Indian Army
Basic Criteria to Join Army as Agniveer
The general eligibility rules — age, education, physical standards, fitness test and medical process — sourced from an official Army Recruiting Office notification. Recruitment dates, vacancy numbers and fees change every cycle; these underlying criteria generally don't.
Age & marital status
Candidates must be 17½ to 21 years old — this applies across every Agniveer category. Only unmarried candidates are eligible, and you must remain unmarried through the full 4-year engagement; marrying during service means release from service. The exact birth-date window is redefined for each recruiting year, so confirm current dates on the official notification.
Education, by category
| Category | Minimum education |
|---|---|
| General Duty (GD) | Class 10th/Matric pass with 45% aggregate and minimum 33% in each subject. Candidates with a valid LMV driving licence are given preference for Driver roles. |
| Technical | 10+2 in Science (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English) with 50% aggregate and 40% per subject; or the same stream via NIOS/ITI (NSQF level 4+); or 10th pass with 50% aggregate plus a 2–3 year ITI/Diploma in a listed technical trade (e.g. Mechanic Motor Vehicle, Electrician, Fitter, Draughtsman, Computer Science, Electronics/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, and similar trades). |
| Office Assistant / Store Keeper Technical | 10+2 in any stream with 60% aggregate and minimum 50% in each subject; 50% in English and Maths/Accounts/Book Keeping is mandatory. |
| Tradesman (10th pass) | Class 10th simple pass; no aggregate stipulation, but minimum 33% in each subject. |
| Tradesman (8th pass) | Class 8th simple pass; no aggregate stipulation, but minimum 33% in each subject. |
Candidates awaiting Class 10th/12th results can apply if they otherwise qualify, but must produce original mark sheets meeting the minimum marks at the recruitment rally stage.
Physical standards
| Category | Height | Weight | Chest |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Duty | 168 cm | 50.8 kg | 77 cm (+5 cm expansion) |
| General Duty (Scheduled Tribe) | 162 cm | 47.2 kg | 77 cm (+5 cm) |
| Technical | 167 cm | 50.2 kg | 76 cm (+5 cm) |
| Office Assistant / SKT | 162 cm | 47.2 kg | 77 cm (+5 cm) |
| Tradesman (10th / 8th pass) | 168 cm | 50.8 kg | 77 cm (+5 cm) |
| Tribals of recognised tribal areas | 162 cm | 48 kg | 77 cm (+5 cm) |
Outstanding sportsmen (international/national/state-level, as defined in the recruitment notification) can be granted relaxation of up to 2 cm in height, 3 cm in chest and 5 kg in weight, applicable across all three measurements together.
Physical fitness test
| Group | 1.6 km run | Pull-ups (Beam) | 9 ft Ditch & Zig-Zag Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group I | Up to 5 min 30 sec (60 marks) | 10 pull-ups (40 marks) | Need to qualify |
| Group II | 5 min 31 sec – 5 min 45 sec (48 marks) | 9/8/7/6 pull-ups (33/27/21/16 marks) |
Candidates applying for Technical or Office Assistant/SKT categories only need to qualify all four tests (run within 5 min 45 sec, minimum 6 pull-ups, ditch and balance) rather than score for merit ranking.
Medical process
Medical examination is conducted by the Army Medical Team at the rally site, against standard Army medical criteria — which can be stricter than civilian standards, and there is no appeal after the review medical exam. Candidates unfit at initial screening are referred to a Military Hospital for a review exam. If more than 180 days pass between the rally medical and dispatch, a fresh medical review is required.
Practical advice from the notification itself: get checked in advance for flat feet, vision problems and physical deformities, and make sure your ears are clear of wax before the rally. Contact lenses are not permitted during testing.
Terms of engagement, in brief
- 4-year engagement under the Indian Army Act 1950, forming a distinct Agniveer rank — the Army isn't obliged to retain you beyond this period.
- Up to 25% of each batch may be offered permanent enrolment based on merit and organisational need — there's no automatic right to it.
- 30 days annual leave, plus sick leave based on medical advice; medical care and CSD access during your engagement.
- Non-contributory life insurance cover of ₹48 lakh during service.
- No gratuity, no pensionary benefit, and no Ex-Servicemen (ESM) status on exit — see Agniveer Corner for what that means in practice, and the full Seva Nidhi exit-payout breakdown.
Last verified: 4 Aug 2026 Our sources Report an error
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