The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), under the Ministry of Defence, has invited online applications for 120 Medical Officer posts under the Short Service Commission (SSC) — 90 for male candidates and 30 for female candidates. The detailed notification was released on 7 November 2026, and the application window runs from 9 November to 18 November 2026 on the official portal, join.afms.gov.in. Selected officers will be commissioned in the rank of Captain or its equivalent in the Navy or Air Force, with an initial basic pay of Rs 61,300 per month plus Military Service Pay of Rs 15,500 per month.
This is a defence services opportunity, not a written-examination recruitment. Shortlisting for interview is based on the candidate’s NEET PG performance: the NEET PG percentile is converted into calculated marks out of 200 (percentile multiplied by 2). The interview carries 50 marks, including up to 3 marks of weightage for the highest applicable NCC certificate, and candidates must score at least 50 per cent in the interview to qualify. The final merit list combines the NEET PG marks (200) and the interview marks (50) for a total of 250, with separate merit lists for male and female candidates. Interviews are tentatively scheduled to begin on 2 December 2026 at Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi Cantonment, followed by a medical examination by the Special Medical Examination Board.
Key Details
| Organisation | Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), Ministry of Defence |
| Post | Medical Officer (Short Service Commission) |
| Total vacancies | 120 (Male 90, Female 30) |
| Notification released | 7 November 2026 |
| Application mode | Online only |
| Official website | join.afms.gov.in |
| Initial rank | Captain or equivalent |
| Initial basic pay | Rs 61,300 per month + Rs 15,500 MSP |
| Initial tenure | 5 years (Short Service Commission) |
Vacancies
| Post | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Officer (SSC) | 90 | 30 | 120 |
The notification does not give a further specialty-wise or category-wise breakup, and separate merit lists are prepared for male and female candidates.
Eligibility
Candidates must hold an MBBS qualification recognised under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and permanent registration with a State Medical Council, the NMC or the MCI. The final MBBS Part-I and Part-II examinations must have been passed in not more than two attempts, and the compulsory internship must have been completed on or before 30 September 2026. Candidates must have appeared in NEET PG in 2025 or 2026. Civilian doctors holding a recognised postgraduate medical qualification are covered by a separate provision: they need not appear in NEET PG again, and their previously obtained NEET PG marks will be used for shortlisting. Candidates still pursuing a postgraduate degree must have their final PG result declared by 18 November 2026. There is no separate minimum NEET PG percentile for applying, but NEET PG performance decides who is called for interview. MBBS graduates without an MD or MS can apply, provided they meet all the other conditions.
Age Limit (as on 31 December 2026)
| Qualification | Maximum age | Eligible date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| MBBS | Must not have attained 30 years | Born on or after 2 January 1997 |
| PG medical degree | Must not have attained 35 years | Born on or after 2 January 1992 |
The notification does not specify a separate category-wise age relaxation table.
Pay and Allowances
| Rank | Captain or equivalent |
| Defence Pay Level | Level 10B |
| Basic pay | Rs 61,300 per month |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | Rs 15,500 per month |
| Basic pay + MSP | Rs 76,800 per month |
| Other allowances | Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Non-Practising Allowance, Transport Allowance (Rs 3,600–Rs 7,200), Dress Allowance of Rs 25,000 per year, ration or ration allowance, Leave Travel Concession, Canteen Stores Department facilities |
Rs 76,800 is the sum of basic pay and Military Service Pay, not the final take-home salary — allowances, taxes and deductions depend on service rules and posting location. Officers also get 60 days of annual leave and 20 days of casual leave per year, medical services for themselves and eligible family members, group insurance and subsidised accommodation as applicable.
Important Dates
| Notification released | 7 November 2026 |
| Online registration begins | 9 November 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 18 November 2026 |
| Last date for PG final result declaration | 18 November 2026 |
| Internship completion cut-off | 30 September 2026 |
| Age calculation date | 31 December 2026 |
| Interview admit card | At least one week before interviews begin |
| Interview (tentative) | From 2 December 2026, Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Cantt |
Application Fee
The application processing fee is Rs 200 for all candidates, payable online by internet banking, credit card or debit card. The fee is non-refundable. Save the payment transaction number, as it must be quoted in further recruitment-related enquiries.
Selection Process
- Online application and eligibility scrutiny.
- Shortlisting using calculated NEET PG marks (NEET PG percentile × 2, out of 200).
- Viva-voce / personal interview — 50 marks, including NCC certificate weightage (A certificate 1 mark, B certificate 2 marks, C certificate 3 marks; only the highest applies). Minimum qualifying score: 50 per cent (25 out of 50).
- Medical examination by the Special Medical Examination Board; candidates declared unfit may seek an Appeal Medical Board.
- Final merit list on combined marks out of 250, with separate lists for male and female candidates.
Candidates attending the interview for the first time are eligible for the prescribed to-and-fro AC III / AC Chair Car railway fare or government non-AC bus fare from their normal place of residence.
Tenure and Career
The initial Short Service Commission tenure for fresh civilian entrants is five years, with a first possible extension of five years and a second of four years — a maximum of 14 years under the notified extension framework. Extensions are not automatic; they depend on willingness, vacancies, eligibility and service policy. Eligible SSC officers may get opportunities to appear for the Departmental Permanent Commission examination — up to three chances after two years of service and before nine and a half years — but permanent commission is not guaranteed. Promotions run from Captain on commissioning to Major after four years of eligible service and Lieutenant Colonel after eleven years. Officers may be posted anywhere in India or abroad as per service requirements.
How to Apply
- Visit the official recruitment portal at join.afms.gov.in.
- Read the Medical Officer (Short Service Commission) Recruitment 2026 notification.
- Click NEW REGISTRATION and follow the instructions on the website.
- Enter the required personal and contact details.
- Provide the prescribed MBBS and postgraduate qualification information, where applicable.
- Enter medical registration and internship completion information as requested.
- Provide NEET PG examination information according to the notified eligibility provisions.
- Upload the required photograph and documents.
- Review the entered details and supporting certificates carefully.
- Pay the non-refundable Rs 200 application processing fee through the available online payment method.
- Complete the online application submission by 18 November 2026.
- Save the payment transaction number, and download and retain the completed application form and acknowledgement.
Documents required for the online application include a passport-size photograph (JPEG, up to 100 KB, not older than six months), the Class 10 certificate or municipal birth certificate (PDF, up to 200 KB, English-language proof of date of birth), the final MBBS Part-I and II attempt certificate, the internship completion certificate, the NEET PG scorecard, the PG degree certificate if applicable, and the Aadhaar card. At the interview, candidates must produce the original documents with two photocopies each, ten recent passport-size photographs, photo identification and address proof, and five completed and duly attested copies of the prescribed attestation form.
Important Links
| Apply online | https://join.afms.gov.in |
| Official website | https://join.afms.gov.in |
| Interview admit card | Available through the official portal, join.afms.gov.in |
Note: read the detailed notification on the official portal, join.afms.gov.in, before applying — the direct public URL of the notification PDF was not established in this run, and the facts above rest on the official notification as reported identically by multiple sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many vacancies are available in AFMS SSC Medical Officer Recruitment 2026?
AFMS has announced 120 SSC Medical Officer vacancies — 90 for male candidates and 30 for female candidates. - What is the last date to apply for AFMS Medical Officer Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application is 18 November 2026. - Who can apply for AFMS Medical Officer Recruitment 2026?
Candidates with a recognised MBBS qualification, final MBBS Part-I and II passed in not more than two attempts, internship completed by 30 September 2026, permanent medical registration, and NEET PG 2025 or 2026 appearance. Eligible postgraduate doctors can also apply. - Can MBBS graduates without an MD or MS apply?
Yes. Eligible MBBS graduates can apply without a PG degree if they satisfy the medical qualification, NEET PG, internship, registration and age conditions. - What is the age limit for AFMS Medical Officer Recruitment 2026?
As on 31 December 2026, MBBS candidates must not have attained 30 years (born on or after 2 January 1997) and PG degree holders must not have attained 35 years (born on or after 2 January 1992). - What is the salary of an AFMS Medical Officer?
The initial basic pay is Rs 61,300 per month plus Military Service Pay of Rs 15,500 per month — Rs 76,800 per month before other allowances — in the rank of Captain or equivalent. - What is the application fee?
Rs 200, payable online and non-refundable. - How are candidates selected?
NEET PG-based shortlisting, followed by an interview (50 marks), a medical examination and a final merit list out of 250 marks. - When and where is the interview?
Interviews are tentatively scheduled from 2 December 2026 at Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi Cantonment. The admit card will be available on the portal at least one week before the interviews begin.
Next Action
Apply online at the official AFMS recruitment portal: https://join.afms.gov.in — the last date is 18 November 2026.

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