Agnipath Scheme Explained — Pay, Seva Nidhi, Retention and What Happens After Four Years
Agnipath, launched in June 2022, replaced the traditional 17-year soldier enrolment with a four-year tour of duty across the Army, Navy and Air Force. Recruits are called Agniveers (Army), Agniveervayu (Air Force) and Agniveer SSR/MR (Navy).
The money
| Year | Monthly package | In-hand (70%) | Seva Nidhi contribution (30%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ₹30,000 | ₹21,000 | ₹9,000 |
| 2 | ₹33,000 | ₹23,100 | ₹9,900 |
| 3 | ₹36,500 | ₹25,580 | ₹10,950 |
| 4 | ₹40,000 | ₹28,000 | ₹12,000 |
The government matches the Agniveer's 30 percent contribution rupee-for-rupee. At exit the Seva Nidhi package is about ₹10.04 lakh, tax-free, plus interest. Agniveers also receive risk, hardship, dress and travel allowances at par with regular soldiers, a ₹48 lakh non-contributory life insurance cover, and — in case of death on duty — a ₹44 lakh ex-gratia plus pay for the unserved period.
Retention: the 25 percent question
At the end of four years, up to 25 percent of each batch is offered enrolment in the regular cadre for a further minimum of 15 years, based on merit, performance and organisational need. The remaining 75 percent exit with the Seva Nidhi, a skill certificate and Class 12 equivalence (for 10th-entry Agniveers, via NIOS).
What the exits get
Central Armed Police Forces, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, defence PSUs and several state police forces have announced 10 percent reservation for ex-Agniveers, along with age relaxation. Public-sector banks and some private groups have published preferential hiring policies. Whether these translate into jobs at scale is the key variable to watch — the first batch exits in 2026-27.
Eligibility snapshot
- Age 17.5 to 21 years (a one-time relaxation to 23 applied in 2022 only).
- Army GD: Class 10 with 45 percent aggregate; Technical: Class 12 PCM; Clerk: Class 12 with 60 percent.
- Air Force: Class 12 with Maths, Physics and English (50 percent) or a three-year diploma.
- Navy SSR: Class 12 with Maths and Physics; MR: Class 10.
Selection sequence
The Army moved its Common Entrance Examination online and ahead of the rally in 2023 — you sit the computer-based test first and are called to the rally only if you clear it. The Air Force's STAR exam and the Navy's INET-Agniveer follow the same online-first pattern.
Practical advice: register the moment the notification appears, because Aadhaar-OTP-verified profiles and document uploads take time, and slots for the online test are allocated by region.
Use our eligibility checker to see every open entry for your age and qualification, and the exam calendar for the next cycle.
Tags: Agniveer, Agnipath, Army, Navy, Air Force, Recruitment. Spotted an error? Request a correction.