With an aim to enhance the youthful profile of the armed forces, the government introduced the ‘Agnipath’ scheme. Under this, selected candidates are enrolled as ‘Agniveers’ for a total tenure of four years. Agniveers who complete their four-year tenure may apply for induction into the permanent cadre, with a maximum of 25% selected for the regular cadre within the Armed Forces. Upon completion, candidates may join the Indian Army, Indian Navy (SSR/MR), or Indian Air Force (Vayu). In the Indian Army, unmarried male candidates may apply for Agniveer General Duty, Technical, Clerk/Store Keeper, and Tradesman posts, while female candidates may apply only for Military Police posts.
Understanding eligibility rules
Candidates between 17½ and 21 years of age must meet the following educational, physical, and medical criteria to be enrolled as Agniveers.
General Duty: Class 10 pass with 45% aggregate across five subjects and 33% in each subject
Technical: Class 12 Science with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English, with 50% aggregate and 40% in each subject
Clerk/Store Keeper: Class 12 pass with 60% aggregate and 50% in each subject
Tradesmen: Class 8 or Class 10 pass, depending on the trade
Inside the exam structure
Selection for Agniveer is based on a computer-based test (CEE), followed by physical and medical tests. The online test is conducted in 13 languages, with a deduction of 0.5 mark for every incorrect answer.