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Agniveer | Complete Information Guide 2026
Agniveer is a recruitment scheme for joining the Indian Armed Forces under the Agnipath program. It offers young candidates an opportunity to serve in the Army, Navy, or Air Force for a fixed tenure while gaining military training, skills, and valuable career experience.
Agniveer is a short-term military service programme launched by the Government of India in June 2022 under the Agnipath Scheme. Under this initiative, young Indian citizens between the ages of 17.5 and 23 years are recruited into the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard for a fixed period of four years.
The scheme was introduced to bring in younger talent into the armed forces, reduce the average age profile of the military, and create a large pool of disciplined, trained youth who contribute to national security and thereafter bring their skills to the civilian workforce. Selected candidates are called Agniveers during their four-year tenure.
After completion of four years of service, approximately 25% of Agniveers are offered permanent enrolment into the regular cadre based on merit and organisational requirements. The remaining 75% are released with a Seva Nidhi financial package, various post-service benefits, and priority status for government recruitment.
The Agnipath Scheme covers recruitment across all four uniformed services of India. Each service recruits Agniveers for specific branches based on educational qualification, physical fitness, and trade requirements.
| Post / Role | Pay Level | Basic Pay (₹) | Nature of Duty |
| Agniveer (Army) | Level 3 | 30,000 / month | Infantry, Support Arms, Technical |
| Agniveer (Navy) | Level 3 | 30,000 / month | Sailor — MR / SSR / AA branches |
| Agniveer (Air Force) | Level 3 | 30,000 / month | Airmen — Technical / Non-Tech |
| Agniveer (Coast Guard) | Level 3 | 30,000 / month | Navik / Yantrik branches |
| Force | Age (General) | Education | Physical |
| Army | 17.5 – 23 years | 10th Pass (most posts) / 12th (some) | Height 162 cm, Chest 77–82 cm |
| Navy (MR) | 17.5 – 23 years | 10th Pass | Height 157 cm, Weight 50 kg |
| Navy (SSR/AA) | 17.5 – 23 years | 12th (PCM / PCB) | Height 157 cm, Fit eyes req. |
| Air Force | 17.5 – 23 years | 12th (PCM for Science group) | Height 152.5 cm, Vision 6/6 |
| Coast Guard | 18 – 22 years | 10th / 12th (as per branch) | Height 157 cm, Chest 81–86 cm |
| Test | Qualifying Standard | Good Standard | Remarks |
| 1.6 km Run | Under 5 min 45 sec | Under 5 min 30 sec | Most weight in PFT — train hard |
| Pull-ups (Beam) | Minimum 6 | 9+ for full marks | 10 pull-ups = full marks |
| 9 Feet Ditch Jump | Clear 9 feet | Qualifying only | Practice broad jump |
| Zig-Zag Balance | Complete the course | Qualifying only | Simple coordination test |
| Force | Application Fee | Mode of Payment |
| Indian Army | Nil (No fee) | Online registration only |
| Indian Navy | ₹550 (Non-refundable) | Online — Debit / Credit / UPI |
| Indian Air Force | ₹250 | Online — Net Banking / UPI |
| Coast Guard | ₹300 (approx.) | Online only |
The Agniveer selection process consists of multiple stages. All written tests are conducted online or at designated centres. There is no interview for any of the forces.
| Stage | Test | Nature | Remarks |
| Stage 1 | Online Written Exam (CEE) | Merit-based shortlisting | Marks count in final merit |
| Stage 2 | Physical Fitness Test (PFT) | Qualifying | Run 1.6 km + Beams + Sit-ups |
| Stage 3 | Medical Examination | Qualifying | Conducted at Military Hospital |
| Stage 4 | Document Verification | Administrative | Eligibility confirmation |
| Stage 5 | Enrolment & Allotment | Final | Posted to Training Centre |
The Indian Army conducts a Common Entrance Exam (CEE) for Agniveer recruitment. The paper is based on Class 10 level for most posts and Class 12 level for technical and clerk posts.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Remarks |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 15 | 15 | High scoring — prepare 12 months GK |
| General Science | 20 | 20 | Physics, Chemistry, Biology basics |
| Mathematics | 15 | 15 | Class 10 level |
| Logical Reasoning | 10 | 10 | Series, coding, analogies |
| Total | 60 | 60 Marks | 60 Minutes | 0.5 mark negative marking |
Number system, BODMAS, decimals and fractions, LCM and HCF, ratio and proportion, percentages, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, time and distance, mensuration (2D and 3D), basic algebra, geometry and trigonometry, square roots, averages, data interpretation (tables, bar and line graphs, pie charts), basic statistics (mean, median, mode).
Motion and laws of motion, work energy and power, electricity and magnetism, light — reflection and refraction, sound waves, basic nuclear physics, atomic structure, periodic table trends, chemical bonding, acid-base-salt reactions, metals and non-metals, carbon compounds, human body systems (circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous), cell biology basics, diseases and their causes, ecology and environment.
National and international events of last 12 months, Indian and world geography (physical, political, economic), Indian history and freedom struggle, Indian polity and constitution, defence and security news, science and technology developments, sports events and winners, books and authors, national and international awards, important government schemes (PM Kisan, Ayushman Bharat, Agnipath Scheme updates), Indian Army / Navy / Air Force history and achievements, important days and their themes, abbreviations and full forms commonly used in defence.
Comprehension passages, grammar rules (tenses, articles, prepositions, conjunctions), vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution), sentence correction, fill in the blanks, active and passive voice, direct and indirect speech, idioms and phrases, error spotting.
Number and alphabetical series, coding-decoding, analogies, classification, blood relations, directions and distances, syllogism, mirror images, cube and dice problems, Venn diagrams, seating arrangements, mathematical operations.
Agniveers receive a monthly package that increases each year over the four-year tenure. 70% of the package is paid as in-hand salary. The remaining 30% is deposited into the Seva Nidhi fund, matched equally by the Government of India.
| Year | Monthly Package (₹) | In-hand Salary (₹) | Seva Nidhi Contribution (₹) | Total CTC (₹) |
| Year 1 | 30,000 | 21,000 (70%) | 9,000 / month | ~4.76 Lakh |
| Year 2 | 33,000 | 23,100 (70%) | 9,900 / month | ~5.24 Lakh |
| Year 3 | 36,500 | 25,550 (70%) | 10,950 / month | ~5.80 Lakh |
| Year 4 | 40,000 | 28,000 (70%) | 12,000 / month | ~6.36 Lakh |
| Component | Agniveer Contribution | Govt. Matching Contribution |
| Contribution per month | 30% of monthly package | Equal matching contribution |
| Exit Corpus after 4 years (approx.) | ₹5.02 Lakh | ₹5.02 Lakh |
| Total Seva Nidhi at exit | ₹10.04 Lakh + Interest (Tax-free) | — |
| Life Insurance Cover during service | ₹48 Lakh | Govt. funded |
| Ex-gratia (100% disability) | ₹44 Lakh | Govt. funded |
This is the most critical aspect of the Agnipath Scheme. Agniveers exit service with a strong profile, financial corpus, and multiple pathways for their future. The Government has announced a comprehensive package of post-service opportunities.
| Opportunity | Details | Benefit |
| Permanent Enrolment (25%) | Top performers offered permanent service in armed forces | Full career, pension, ECHS |
| CAPFs / CISF / BSF / SSB | 10% reservation in Paramilitary recruitment | Govt. job with seniority benefit |
| State Police Priority | Age relaxation + reserved quota in many states | Sub-Inspector / Constable fast-track |
| Railways / Defence PSUs | Priority / reservation in NTPC, Group D, DRDO | Stable Govt. job |
| Higher Education | Age relaxation in DU, Sainik Schools (some), BBA/MBA | Academic upgradation |
| Private Sector (Corporate) | Security agencies, TATA, Mahindra, other conglomerates prefer Agniveers | Industry-ready profile |
| Startup / Self-employment | Loan priority from banks, Mudra Yojana access | Entrepreneurship support |
Q1. Can a girl apply for Agniveer?
Yes. The Indian Army has opened Agniveer recruitment for women in military police roles. The Indian Coast Guard also recruits women Naviks. Navy and Air Force Agniveer for women are being evaluated — check the current official notification for the latest status.
Q2. Is Agniveer a permanent government job?
No. Agniveer is a four-year fixed-term service. After four years, 25% of Agniveers from each batch are offered permanent enrolment based on merit. The remaining 75% receive Seva Nidhi and post-service benefits.
Q3. What happens to Agniveers who are not selected for permanent enrolment?
They receive the Seva Nidhi corpus (approximately ₹10–12 Lakh tax-free), priority in CAPF and police recruitment, age relaxation in government job applications, and skill certificates. Several private companies also have tie-ups to employ Agniveers.
Q4. Is there a pension for Agniveers?
No traditional pension is provided. The Seva Nidhi fund replaces pension for those not permanently enrolled. Agniveers who are retained in permanent service after four years do become eligible for the NPS pension system.
Q5. Can I apply for both Army and Navy Agniveer simultaneously?
No. Candidates can apply for one force per recruitment cycle. However, if different forces release notifications at different times, you may apply to each separately in that window — read the eligibility terms carefully.
Q6. Will Agniveers get an age relaxation in UPSC or SSC exams?
Ex-Agniveers are treated as ex-servicemen for most government recruitment purposes, which includes age relaxation in SSC, CAPF, state police, and equivalent examinations. UPSC CSE relaxation is as per the government’s ex-serviceman policy.
Q7. What is the Seva Nidhi amount I will receive after 4 years?
Approximately ₹10.04 Lakh as the base corpus (₹5.02 Lakh from your contribution + ₹5.02 Lakh from the Government’s matching share), plus interest accumulated over four years. The entire amount is tax-free.
Q8. Do Agniveers get a rank?
Yes. Agniveers hold the rank of Agniveer in the Army, Agniveer (Navy) in the Navy, and Agniveer Vayu in the Air Force. They wear a distinct uniform and receive a service certificate upon exit.
Disclaimer
This document is an unofficial educational resource created for exam aspirants. All information should be verified on the official recruitment website before applying. Vacancy numbers, age limits, and eligibility criteria are subject to change with each notification.
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