4 Years Active Duty
Up to 25% absorbed into permanent regular military cadre
₹11.71 Lakh Seva Nidhi
100% Income Tax-Exempt accumulated corpus with interest
₹30,000 to ₹40,000
Plus risk/hardship allowances and comprehensive healthcare
₹48 Lakh Cover
Plus ₹1 Crore+ ex-gratia compensation for martyrdom in action
1. Agnipath Scheme: Doctrine, Purpose & Modern Warfare Integration
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security and instituted by the Ministry of Defence, the Agnipath Scheme represents the most consequential structural reform in India’s armed forces manpower architecture since independence. Designed to bring down the average age of Indian combat soldiers from 32 years to a youthful and agile 26 years, the scheme channels disciplined, tech-savvy youth into the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Enlisted personnel—termed Agniveers—serve for a tenure of four years, including intensive basic military training and specialized technical instruction. Recruitment is conducted on an All-India All-Class (AIAC) basis, ensuring pan-India meritocracy without regional or caste reservations. Upon completion of four years, every Agniveer is evaluated against transparent institutional benchmarks; up to 25% of each cohort are enrolled directly into the permanent cadre of the respective force on a standard 15-year pensionable engagement.
2. 4-Year Compensation Scale & Seva Nidhi Mathematical Breakdown
Agniveers receive a customized monthly emoluments package. Exactly 30% of their monthly wage is deducted into the dedicated Agniveer Corpus Fund, which is matched 1:1 by the Government of India:
| Service Year | Customized Package | In-Hand Pay (70%) | Agniveer Corpus (30%) | Govt Matching Corpus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Year | ₹30,000 / month | ₹21,000 | ₹9,000 | ₹9,000 |
| 2nd Year | ₹33,000 / month | ₹23,100 | ₹9,900 | ₹9,900 |
| 3rd Year | ₹36,500 / month | ₹25,580 | ₹10,950 | ₹10,950 |
| 4th Year | ₹40,000 / month | ₹28,000 | ₹12,000 | ₹12,000 |
| Total Accumulation | — | ₹11.72 Lakh Total Paid | ₹5.02 Lakh | ₹5.02 Lakh |
3. Eligibility Criteria & Trade-Specific Standards
Agniveer General Duty (GD) — All Arms
Age: 17.5 to 21 Years • Unmarried
Class 10th / Matriculation with 45% marks in aggregate and 33% in each subject. For boards following grading systems, minimum 'D' grade (33-40%) in individual subjects with overall aggregate equivalent to 45%.
Agniveer Technical / Aviation / Ammunition Examiner
Age: 17.5 to 21 Years • Unmarried
10+2 / Intermediate exam pass in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Maths, and English with minimum 50% marks in aggregate and 40% in each subject. Alternatively, 10th pass with 50% plus a 2-year technical ITI diploma.
Agniveer Clerk / Store Keeper Technical
Age: 17.5 to 21 Years • Unmarried
10+2 / Intermediate Exam pass in any stream (Arts, Commerce, Science) with 60% marks in aggregate and minimum 50% in each subject. English and Mathematics/Accounts/Bookkeeping are mandatory at the +2 level.
Agniveer Tradesmen (10th & 8th Pass)
Age: 17.5 to 21 Years • Unmarried
Simple 10th pass for general trades or simple 8th pass for Housekeeper and Mess Keeper trades, with no aggregate percentage cap but scoring at least 33% in each subject.
4. Selection Architecture: Computer-Based CEE & Rally Benchmarks
Online Computer-Based Common Entrance Exam (CEE)
Conducted simultaneously across designated digital testing centers across India. Tests General Knowledge, General Science, Mathematics, and Logical Reasoning. Negative marking of 0.5 marks applies for incorrect answers.
Physical Fitness Test (PFT) at Army Rally
Candidates who qualify the CEE are summoned for regional physical rallies. Testing parameters:
- 1.6 Km Run: Group 1 (Up to 5 min 30 sec = 60 Marks); Group 2 (5 min 31 sec to 5 min 45 sec = 48 Marks).
- Pull-Ups (Beam): 10 Pull-ups = 40 Marks; 9 = 33 Marks; 8 = 27 Marks; 7 = 21 Marks; 6 = 16 Marks.
- 9-Foot Ditch Jump: Mandatory Qualifying hurdle.
- Zig-Zag Body Balance: Mandatory Qualifying obstacle.
Medical Examination & Review
Candidates undergo comprehensive ENT, surgical, ophthalmological, and dental assessments as per Armed Forces medical regulations. Candidates declared temporarily unfit are given 14 days to appeal before the Military Appeal Medical Board.
5. Comprehensive Social Security & Martyrdom Benefits
Life Insurance Cover
₹48 Lakh
Fully non-contributory life insurance policy funded by the Ministry of Defence throughout the entire 4-year tenure.
Ex-Gratia for Martyrdom
₹1 Crore+
Families receive ₹44 Lakh one-time ex-gratia, full unserved tenure salary balance, full Seva Nidhi, and armed forces welfare support.
100% Disability Cover
₹44 Lakh Grant
₹44 Lakh for 100% disability, ₹25 Lakh for 75%, and ₹15 Lakh for 50% disability attributable to military service, plus remaining salary.
Post-Exit Reservations
10% CAPF Quota
10% horizontal reservation in BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, and state police cadres with up to 5 years upper-age relaxation.
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is pension provided to Agniveers who exit after 4 years?▼
No. The 75% Agniveers who exit after four years receive the tax-free ₹11.71 Lakh Seva Nidhi package rather than a monthly pension. However, the 25% selected for the permanent regular cadre receive full standard armed forces pensions after completing their regular service.
Can female candidates apply for Agniveer recruitment?▼
Yes! The Indian Navy and Indian Air Force recruit female Agniveers extensively across technical and non-technical branches. The Indian Army recruits female Agniveers into the Corps of Military Police (CMP).
What are the leave entitlements for Agniveers during service?▼
Agniveers are entitled to up to 30 days of Annual Leave per year, alongside Sick Leave granted on medical advice by military hospitals.
Can an Agniveer leave the service before completing 4 years?▼
Release at one’s own request prior to the completion of 4 years is not permitted except on compassionate grounds approved directly by the competent military authority. In such early releases, only the candidate's personal contribution to Seva Nidhi with interest is refunded.
7. Official Recruitment Portals & Helplines
| Armed Force Branch | Official Portal | Helpline / Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Army (Join Indian Army) | joinindianarmy.nic.in | 011-26173215 |
| Indian Navy (Join Indian Navy) | joinindiannavy.gov.in | 011-21410525 |
| Indian Air Force (Agnipath Vayu) | agnipathvayu.cdac.in | 011-25694209 |