Agniveer Vayu 2026 — Complete IAF Preparation Guide

The Agniveer Vayu recruitment, under the Agnipath scheme since 2022, recruits airmen into the Indian Air Force on 4-year contractual terms. Two primary streams: Group X (Science stream — for candidates with 10+2 PCM, leading into technical airman roles) and Group Y (Other-Than-Science — for 10+2 from any stream, leading into administrative/operations/security/medical assistant roles). Selection via Online Test conducted by CASB (Air Force Common Admission and Selection Board) → Adaptability Test (AFSB-style screening) → PFT → Medical examination. Currently active: STAR Intake 02/2026 + Intake 01/2026 + Other-Than-Science Recruitment Rally Intake 02/2026, all accepting applications via agnipathvayu.cdac.in. TAM ~3-5 lakh applicants per cycle. This guide covers the dual-stream Online Test pattern, syllabus, IAF-specific GK, salary including Seva Nidhi corpus, and preparation strategy.

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit

17.5 to 21 years (born between 26-12-2004 and 26-06-2008 for the 02/2026 intake). Marital status: unmarried only.

Educational Qualification

Science (Group X): 10+2 with Math + Physics + English, 50% aggregate, 50% in English. Other-Than-Science (Group Y): 10+2 from any stream (or 2-year vocational course from State Education Board), 50% aggregate, 50% in English. Medical Assistant Trade specifically requires 10+2 with Physics + Chemistry + Biology + English.

Nationality

Indian citizens only (Nepalese citizens also eligible for specific posts under recruitment treaties).

Number of Attempts

No specific attempt limit; eligibility based on age window. Two intakes annually (typically 01/<year> and 02/<year>).

Exam Pattern

Online Test (Stage 1) — Science stream sections: English (20 Q / 20 marks), Mathematics (25 Q / 25 marks — 10+2 NCERT level: algebra, trigonometry, calculus, vectors, coordinate geometry), Physics (25 Q / 25 marks — 10+2 NCERT level: mechanics, optics, electromagnetism, modern physics). Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer.

Online Test (Stage 1) — Other-Than-Science stream sections: English (20 Q / 20 marks), Reasoning + General Awareness (30 Q / 30 marks — verbal and non-verbal reasoning, history, geography, civics, current affairs with IAF-specific focus). Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer.

Adaptability Test (Stage 2) sections: Adaptability Test-I (general intelligence + numerical aptitude + situation reaction screening for service suitability) and Adaptability Test-II (group discussion + leadership assessment).

Physical Fitness Test (PFT) sections: 1.6 km run (target: under 6:30 for males / 8:00 for females), 10 push-ups (males) / 7 push-ups (females), 10 sit-ups (males) / 7 sit-ups (females), 20 squat-ups for both.

Medical Examination sections: Vision (6/9 in worse eye, 6/6 in better — stricter for Group X technical trades), hearing, dental fitness, no color blindness (mandatory for IAF), no tattoos in visible non-permitted areas, height/weight per medical standards.

Detailed Syllabus

Salary & Benefits

Pay Level

Agniveer pay structure (under Agnipath Scheme)

Basic Pay

Year 1: ₹30,000/month gross. Year 2: ₹33,000. Year 3: ₹36,500. Year 4: ₹40,000.

Gross Salary

₹30,000 to ₹40,000 over 4-year contract

In-Hand Salary

₹21,000 to ₹28,000 monthly in-hand (after ₹9,000-12,000 Seva Nidhi contribution)

Other Benefits

Seva Nidhi Corpus ~₹11.71 lakh tax-free lump sum at end of 4-year service. ₹48 lakh life insurance during service. ₹44 lakh ex-gratia for service-related death. Free ration, uniform, accommodation. IAF canteen access. Travel allowance. Skill certificate at exit. 25% of cohort absorbed into permanent IAF service post-contract. Special privileges for flying-trade and technical postings.

Important Dates

Notification Release

🔴 STAR Intake 02/2026 + Other-Than-Science Recruitment Rally Intake 02/2026 + Intake 01/2026 currently ACTIVE via agnipathvayu.cdac.in. Specific application dates per intake vary; check the portal for your eligible category.

Application Deadline

Tier 1 Exam

Online Test (Stage 1): tentatively July-August 2026 (post application close)

Tier 2 Exam

Adaptability Test + PFT + Medical at ASC: September-October 2026

Result

Final merit list and joining: November-December 2026

Always verify on agnipathvayu.cdac.in. CASB conducts two intakes annually; the STAR Intake is a special category that runs parallel to the regular intake.

Preparation Strategy

1. Math + Physics combined are 50/70 = ~70% of the Science stream exam. These are at 10+2 NCERT level — use NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks as the primary source. Focus first on calculus (differentiation + basic integration), trigonometry, mechanics (laws of motion + work-energy), and electromagnetism.
2. IAF GK is highly aircraft-and-base specific. Know the aircraft fleet (Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, Rafale, Tejas Mk-1 and Mk-2, MiG-29 UPG, Jaguar, Sukhoi-30, C-130J Hercules, C-17 Globemaster, Apache, Chinook, Mi-17 V5, Hawk, IL-76, IL-78), IAF commands (7 commands), and recent operations (Balakot Airstrikes Feb 2019, Op Sankalp Persian Gulf, Op Brahma Operations, recent deployment in border areas).
3. Non-Science (Group Y) candidates: focus 50% of prep on Reasoning + GA. Reasoning rewards pattern practice — do 15-20 questions daily from a single chapter; avoid jumping topics.
4. Color vision is MANDATORY for IAF (especially Group X technical trades). NO exceptions. If you have any color blindness, consider Agniveer Army (where standards relax for some non-combat categories).
5. English (20 marks both streams) is high-yield with 1-2 weeks of focused practice. Read English newspapers daily (The Hindu / Indian Express). Focus on Vocabulary + Reading Comprehension + Spotting Errors.
6. PFT preparation: 1.6 km in under 6:30 (males) is the gold-standard. Build to 20+ push-ups for safety margin. Squat-ups need cardiovascular and leg endurance — practice 25-30 daily.
7. Adaptability Test (Stage 2) is unique to IAF — it screens for service suitability. Practice situational judgment scenarios + group discussion topics. Confidence and decisive answers beat perfect answers in this stage.
8. Document preparation: 10/12 certificates, Aadhaar, domicile, character certificate, NCC certificate (if any), sports certificates, swimming proficiency (helpful for survival-training phase).

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Frequently Asked Questions