Agniveer Recruitment 2026: Army, Navy, Air Force — Eligibility, Salary, Training and Seva Nidhi
Complete guide to Agniveer recruitment across Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Covers eligibility, salary structure, Seva Nidhi payout, CEE exam pattern, training, and post-Agniveer career options.
The Agniveer scheme fundamentally changed how India recruits soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Launched in 2022 under the Agnipath scheme, it replaced the traditional permanent soldier recruitment model with a four-year contractual service system. Whether you agree with the policy or not, if you want to join the Indian Armed Forces today, this is the only route in for jawans and equivalent ranks.
Here's everything you need to know about Agniveer recruitment in 2026 — across all three branches.
What Is the Agniveer Scheme?
Agniveer is a four-year military service engagement for soldiers recruited into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force at the entry level. Unlike the earlier system where a soldier joined permanently and served until retirement (typically 15-20 years), Agniveers serve for exactly four years. At the end of four years, up to 25% are selected for permanent enrollment based on performance. The remaining 75% are released with a financial package called Seva Nidhi.
The three variants:
| Branch | Designation | Recruiting Body |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Army | Agniveer (General Duty, Technical, Clerk, Tradesman) | Indian Army Rally / CEE |
| Indian Navy | Agniveer (SSR, MR, AA) | Indian Navy via joinindiannavy.gov.in |
| Indian Air Force | Agniveer Vayu | Indian Air Force via agnipathvayu.cdac.in |
Eligibility Criteria for Agniveer Recruitment
Eligibility varies slightly by branch and trade, but the broad requirements are:
Age: 17.5 to 23 years as on the date specified in the notification. Education:- Agniveer General Duty (Army): 10th pass (minimum 45% aggregate, 33% in each subject)
- Agniveer Technical (Army): 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English (50% aggregate, 40% in each subject)
- Agniveer Clerk/Store Keeper (Army): 12th pass in any stream (60% aggregate, 50% in each subject)
- Agniveer SSR (Navy): 12th pass with Maths, Physics (50% aggregate)
- Agniveer MR (Navy): 10th pass
- Agniveer Vayu (Air Force): 12th pass with Physics and Maths for technical trades; 12th pass in any stream for non-technical
| Parameter | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 170 cm (157 cm for NE/tribal areas) | 152 cm |
| Weight | 50 kg minimum | 42 kg minimum |
| Chest | 77 cm (5 cm expansion) | Not applicable |
Agniveer Salary Structure
The salary for Agniveers is standardized across all three branches. Here's the year-wise breakdown:
| Year | Monthly Package | In-Hand (70%) | Seva Nidhi Deduction (30%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ₹30,000 | ₹21,000 | ₹9,000 |
| Year 2 | ₹33,000 | ₹23,100 | ₹9,900 |
| Year 3 | ₹36,500 | ₹25,550 | ₹10,950 |
| Year 4 | ₹40,000 | ₹28,000 | ₹12,000 |
Seva Nidhi — The Exit Package
After completing four years of service, Agniveers who are not retained permanently receive the Seva Nidhi lump sum. Here's how it adds up:
- Total Agniveer contribution over 4 years: approximately ₹5.02 lakh
- Government matching contribution: approximately ₹5.02 lakh
- Interest accrued: approximately ₹1.67 lakh
- Total Seva Nidhi payout: approximately ₹11.71 lakh
For the 25% who are retained permanently, the Seva Nidhi contribution portion is adjusted into their regular military service terms.
Selection Process: How Agniveer Recruitment Works
Indian Army Agniveer
- Online Registration on joinindianarmy.nic.in
- Rally Reporting at designated centres (zone-wise)
- Physical Fitness Test — 1.6 km run, pull-ups, balance test, 9-feet ditch jump
- Physical Measurement — Height, weight, chest
- Medical Examination — Detailed medical screening
- Common Entrance Examination (CEE) — Online test for candidates who clear physical and medical stages
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 15 | 30 |
| General Science | 15 | 30 |
| Maths | 15 | 30 |
| Logical Reasoning | 10 | 20 |
| Total | 55 | 110 |
Indian Navy Agniveer
The Navy conducts an online written exam first, followed by physical and medical tests. The process is centralized through joinindiannavy.gov.in. Exam covers Science, Maths, English, and General Knowledge.
Indian Air Force Agniveer Vayu
The Air Force recruitment is conducted through the STAR (Selection Test for Airmen Recruitment) online exam. Candidates who clear the exam are called for physical fitness tests, adaptability tests, and medical examination.
Training After Selection
Once selected, Agniveers undergo rigorous military training:
- Army: Training at regimental centres and institutions like IMA (Dehradun), various regimental training centres across India. Duration: 10-31 weeks depending on trade.
- Navy: Training at INS Chilka (Odisha) for basic training, followed by professional training at various naval establishments. Duration: approximately 16 weeks basic + trade-specific training.
- Air Force: Training at Air Force Training Establishments. Includes basic military training followed by technical/trade training. Duration: varies by trade.
Benefits During Agniveer Service
While the salary may seem modest, Agniveers receive substantial non-monetary benefits:
- Free ration and accommodation in military cantonments/barracks
- Free medical treatment at military hospitals for self (and limited family coverage)
- CSD canteen access — subsidized goods at Canteen Stores Department
- ₹48 lakh non-contributory life insurance during the 4-year tenure
- Skill certifications recognized by NSQF (National Skills Qualifications Framework)
- Leave entitlement as per military norms
25% Permanent Retention
After four years, up to 25% of each batch can be enrolled into the regular cadre as permanent soldiers/sailors/airmen based on:
- Performance during service (annual confidential reports)
- Discipline record
- Organizational requirement
- Preference and willingness
Those retained permanently continue on the regular military pay and pension structure — they get the full career, pension, and benefits of traditional soldiers.
Post-Agniveer Career Options
For the 75% who exit after four years, several avenues have been created:
- Preference in paramilitary/CAPF recruitment — 10% reservation in CAPFs (CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, Assam Rifles) and state police
- Preference in defence PSU recruitment — Companies like BEL, HAL, BEML reserve a percentage
- Bank loans for entrepreneurship — Special schemes for ex-Agniveers to start businesses
- Higher education — Seva Nidhi corpus to fund degree programs; several universities offer lateral entry/credit exemptions
- Private security sector — Military training makes ex-Agniveers attractive for corporate security, event security, and private military contractor roles
The Controversy Around Agnipath
Let's address this honestly. The Agniveer scheme has been one of the most debated defence reforms in recent Indian history:
Arguments in favour: The scheme creates a younger, fitter military force, reduces the massive pension bill (which consumes over 25% of the defence budget), and provides trained, disciplined youth to the civilian workforce after four years. Arguments against: Critics argue that four years is insufficient to develop a fully battle-ready soldier, the 75% exit creates uncertainty for young recruits, the Seva Nidhi amount is modest for someone giving four years of military service, and the lack of pension/gratuity for exiting Agniveers is a significant downside compared to the earlier system. Ground reality: The scheme is operational and is now the only route for entry-level military recruitment. Regardless of the debate, aspirants who want to serve in the Armed Forces need to prepare for this system as it stands.Check SarkariNaukriHub for the latest Agniveer recruitment rally schedules, CEE exam dates, and official notification PDFs.