Agnipath Scheme 2026 Agniveer — Salary, Seva Nidhi & Benefits
4-year defence service as an Agniveer in the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force. Monthly salary starting at ₹30,000 rising to ₹40,000 by Year 4. ₹11.71 lakh tax-free Seva Nidhi at exit. Priority in government jobs. Complete eligibility and application guide.
All information sourced from MoD / official joinindianarmy.nic.in portals · Last verified April 2026
✅
Seva Nidhi Is Tax-Free and Cannot Be Attached by Court The ₹11.71 lakh Seva Nidhi corpus you receive at exit (after 4 years) is fully exempt from income tax and cannot be attached by any court or creditor. It is also backed by a ₹48 lakh life insurance cover during service.
🛡️ Overview
What Is the Agnipath Scheme — Complete 2026 Breakdown
The Agnipath scheme, launched in June 2022, is a transformative military recruitment model that allows Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) for a period of 4 years as "Agniveers." After 4 years, up to 25% of each batch may be retained for permanent regular cadre; the remaining 75% exit with the Seva Nidhi financial package, skill certificates, and various post-service benefits.
Why the Government Created Agnipath
The scheme aims to: create a younger and more agile military profile, provide defence sector experience to more youth, and develop a large pool of disciplined, trained individuals who can contribute to the civilian economy after service. Agniveers get world-class military training, discipline, and skills that are valued across government and private sectors.
Salary Structure — Year by Year
Year
Monthly Package
In-Hand (after 30% contribution to Seva Nidhi)
Govt Contribution to Seva Nidhi
Year 1
₹30,000
₹21,000
₹9,000
Year 2
₹33,000
₹23,100
₹9,900
Year 3
₹36,500
₹25,550
₹10,950
Year 4
₹40,000
₹28,000
₹12,000
✅ Eligibility
Eligibility Criteria — Army, Navy, and Air Force
Service Branch
Age Range
Education
Physical Standards
Indian Army (Soldier GD)
17.5 – 23 years
Class 10 pass with 45% overall
Height 170cm (relaxations for certain regions), chest 77-82cm
Indian Army (Soldier Technical)
17.5 – 23 years
Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Maths & English, 50% aggregate
Same as GD
Indian Navy (Sailor)
17.5 – 23 years
Class 12 with Maths & Physics (or Class 10 for MR)
Height 157cm, weight proportionate
Indian Air Force (Agniveer Vayu)
17.5 – 23 years
Class 12 with Maths, Physics, English (Science group)
Height 152.5cm, chest 77-82cm
📌 Nationality: Indian nationals, Gurkhas from Nepal, and eligible persons of Indian origin from certain countries are eligible. Candidates must be physically and medically fit as per service-specific medical standards.
💰 Seva Nidhi & Benefits
Seva Nidhi — The ₹11.71 Lakh Exit Package Explained
The Seva Nidhi is a unique corpus fund built during service:
Component
Amount
Agniveer's own contribution (30% of monthly package over 4 years)
~₹5.02 lakh
Government's matching contribution over 4 years
~₹5.02 lakh
Interest accrued at notified rate
~₹1.67 lakh
Total Seva Nidhi at exit
₹11.71 lakh (approx, tax-free)
Additional Benefits During Service
Life insurance: ₹48 lakh cover during 4-year service period
Disability compensation: ₹44 lakh for 100% disability attributable to service
Death in service: ₹1 crore ex-gratia (₹48 lakh insurance + ₹44 lakh GoI + full Seva Nidhi)
Free rations, clothing, and accommodation during service
Medical facilities for self during service
Annual leave of 30 days and sick leave as applicable
Post-Service Benefits for Exiting Agniveers (75%)
10% reservation in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles recruitment
Priority consideration in state police recruitment (many states have announced reservations)
Age relaxation of 3 years in government job recruitment
Skill certificates recognised by NSDC for employment in private sector
Priority in defence PSUs and Ordnance Factory Board recruitment
Credit for higher education — some universities give credits for Agnipath training
📖 Real-Life Scenario
What Agnipath Means in Practice — A Real Example
Rohit, a 19-year-old from Jhansi, dreamed of joining the Indian Army but did not have the grades for an officer commission. He cleared the Agniveer selection rally in 2023 — physical fitness tests, written exam, and medical. He was posted to an infantry battalion and served 4 years, including a field posting in a high-altitude area.
At the end of his service in 2027, Rohit received the ₹11.71 lakh Seva Nidhi corpus — completely tax-free. He was not selected among the 25% retained for permanent service. However, UP state had announced 10% reservation for Agniveers in its police constable recruitment. Rohit applied, cleared the test, and joined as a constable — leveraging his military discipline and physical fitness. His Seva Nidhi corpus paid for his family's new home construction while he started his constable career.
💡 Plan for Exit Day 1: Start researching state reservation policies and central CAPF recruitment for Agniveers from Day 1 of service. Most Agniveer-specific quotas open within 6 months of your exit — be ready with your Seva Nidhi certificate and discharge documents.
❓ FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions — Verified 2026
No. Agniveers who exit after 4 years do not receive a service pension. They receive the Seva Nidhi corpus (approximately ₹11.71 lakh) which is different from a pension. Only the 25% retained for regular service after 4 years become eligible for normal defence pension entitlements after completing full service.
Applications are announced separately by the Indian Army (joinindianarmy.nic.in), Indian Navy (joinindiannavy.gov.in), and Indian Air Force (agnipathvayu.cdac.in). Each service publishes a rally schedule. Register online when the notification is released, pay the application fee, appear for written tests and physical fitness tests at the designated rally locations.
As of 2026, multiple states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and others have announced priority reservation or age relaxation for Agniveers in state police and government jobs. The central government has confirmed 10% reservation in CAPF and Assam Rifles. Check your state government's latest notifications for state-specific benefits.
Agniveers are covered by ₹48 lakh life insurance during service. In case of death in the line of duty, the family receives ex-gratia of ₹44 lakh (over and above insurance), the full Seva Nidhi corpus (including government share) without the 4-year condition, and pay for the remainder of the engagement period. In case of disability, disability compensation is paid based on the degree of disability.
Yes, but early exit has consequences. If an Agniveer leaves before completing 4 years, they forfeit the government's matching contribution to the Seva Nidhi — receiving only their own contribution plus interest. Additionally, early exit without valid medical or compassionate grounds may affect eligibility for Agniveer-specific state reservation schemes. Check your service's regulations before deciding.
For Army General Duty soldiers, Class 10 pass with 45% marks is the minimum. For technical roles (Army Technical, Navy, Air Force), Class 12 with Physics and Maths is required. For clerks/store-keeper technical posts, Class 12 with 60% in aggregate is needed. Each service publishes detailed eligibility criteria — check the respective service recruitment portals for the current batch notification.
No. The entire Seva Nidhi corpus received at exit — including the Agniveer's contribution, government's matching contribution, and accrued interest — is fully exempt from Income Tax. This was specifically notified by the Finance Ministry when the scheme was launched to make the exit package more attractive.
Army recruitment queries: visit joinindianarmy.nic.in or call 1600-11-2568. Navy: joinindiannavy.gov.in. Air Force: careerairforce.nic.in. Each service has a dedicated helpline number published in their official recruitment notification. Beware of fraudulent agents — all Agnipath applications are free and only through official portals.
Ministry of Defence (Agnipath notification):mod.gov.in
CAPF Agniveer Recruitment:ssb.nic.in — for CISF, BSF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP vacancies reserved for Agniveers
Apply for Agnipath When Next Notification Is Released
Monitor joinindianarmy.nic.in, joinindiannavy.gov.in, and agnipathvayu.cdac.in for the next recruitment notification. Applications are online — no agent required.
Disclaimer: MeraHaq is an independent citizen information platform. Not affiliated with any government department or ministry. All information sourced from official .gov.in portals. Entitlements and criteria may vary by state. Last verified: April 2026.