Agnipath Scheme — 4-Year Military Service, ₹11.71L Seva Nidhi: 4-year military service in Indian Armed Forces with ₹30,000-40,000 monthly salary and ₹11.71 lakh tax-free Seva Nidhi on completion.Service Period: 4 Years. Monthly Salary: ₹30K–40K. Seva Nidhi: ₹11.71 Lakh. Retention: 25% permanent.The Agnipath Scheme is a military recruitment program launched on 14 June 2022 for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Under this scheme, young Indians (called 'Agniveers') are recruited for a 4-year service period. After 4 years, 25% of Agniveers are selected for permanent enrollment (15-year minimum service), while the remaining 75% are released with a tax-free Seva Nidhi (service fund) of approximately ₹11.71 lakh.
Active SchemeUpdated: Last reviewed: April 2026 • Source: Ministry of Defence
🎖️
Agnipath Scheme — 4-Year Military Service, ₹11.71L Seva Nidhi
4-year military service in Indian Armed Forces with ₹30,000-40,000 monthly salary and ₹11.71 lakh tax-free Seva Nidhi on completion
Service Period
4 Years
Monthly Salary
₹30K–40K
Seva Nidhi
₹11.71 Lakh
Retention
25% permanent
📖What is Agnipath Scheme — 4-Year Military Service, ₹11.71L Seva Nidhi?
The Agnipath Scheme is a military recruitment program launched on 14 June 2022 for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Under this scheme, young Indians (called 'Agniveers') are recruited for a 4-year service period. After 4 years, 25% of Agniveers are selected for permanent enrollment (15-year minimum service), while the remaining 75% are released with a tax-free Seva Nidhi (service fund) of approximately ₹11.71 lakh.
Agniveers receive an attractive salary package: ₹30,000/month in the first year, increasing to ₹40,000/month in the fourth year. Of this, 30% is automatically contributed to the Seva Nidhi corpus, with the government matching it equally. The Seva Nidhi (approximately ₹5 lakh from the Agniveer + ₹5 lakh from government + interest = ₹11.71 lakh) is paid as a lump sum upon completion of 4 years.
The scheme was introduced to reduce the average age of armed forces personnel (previously 32 years) to about 26 years, making the military younger, fitter, and more technologically adaptable. It also provides military training, discipline, and marketable skills to millions of youth — even those who don't continue in the forces benefit from the experience, skill certifications, and financial corpus.
As of March 2026, recruitment continues through periodic notifications. The scheme combines patriotic service with financial security and skill development. For released Agniveers, there are additional benefits: priority in CAPF (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP) recruitment, age relaxation in government exams, preference in state police jobs, and skill certifications recognized across industries.
✅Eligibility
Age17.5 to 23 years (originally 17.5-21, extended to 23 for early batches)
Education (Army)10th pass for General Duty, 12th pass (Science) for Technical, 12th for Clerk/SKT
Education (Navy)12th pass with Maths & Physics for Senior Secondary Recruit (SSR), 10th pass for Matric Recruit (MR)
Education (Air Force)12th pass with Maths & Physics, minimum 50% aggregate and 50% in English
Physical standardsHeight: 170 cm (men), 152 cm (women). Weight proportionate to height. Vision: 6/6 without glasses (varies by trade). No tattoos on inner arms.
CitizenshipIndian citizen. Must not be married at time of enrollment (can marry during 4-year service with permission)
MedicalMust pass military medical examination — no chronic diseases, bone deformities, or disqualifying conditions. TB, cardiac issues, diabetes: disqualifying.
🎖️Who Can Apply
🎖️Who Can Apply
Men and women aged 17.5 to 21 years (Navy) / 17.5 to 23 years (Army, Airforce) who passed 10th/12th depending on trade. No experience required. Height/weight and medical tests are strict — check official notification.
📊Visual: Agnipath Journey + 3 Outcomes
Every Agniveer follows one of three paths after 4 years
The retention ratio is decided purely on merit — performance during training, annual ratings, fitness tests. Retained Agniveers become regular soldiers with full pension benefits after 15 more years.
💰Salary Breakdown & Seva Nidhi Accumulation Over 4 Years
| Year | Monthly Salary | Seva Nidhi Contribution (30%) | In-Hand Salary (70%) | Cumulative Seva Nidhi (Your + Govt Match) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ₹30,000 | ₹9,000 | ₹21,000 | ₹2,16,000 |
| Year 2 | ₹33,000 | ₹9,900 | ₹23,100 | ₹4,51,800 |
| Year 3 | ₹36,500 | ₹10,950 | ₹25,550 | ₹7,03,800 |
| Year 4 | ₹40,000 | ₹12,000 | ₹28,000 | ₹10,19,600 |
🔄What Happens After 4 Years — Three Scenarios
Scenario 1: Selected for Permanent Service (25% of Agniveers)
After 4 years, approximately 25% of Agniveers are selected for permanent enrollment in the regular armed forces based on merit, performance during service, physical fitness, and organizational requirements.These Agniveers continue for a minimum total service of 15 years (so 11 more years after Agnipath) with full military pay (₹40,000-60,000/month, increasing with rank), allowances, pension after 20 years, and all service benefits.
Permanent selection depends on: Performance appraisal (65%), medical fitness, organizational vacancies, and officer potential assessment.
Scenario 2: Released with Seva Nidhi (75% of Agniveers)
The remaining 75% of Agniveers complete their 4-year service and receive the Seva Nidhi package. Total Seva Nidhi = Agniveer's contribution (₹5.02 lakh over 4 years) + Government's matching contribution (₹5.02 lakh) + Accrued interest on the fund ≈ ₹11.71 lakh (tax-free).This amount is credited to their bank account as a lump sum upon discharge.
Using the Seva Nidhi Corpus
Released Agniveers can use ₹11.71 lakh for: (1) Starting their own business (with preference under PM Mudra, Stand Up India), (2) Pursuing higher education (polytechnic, bachelor's degree, professional courses), (3) Meeting family needs or personal investment, (4) Down payment on a house (combined with bank loan), (5) Skill certification courses in civil sector jobs.No restrictions on usage — the money is completely theirs.
✨Benefits After Agnipath Completion
Priority in Government Jobs
Agniveers get 10% reservation in recruitment for CAPF (BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB) across India. Additionally, many states have announced 10% reservations in state police recruitment for ex-Agniveers.Age relaxation: 3 years additional age relaxation (beyond normal limit) in central government exams (SSC, Railways, UPSC, etc.).
Skill Certifications & Market Credibility
Agniveers receive official skill certificates for their trade learned during service (e.g., vehicle maintenance, communications, logistics, ammunition handling, etc.). These NSQF-aligned certifications are recognized by employers and enhance employability in private sector.Certificate also certifies physical fitness, discipline, and reliability — valued across industries.
Veteran Identity & Community
Agniveers become recognized veterans with service medals, discharge certificate, and veteran benefits. They join a nationwide network of ex-service personnel with mutual support and networking opportunities.Many employers actively recruit ex-military personnel for their discipline and training background.
Bank Loans at Preferential Rates
Agniveers can access bank loans (Mudra, housing, auto, personal) at preferential rates. Banks treat military service experience as favorable for creditworthiness.Many Agniveers use their Seva Nidhi + bank loan to start businesses (e.g., franchise, restaurant, transport, retail).
Private Sector Opportunities
Major employers actively recruit ex-Agniveers: IT companies (prefer technical skills), logistics/transportation (experienced personnel), private security firms, hospitality (discipline and customer service), manufacturing, and civil aviation (technical roles). Some companies have committed to hiring at least 5-10% ex-Agniveers.📝Agnipath Selection Process — 5 Stages
1
Online registration
Register at joinindianarmy.nic.in (Army), joinindiannavy.gov.in (Navy), or official Air Force portal. Fill personal details, educational qualifications, physical measurements, and choose your preferred trade.
2
Physical Fitness Test (PFT) at rally point
PFT is conducted at designated rally locations in your district. Tests include: 1.6 km run (must complete within 5 min 30 sec for Army), pull-ups, balance test, standing broad jump, and other physical standards. PFT is elimination round — only 30-40% of candidates pass this stage.
3
Medical examination
Thorough medical checkup including vision test, hearing test, dental examination, cardiovascular assessment, chest X-ray, and musculoskeletal evaluation. Any chronic condition (diabetes, hypertension requiring medication), bone deformity, or disqualifying condition leads to rejection.
4
Common Entrance Examination (CEE)
Written examination covering general knowledge, mathematics, reasoning, and English (60-90 minutes). Pattern varies by service (Army, Navy, Air Force) and trade. Merit list is prepared based on PFT + CEE score. Candidates in top merit list are called for document verification.
5
Document verification and enrollment
Selected candidates (typically top 5,000-10,000 from 500,000+ applicants) submit original documents (birth certificate, school certificates, Aadhaar, caste certificate if applicable) for verification. After successful verification, enrollment is confirmed. Training begins at respective training establishments (Army: various regimental training centers, Navy: INS Chilka, Air Force: Air Force Academy/stations).
⚠️The Real Challenge
⚠️The Real Challenge
Only 25% are retained for regular service after 4 years. The other 75% return to civilian life with ₹11.71 lakh Seva Nidhi. Have a clear plan for what you'll do if not retained — college, business, or CAPF/police exams.
📝How to Apply
1
Register online at service-specific portal
Army: joinindianarmy.nic.in, Navy: joinindiannavy.gov.in, Air Force: official portal. Fill personal and educational details.
2
Watch for rally/recruitment notifications
Notifications are published on official portals and in Employment News magazine. Check every month as recruitment happens in batches (typically 3-4 batches per year). Some states have multiple rallies.
3
Appear for Physical Fitness Test at rally point
Carry all original documents, 10 passport photos, running shoes, and sports clothing. PFT usually happens on same day as registration or next day.
4
Clear medical + written exam + verification
If you pass PFT, you're called for medical exam and CEE within 1-2 weeks. Merit-based selection determines final enrollment.
⚠️Agnipath recruitment notifications are published periodically — not continuous. Check official portals at joinindianarmy.nic.in regularly. Beware of fraudsters claiming to arrange selection for money or 'coaching' — all recruitment is through official government portals only. No agent or coaching institute can guarantee selection.
📅Important Dates & Schedule
RecruitmentPeriodic batches — check official portals for current notifications
Service duration4 years from date of enrollment into service
Current batchArmy CEE 2026: June 1-16, 2026 (application deadline April 1, 2026)
Permanent selectionBased on merit after 4 years — up to 25% of Agniveers retained
Seva Nidhi disbursementPaid on completion of 4-year service (approximately ₹11.71 lakh, tax-free)
❓Frequently Asked Questions
🔗Related Schemes
Join Indian Army
joinindianarmy.nic.in
AK
Researched & verified from official sources
Updated
March 2026
March 2026