Agniveer Bharti 2026: Notification, Dates & Eligibility
The Indian Armed Forces have officially commenced the Agniveer recruitment drive for the year 2026 under the Agnipath scheme. The scheme, launched in June 2022, continues to be the primary mode of intake for soldiers, sailors and airmen below officer rank across the Army, Navy and Air Force. As of 3 February 2026, the Indian Army has released the first phase notification for Agniveer General Duty (All Arms), Agniveer Technical, Agniveer Clerk / Store Keeper Technical and Agniveer Tradesman (10th & 8th pass), while the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force are expected to follow with their respective notifications in the coming weeks.
This comprehensive guide covers the latest official notification details, important dates, eligibility criteria, selection process, remuneration structure, training timeline and frequently asked questions for Agniveer Bharti 2026.
Official Notification Release & Registration Window
The Indian Army published the detailed notification for Agniveer intake 01/2026 on the official portal joinindianarmy.nic.in on 1 February 2026. Online registration commenced at 1200 hrs on 3 February 2026 and will close at 2300 hrs on 2 March 2026.
Key highlights of the notification:
- Total vacancies announced in Phase 1 (Army only): Approximately 25,000–28,000 posts (exact district-wise & state-wise breakup to be released shortly after registration closes).
- Application fee: ₹250 (exempted for wards of battle casualties and sons/daughters of serving/retired personnel in some categories).
- Mode of application: Online only through joinindianarmy.nic.in.
Indian Navy (Agniveer SSR & MR) and Indian Air Force (Agniveer Vayu) notifications are expected between mid-February and early March 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check joinindiannavy.gov.in and agnipathvayu.cdac.in.
Important Dates – Agniveer Army 01/2026
- Online registration opens: 3 February 2026 (1200 hrs)
- Online registration closes: 2 March 2026 (2300 hrs)
- Admit card download window: 15–25 March 2026 (tentative)
- Common Entrance Exam (CEE): 1 April – 25 April 2026 (multiple shifts across India)
- Provisional merit list & physical fitness test call letters: May 2026
- Physical Fitness Test (PFT), Physical Measurement Test (PMT) & Medical Examination: June–July 2026
- Final merit list & enrolment: August–September 2026
- Dispatch to training centres: October–November 2026
Navy and Air Force dates are likely to follow a similar 60–90 day cycle after their respective notifications.
Eligibility Criteria – Agniveer 2026
Age Limit (as on 1 October 2026)
- Minimum: 17½ years
- Maximum: 21 years (born between 1 October 2005 and 1 April 2009 – both dates inclusive)
- No age relaxation for any category (including SC/ST/OBC)
Educational Qualification
- Agniveer General Duty (All Arms) Class 10th / Matric pass with minimum 45% aggregate marks and 33% in each subject.
- Agniveer Technical 10+2 / Intermediate / Higher Secondary with Physics, Chemistry, Maths & English, minimum 50% aggregate in PCM and 40% in English.
- Agniveer Clerk / Store Keeper Technical 10+2 / Intermediate with minimum 60% aggregate and 50% in each subject (English & Maths / Accounts / Book Keeping mandatory in 10+2).
- Agniveer Tradesman (10th pass) Class 10th pass with minimum 45% aggregate.
- Agniveer Tradesman (8th pass) Class 8th pass (only for specific trades like House Keeper, Mess Waiter, etc.)
Physical Standards (Male & Female – Relaxations for certain regions)
- Height: Male – 170 cm (157 cm for Gorkhas, certain hill & tribal areas); Female – 155 cm (relaxations applicable)
- Chest (male only): 77 cm (unexpanded) + 5 cm expansion
- Weight: Proportionate to height and age
- Running: 1.6 km in 5 min 45 sec (male) / 6 min 30 sec (female) – varies by trade
Candidates from Ladakh, Gorkhas, hill regions of Uttarakhand, Himachal, J&K and North-East states get height & chest relaxations of 2–5 cm as per existing policy.
Selection Process – Step by Step
- Online Common Entrance Exam (CEE) – Objective-type, OMR-based, 100 marks, 1 hour. Subjects: General Knowledge, Reasoning, Mathematics, General Science. Negative marking 0.25 per wrong answer.
- Physical Fitness Test (PFT) – 1.6 km run, pull-ups / push-ups / beam (male), 10-feet ditch, zigzag balance.
- Physical Measurement Test (PMT) – Height, chest, weight check.
- Medical Examination – Conducted by service medical board.
- Merit List – Final merit based on CEE marks (80% weightage) + bonus marks for NCC ‘C’ certificate, outstanding sports persons, etc.
- Enrolment & Training – Selected candidates undergo 10-week basic military training followed by trade-specific training.
Salary, Allowances & Post-Service Benefits
- In-hand monthly package during 4-year service: ₹30,000–₹40,000 (progressive increase each year).
- Seva Nidhi Package on exit after 4 years: Approximately ₹11.71 lakh (tax-free).
- Life insurance cover: ₹48 lakh.
- Skill certificate: Level-3 certificate under National Skill Qualification Framework.
- 25% retention into regular cadre after 4 years (subject to performance & vacancies).
- No pension, gratuity or other long-term benefits for the 75% who exit after 4 years.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Only online applications accepted. No offline forms.
- One registration per candidate. Multiple registrations lead to cancellation.
- Upload recent passport-size photograph, scanned signature and Class 10 marksheet.
- Aadhaar authentication mandatory during registration.
- Admit card will be available only on the official website 10–15 days before CEE.
- No TA/DA for appearing in any stage of recruitment.
Conclusion: High Competition & Preparation Tips
Agniveer recruitment remains one of the most competitive government job entrances in India with approximately 25–30 lakh applications expected for the ~15,000–18,000 posts advertised in 2026. The selection ratio is roughly 1:150–1:200, making thorough preparation essential.
Candidates should focus on:
- Physical fitness (daily running, pull-ups, endurance drills)
- Mathematics & General Science (Class 10 level)
- Current affairs & static GK (last 12 months)
- Reasoning (verbal & non-verbal)
The Agniveer scheme continues to be debated, but for thousands of young Indians it remains one of the fastest gateways into a disciplined career with a substantial exit package. Stay updated only through official websites and avoid falling for fake notifications.
Best wishes to all aspirants appearing for Agniveer Bharti 2026.
0 Comments