Agniveer Vayu 2026: Notification, Apply Online, Exam Date, Salary, Age Limit

Your 2026 Recruitment Calendar and Age Eligibility for Agniveervayu

Application Timeline and Key Deadlines

The recruitment window for Agniveervayu Intake 01/2027 is concise. Applications open on 12 January 2026 and close sharply by 23:00 Hrs on 01 February 2026. The critical Phase-I Online Exam is scheduled for 30th and 31st March 2026. It is imperative to note that NO CORRECTION OR EDIT of the application is allowed after final submission. The entire selection process, culminating in the Final Enrolment List, is designed to conclude by 01 December 2026. Admit cards will be available for download 2-3 days before the exam.

Understanding the Age Criteria

Your Date of Birth (DoB) is the single most critical eligibility filter. You must be born between 01 January 2006 and 01 July 2009. This ensures you are below the maximum permissible age of 21 years at the time of enrolment. The PDF does not specify any relaxation for reserved categories or special cases. Age calculation is based on the date of enrolment, not application. Candidates born even a day outside this window are ineligible.

The Agniveervayu Role and Its Educational Gateways

Understanding the Post

This notification is exclusively for the recruitment of Agniveervayu under the Agnipath Scheme. It is a distinct four-year contractual service for both male and female candidates. This entry is fundamentally different from permanent commissioned officer roles or regular airmen entries. The career path, tenure, and post-service benefits are governed solely by the Agnipath Scheme guidelines.

Critical Educational Filters and the "No Rounding" Rule

Your educational path determines which exam you can take. Science stream candidates have a significant advantage as they are eligible for both the Science and Non-Science papers, widening their scope. The 50% minimum in aggregate and in English is a strict cut-off. The PDF explicitly states that marks will NOT be rounded off. For example, 49.99% will be treated as 49%, leading to automatic rejection. Candidates with diplomas or vocational courses must ensure their curriculum matches the specified subjects.

Understanding the Agniveer Package: No Traditional Benefits

Vacancy Transparency

The PDF does not disclose the total number of vacancies for Agniveervayu Intake 01/2027. The allocation is based on the Indian Air Force's internal service requirements and will be distributed across states and genders accordingly. The number of female candidates to be inducted is also at the sole discretion of the IAF. Candidates must understand that all vacancy figures are provisional.

The Agniveer Pay Structure and Exit Package

The salary follows a defined year-on-year progression, culminating in a ₹40,000 monthly package in the fourth year. However, it is crucial to understand that 30% of the monthly package is mandatorily contributed to the Seva Nidhi corpus, with an equal contribution from the government. Upon completion of the 4-year term, you receive the accumulated corpus (approx. ₹10.04 Lakhs) as a lump sum. This scheme does NOT include any traditional benefits like Provident Fund, Gratuity, or Pension, which are reserved for permanent cadre personnel.

Non-Refundable Fee and Original Document Mandate

The Application Fee Policy

A standard application fee of ₹550 plus 18% GST is applicable to all candidates, irrespective of category. This fee is strictly non-refundable. A critical warning: if a candidate submits multiple applications, only the one with the highest Application Sequence Number will be processed. All other applications will be rejected, and NO FEE WILL BE REFUNDED for the rejected ones. This makes careful, single submission paramount.

Compiling Your Document Dossier

You must present original or properly attested copies of all documents during Phase-II verification. The list is exhaustive and includes proof of age, education, domicile (or COAFP), identity (Aadhaar), and any special certificates like NCC. Digital or photographed copies on a mobile phone are explicitly not acceptable. If you have tattoos, you must carry clear photographs of them for assessment against the IAF's stringent policy. Failure to produce any original document will lead to disqualification.

Navigating the Agniveervayu Application: A One-Way Process

The Critical Live Image Capture and One-Submission Rule

The application process is designed for high security. Beyond uploading a scanned photograph, candidates must undergo a mandatory live image capture via webcam during the application. This is a non-negotiable step to prevent impersonation. Once the fee is paid and the application is finally submitted, there is absolutely no option to withdraw or request a refund. The process is irrevocable.

Sole Official Channel

All applications must be submitted exclusively through the official portal: https://iafrecruitment.edcil.co.in. Candidates must not rely on any third-party sites. The entire process, from registration to admit card download, will be managed through this portal. Keeping the login credentials and application number safe is the candidate's responsibility.

The Three-Phase Agniveervayu Selection Architecture

A Sequential and Eliminative Process

Selection is a rigorous, multi-stage filter. Phase-I is an online Computer-Based Test (CBT) that acts as the initial screening. Only those who qualify proceed to Phase-II, which is conducted physically and includes strenuous Physical Fitness Tests (PFT) and cognitive Adaptability Tests. Success in Phase-II leads to the Phase-III Medical Examination, which is exhaustive and based on stringent IAF standards. Failure at any stage terminates the candidature.

Decoding the Phase-I "STAR" Exam

The Phase-I exam pattern differs based on your educational stream. Science stream candidates take a 60-minute test on Physics, Math, and English. Non-Science stream candidates take a 45-minute test on English, Reasoning, and General Awareness. Crucially, science stream candidates are eligible to take both papers back-to-back, totalling 85 minutes, giving them a wider scope. The exam employs negative marking (-0.25). Final scores are normalised, and the qualifying cut-off is determined separately for each state, ensuring fair competition within domicile pools.

• Marriage & Pregnancy Ban: Marriage during the 4-year term is prohibited and will lead to immediate discharge. For female candidates, pregnancy during service is a disqualification and will result in termination of engagement.
• Zero Tolerance for Fraud: Providing wrong domicile/COAFP information, using prohibited devices (mobile/smart devices) in the exam, or any form of impersonation will lead to permanent debarment from all future defence recruitment.
• Limited Absorption: Only up to 25% of each Agniveer batch may be considered for absorption into the regular IAF cadre after 4 years, based on merit, organisational requirement, and medical fitness. No guarantee of permanent job.
• No ESM Status: Agniveers will not be granted Ex-Servicemen (ESM) status upon exit after the 4-year term, as per extant government orders.
• Binding Tenure: Agniveers will not be allowed to seek release at their own request before completion of 4 years of engagement.
• Provisional List Validity: The Provisional Select List (PSL) is valid for 6 months only from the date of publication. Enrolment must occur within this period.
• IAF's Final Authority: The IAF reserves the right to shortlist, cancel, or amend the recruitment process at any stage without assigning any reason. All terms are subject to change as per Service requirements.
• Medical Standards are Final: Procedures like LASIK/PRK for vision correction are NOT PERMITTED. Medical standards related to height, chest, vision, and substance abuse (NDPS) are absolute and non-negotiable.

The Final Hurdles: Physical and Medical Benchmarks

The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) Standards

The PFT in Phase-II is your first physical gate. The cornerstone event is the 1.6 km run, with a strict time limit of 7 minutes for males and 8 minutes for females. Failure to meet this timing results in immediate elimination. Additionally, candidates must perform other calisthenic exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, and squats within specified time limits. These tests assess overall endurance, strength, and agility, which are crucial for military training.

Stringent and Non-Negotiable Medical Standards

The medical examination is exhaustive and binding. Beyond the basic height and chest measurements, vision standards are critical: 6/12 correctable to 6/6, with correction procedures like LASIK/PRK strictly prohibited. The policy on tattoos is highly restrictive, allowing them only on the inner forearm or back of the palm. Most importantly, there is a zero-tolerance policy towards substance abuse. Any candidate found involved with NDPS will be terminated and face legal consequences.

Strategic Insights: Cut-off Dynamics and Evolving Stricter Norms

Understanding State-Wise Cut-offs and Normalisation

The most critical factor in Phase-I is state-wise competition, not an all-India rank. Your normalised score is compared against others from your domicile state. Historical data shows a clear tier system: High-Competition States like UP and Bihar have cut-offs 5-10 marks higher than Lower-Competition States like those in the North-East. Remember, normalisation by CASB can significantly alter your raw score. A "good" raw score in a tough state might fall below the cut-off, while a "moderate" score in a less competitive state may qualify. Always aim for a raw score safely above 65 (Science) or 55 (Non-Science) to account for this variance.

01/2027 vs 01/2026: A Clear Trend Towards Stricter Enforcement

Comparing the current intake with the previous one reveals a crucial trend: The standards have not been diluted; they have been tightened. While the core exam pattern and pay structure remain unchanged, the procedural, disciplinary, and eligibility enforcement has become stricter. The 01/2027 notification uses more explicit language on disqualification, expands clauses (like pregnancy), and reinforces IAF's absolute authority to cancel the process at any stage. This indicates a move towards a more rigorous and zero-error recruitment pipeline. Candidates must be more meticulous than ever in their application and conduct throughout the process.

🎯 Final Strategic Takeaways for Agniveervayu 01/2027 Aspirants

1. Target High Raw Scores: Due to normalisation and state-wise competition, your goal should be a minimum of 65+ in Science and 55+ in Non-Science raw marks to secure a safe position.
2. Your State is Your Battlefield: Research the competition level of your domicile state from previous cycles. It is a more significant factor than your category in the initial shortlisting.
3. Zero-Tolerance for Procedural Lapses: The 01/2027 notification is designed to filter out candidates at the slightest discrepancy in documents, behavior, or compliance. Read every instruction twice.
4. No Room for Assumption: Do not assume any aspect is "easier" or similar to last year. Treat every rule in the 01/2027 PDF as a new, binding commandment.

Disclaimer: Historical cut-off analysis is for strategic understanding only. The Indian Air Force's official notification for Intake 01/2027 is the sole binding document for all recruitment policies.