subjects, 50 questions each):
- Part-I: English
- Part-II: General Knowledge
- Part-III: Elementary Mathematics
Syllabus Overview (Appendix II)
ACC (10+2)/SCO/MED:
- Reasoning: Verbal (number/letter series, analogy, coding-decoding, blood relations, ranking, distance & direction, calendar & clock, etc.) and Non-Verbal (series, analogy, classification).
- Mathematics: Arithmetic, Algebra, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Geometry, Statistics and Probability.
- General Knowledge: Who’s Who (India & World), Armed Forces, Sports, Arts/Culture/Literature, National & International Affairs.
- English: Spotting Errors, Direct & Indirect Narration, Synonyms & Antonyms, Phrases & Idioms, Comprehension.
- General Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science/IT, Environmental Science.
- Humanities: History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, National & International Organisations.
ACC (Graduate):
- English: Idioms/Phrases/Proverbs, Synonyms & Antonyms, Sentence Ordering/Completion, Para Jumbles, Error Spotting, Cloze Test, etc.
- General Knowledge: Current Affairs, History (Ancient to Modern + Indian National Movement), Geography, Environment & Ecology, Defence & Security Issues (including cyber security, drone warfare, indigenisation), Indian Politics & Governance, Economic & Social Development, Science & Technology.
- Elementary Mathematics: Number System, Elementary Number Theory, Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Mensuration, Statistics.
The detailed syllabus is available in the Information Bulletin and on the NTA website.
Application Process and Key Requirements
Registration is exclusively online at https://exams.nta.nic.in/acccee/.
A critical requirement is the Randomised Unique Identity (RUID) issued by the Army Education Directorate only to candidates whose complete details have been received on time. Candidates must enter the mobile number registered with the Directorate; an OTP is sent for verification, after which the RUID is validated. Incomplete or late submissions will not generate an RUID.
Photograph Requirements: Must be in civil dress only (uploading a photograph in uniform leads to automatic cancellation). Live photograph + recent scanned passport-size colour photograph (80% face including ears, white background, no mask; Sikh candidates may wear turban). Size: 10–200 KB (JPG/JPEG). Signature: 10–50 KB (JPG/JPEG).
Candidates can choose up to two examination cities. The list (Appendix III) includes centres such as Guwahati, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Shimla, Jammu, Ranchi, Bengaluru, Leh, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Pune, Shillong, Delhi, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jhansi, Lucknow, Mathura, Dehradun, Haldwani, Kolkata, and Siliguri (subject to sufficient candidates; NTA may merge or reallocate centres).
Multiple applications may lead to cancellation. One mobile number and email ID can be used for only one application.
e-Admit Card, Exam Day Instructions, and Conduct
e-Admit Cards will be available for download from the NTA website. Candidates must carry a clear printout of the Admit Card (with Self Declaration), one additional passport-size photograph (same as uploaded, in civil dress), and a valid original photo ID (PAN, Passport, Aadhaar/e-Aadhaar, or Bank Passbook with photograph).
Dress Code: Civil dress only. Army uniforms are not permitted. Candidates in cultural/customary dress or objects of faith must report at least two hours early for frisking.
Barred Items: Mobile phones, electronic gadgets, calculators, watches, bags, food items (except specified diabetic provisions), metallic items, textual material, etc. Extensive frisking will be conducted.
Candidates must report by 08:30 AM; gate closes at 10:00 AM. Late arrival or attempts at forceful entry will be treated as Unfair Means (UFM). Rough sheets provided must be handed over after the examination. CBT guidelines include on-screen navigation, question palette, Save & Next, Mark for Review, and timer features (see Appendix IV).
Answer Key Challenge, Results, and Other Provisions
Provisional Answer Keys will be displayed for challenge (non-refundable ₹200 per question). Recorded responses will also be available for a limited period. Results will be compiled on the final key and shared with ADG AE Dte. No correspondence regarding admission-related matters will be entertained by NTA; such queries must be addressed to ADG AE Dte.
Records will be preserved for 90 days post-result. Legal jurisdiction is Delhi/New Delhi. Unfair Means practices (including impersonation, possession of prohibited items, multiple applications, etc.) attract cancellation of candidature and referral under applicable provisions, including the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Contact Information
- Website: https://exams.nta.nic.in/acccee/
- Email: [email protected]
- Helpline: 011-69227700 / 011-40759000
Candidates are advised to read the full Information Bulletin carefully, ensure eligibility, and complete the application accurately within the stipulated timelines. All official communications will be through the registered email and mobile number only.
This notification provides a clear pathway for eligible serving personnel to pursue a commissioned officer career through the Army Cadet College. Aspirants should regularly check the official NTA website for updates on city allotment, admit cards, and further instructions.
