Agniveer
Four-year enlistment as Agniveers in the Army, Navy or Air Force under the Agnipath scheme, with up to 25 per cent of each batch retained as regular soldiers, sailors or airmen after four years.
Eligibility
Unmarried Indian men and women (women in specified trades/services) aged 17.5 to 21 years. Army GD requires Class 10 with 45 per cent; Army Clerk/Technical and Navy SSR require Class 12 with specified subjects; Agniveervayu requires Class 12 (Science with Physics, Maths and English at 50 per cent, or any stream) or an engineering diploma. Physical fitness and medical standards apply.
Age limit: 17.5 to 21 years (relaxations announced occasionally)
Exam pattern
Army: online Common Entrance Exam (General Duty: 50 questions, 100 marks, 1 hour with negative marking of 0.5 mark per wrong answer; technical and clerk trades have longer papers), followed by recruitment rally (1.6 km run, pull-ups, zig-zag balance, ditch), medicals. Navy: online test of Science, Maths, English and General Awareness at Class 12 (SSR) or Class 10 (MR) level, then a physical fitness test and medicals. Air Force: online test (Science stream Physics, Maths and English in 60 minutes; other streams English, Reasoning and General Awareness in 45 minutes; both groups 85 minutes), followed by Adaptability Tests, physical fitness test and medicals; +1 per correct answer and negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer.
Syllabus at a glance
Army GD tests general knowledge, general science, Class 10 maths and logical reasoning. Navy SSR covers Class 12 physics, maths, science and English with general awareness; MR is at Class 10 level. Agniveervayu Science stream covers Class 12 physics and maths with English (CBSE syllabus), while other streams cover Class 12 English, reasoning and general awareness.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Agniveervayu Intake 02/2027 Phase I result (exam held 22-23 Sep 2026) | Nov 2026 | expected |
| Agniveervayu Intake 01/2027 enrolment | Dec 2026-Jan 2027 | expected |
| Agniveervayu Intake 01/2028 notification and registration | Jan 2027 | expected |
| Army Agniveer 2027-28 notification and registration | Feb-Mar 2027 | expected |
| Navy Agniveer SSR/MR 01/2028 & 02/2028 notification | Mar 2027 | expected |
| Agniveervayu 01/2028 online exam | Mar 2027 | expected |
| Army Agniveer Common Entrance Exam 2027 | Apr-Jun 2027 (2026 CEE was held 1-16 Jun 2026) | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Indian Army Agniveer General Duty Guide - Arihant Experts (Arihant)
- Indian Air Force Agniveervayu Group X and Y Guide - Arihant Experts (Arihant)
- Indian Navy Agniveer SSR/MR Guide - Arihant Experts (Arihant)
- Lucent's General Knowledge - Lucent Publications
- Physics and Mathematics Class 11 and 12 - NCERT
How toppers play it
- Army CEE has negative marking (0.5 mark per wrong answer in GD); answer only what you are sure of, since roughly 35 out of 100 is the minimum pass.
- Begin running training at least three months before the rally or physical test; the 1.6 km run (Army GD: under 5 min 30 s for full marks) and pull-ups decide merit after the written test.
- For Agniveervayu Science stream, Class 12 physics and maths at NCERT level carry most marks; English is common to all streams and usually the easiest section.
- Navy SSR rewards breadth: revise all four sections, as there is a combined cutoff and the physical fitness test is qualifying only.
- Keep documents (domicile, education, NCC, sports certificates) ready; NCC and sportsperson bonus marks can lift merit significantly in the Army CEE.