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DefenceCentral GovtAgnipath Scheme

Indian Army Agniveer 2026 – Complete Guide

Join the Indian Army for a 4-year tenure under the Agnipath Scheme. Open to 8th, 10th, and 12th pass candidates across various trades. Over 25,000 vacancies for the 2026 cycle.

Vacancies
25,000+
CEE Exam Window
1–16 Jun 2026
Apply Last Date
10 Apr 2026
Monthly Package
₹30,000–₹40,000
📋 Vacancies
25,000+
📅 CEE Exam Window
1 – 16 Jun 2026
⏳ Apply Last Date
10 Apr 2026 (Done)
💰 Monthly Package
₹30,000 – ₹40,000
💡 Key update for 2026: Indian Army Agniveer CEE notification was released on 12 February 2026. Application window was open from 13 Feb to 10 April 2026 (extended). CEE exam will be conducted from 1 to 16 June 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be called for recruitment rallies (physical + medical). Check joinindianarmy.nic.in for zone-wise rally schedules.

1📅 Important Dates – Army Agniveer 2026

EventDateStatus
Official Notification Released12 February 2026Completed
Online Application Opens13 February 2026Completed
Last Date to Apply (Extended)10 April 2026Completed
CEE Admit CardTo be notified (TBN)TBN
CEE Online Exam Window01 – 16 June 2026Upcoming
CEE Result / ShortlistTo be notified (TBN)TBN
Recruitment Rally (Physical)Zone-wise – TBNTBN
Medical ExaminationAfter Rally – TBNTBN
Final Merit List & JoiningTo be notified (TBN)TBN

⚠️ TBN = To Be Notified. Dates are subject to change. Always verify at joinindianarmy.nic.in.

2🎓 Eligibility Criteria

🪪 Nationality
Indian Citizen (Undivided India residents also eligible for some posts)
📋 Age (Most Posts)
17.5 – 21 years as on 01 July 2026
Born between 01 Oct 2005 – 01 Jan 2009 (GD/Technical/Clerk)
📋 Marital Status
Must be unmarried at time of enrolment
🎓 Qualification (Varies by Post)
8th / 10th / 12th Pass depending on trade

Age Relaxation

OBC (NCL)
+2 years
SC / ST
+3 years
J&K Domicile
+5 years
Tribal / NE areas
Height relaxation

* Always check the official notification for post-specific age relaxation rules.

3📋 Posts, Vacancies & Education

PostEducational QualificationMax Age
Agniveer General Duty (GD) – Male10th Pass, 45% aggregate, 33% per subject21 yrs
Agniveer GD (Women Military Police)10th Pass, 45% aggregate, 33% per subject21 yrs
Agniveer Technical12th (PCM) with 50% aggregate21 yrs
Agniveer Clerk / Store Keeper Technical12th (any stream) with 60% aggregate; 50% in English & Maths21 yrs
Agniveer Tradesman (10th Pass)10th Pass with 33% marks in each subject21 yrs
Agniveer Tradesman (8th Pass)8th Pass with 33% marks in each subject21 yrs
Sepoy Pharma / Nursing Assistant12th (PCB) + specific technical qualification25 yrs
JCO Religious Teacher (RT)Graduate + relevant religious qualification34 yrs
✅ Total Vacancies 2026: 25,000+ posts announced. Exact post-wise numbers are published by individual Army Recruiting Offices (AROs). Candidates may apply for up to two categories based on their eligibility.

4Selection Process

Stage 1: CEE (Online Written Test)
Stage 2: Recruitment Rally
Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
Physical Measurement Test (PMT)
Medical Examination
Document Verification
Final Merit & Enrolment
CEE is conducted online at designated centres across India in 13 regional languages.
CEE shortlisted candidates are called for a physical recruitment rally at their zonal ARO centre.
The PFT is marks-based (run timing and pull-ups earn bonus marks); PMT and Medical are qualifying.
Final merit = CEE score + PFT bonus marks. Ties are broken by date of birth (older gets priority).

5📋 CEE Exam Pattern

The Common Entrance Exam (CEE) is an online MCQ-based test. Pattern varies by post. The two most common patterns are shown below.

Agniveer GD (50 Questions | 100 Marks | 60 Minutes)

SubjectQuestionsMarksNegative Marking
General Knowledge1530−0.5
General Science1530−0.5
Mathematics1020−0.5
Logical Reasoning1020−0.5
Total50100−0.5 per wrong

Agniveer Clerk / SKT (100 Questions | 200 Marks | 120 Minutes)

SubjectQuestionsMarksNegative Marking
General Knowledge2550−0.5
General Science1020−0.5
Mathematics2550−0.5
Computer Science1020−0.5
English2550−0.5
General Reasoning510−0.5
Total100200−0.5 per wrong

⚠️ Technical post has a separate 100-question pattern with PCM and technical subjects. Download the official pattern PDF from joinindianarmy.nic.in.

6Physical Fitness & Measurement Standards

Physical TestGroup I / StandardGroup II / Minimum
1.6 km RunUp to 5 min 30 sec (Bonus marks)5 min 31 sec – 5 min 45 sec
Pull Ups10 pull-ups (max bonus)Minimum 6 pull-ups required
9-Foot DitchMust clear in single jumpQualifying – no marks
Zig-Zag BalanceComplete the course without errorsQualifying – no marks
Height (Min)170 cm (General/OBC/EWS)162.5 cm (SC/ST/NE/Tribal)
Chest (Male)Unexpanded: 80 cmMinimum expansion: 5 cm

Run timing earns bonus marks (Group I = higher bonus). Height, chest, and weight are assessed as part of the Physical Measurement Test (PMT) — these are qualifying standards, not scored.

7💰 Salary, Package & Benefits

YearGross PackageSeva Nidhi Deduction (30%)In-Hand SalaryAnnual CTC
Year 1₹30,000₹9,000~₹21,000₹4.76 Lakh
Year 2₹33,000₹9,900~₹23,100₹5.24 Lakh
Year 3₹36,500₹10,950~₹25,550₹5.80 Lakh
Year 4₹40,000₹12,000~₹28,000₹6.92 Lakh
✅ Seva Nidhi Package (End of 4 Years)
~₹11.71 Lakh
Tax-free lump sum. Includes your contribution + equal govt match + interest.
🛡️ Life Insurance During Service
₹48 Lakh
Non-contributory cover. Family receives full amount in case of unfortunate demise.

Other Benefits & Allowances

⚔️Risk & Hardship Allowance (based on deployment)
🍽️Ration Allowance
👗Dress Allowance
🚆Travel Allowance
🏥Medical facilities at Service Hospitals
🛒CSD Canteen access (subsidised rates)
📄30 days annual leave per year
🎓Class 12th certificate for 10th pass Agniveers (on completion)

8After 4 Years – Career Pathways

🎖️

Regular Army Enrolment (25%)

Top 25% performers (by merit, medical fitness, and vacancy) are inducted into the regular Indian Army. Full career of 15+ years, higher pay scales, pension benefits, and promotion opportunities.

💰

Seva Nidhi + Civilian Life (75%)

Receive ₹11.71 lakh Seva Nidhi, a detailed skill certificate, and a Class 12 equivalent certificate (if enrolled after 10th). Priority for CAPF & state government jobs.

👮

CAPF Priority Hiring

Agniveer completers get priority and age relaxation for recruitment into BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, and other Central Armed Police Forces.

🏢

State Govt & Private Jobs

Several state governments and private companies offer priority consideration to Agniveer completers. The discipline, skills, and service record carry significant value in the job market.

9🗓️ 90-Day Preparation Plan

Month 1 – Foundation: Focus on GK (Lucent's), Basic Maths (R.S. Aggarwal up to Class 10 level), and General Science. Cover 2 chapters per subject per day. Run 1 km daily to build stamina.

Month 2 – Practice: Shift to topic-wise MCQ practice. Solve 50+ questions per day. Begin timed mock tests (30 minutes). Increase run distance to 1.6 km and start pull-up training.

Month 3 – Mock Tests & Revision: Solve 5 full mock tests per week. Analyse mistakes and revise weak topics. Aim for 1.6 km in under 5:45 min and 10+ pull-ups consistently.

Final 2 Weeks: Revision only. Re-read GK notes, solve 2 mocks per day. Focus on physical fitness — do not start new topics. Rest properly before the exam.

10📚 Recommended Books

BookAuthorSubjectBuy
Lucent's General KnowledgeLucent PublicationsGK & Current AffairsBuy
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive ExamsR.S. Aggarwal (S. Chand)MathematicsBuy
Lucent's General ScienceLucent PublicationsGeneral Science
A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal ReasoningR.S. AggarwalLogical ReasoningBuy
Objective English for Competitive ExamsS.P. Bakshi (Arihant)English (Clerk post)Buy
Army Agniveer Previous Year Papers (Chapter-wise)Arihant / OswaalPrevious Papers

Practice with Army Agniveer-specific previous year papers for best results. Free PDFs may be available on official prep channels.

11❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the age limit for Army Agniveer 2026?
For most posts (GD, Technical, Clerk, Tradesman), the age must be between 17.5 years and 21 years as on 01 July 2026. Sepoy Pharma allows up to 25 years, and JCO Religious Teacher up to 34 years.
How many vacancies are there in Army Agniveer 2026?
The Indian Army has announced 25,000+ vacancies across all categories for the 2026 recruitment cycle. Post-wise breakup is published by individual Army Recruiting Offices (AROs).
What is the Seva Nidhi package in the Agniveer scheme?
After completing 4 years of service, every Agniveer receives a tax-free lump-sum Seva Nidhi payout of approximately ₹11.71 lakh. This includes your own contributions (30% of monthly package) + equal government contribution + accrued interest.
Can girls / female candidates apply for Army Agniveer?
Yes. Female candidates can apply for the Agniveer General Duty (Women Military Police) category. Other posts are currently open to male candidates only. Check the official notification for the latest update.
Is there negative marking in the Agniveer CEE exam?
Yes. Each wrong answer carries a penalty of −0.5 marks. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. Plan your attempts carefully to avoid losing marks.
What happens after 4 years? Can I continue in the Army?
Up to 25% of top-performing Agniveers are selected for regular enrolment in the Indian Army based on merit, medical fitness, and organisational requirements. The remaining 75% receive the Seva Nidhi package, a skill certificate, and priority consideration for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and state government jobs.

Check If You Are Eligible

Use our free eligibility checker to see if you qualify for Indian Army Agniveer.

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Disclaimer: All information is sourced from official notifications and reputable sources. Exam dates, vacancies, and eligibility criteria may change. Always refer to the official website joinindianarmy.nic.in for the latest details.