Agniveer Air Force 2026: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation

As of 8 June 2026, the Agniveer Vayu 2026 notification date, exam schedule, and intake numbers have not been confirmed here. Every date and number on this page is last-cycle-based or candidate-reported; verify on the official Agniveer Vayu portal at agnipathvayu.cdac.in, which is the binding source. Agniveer Vayu is the Indian Air Force's Agnipath scheme recruitment for short-tenure airmen across technical and non-technical post categories.

This guide covers the online test pattern for both streams, detailed syllabus, physical and medical standards, and a preparation plan.

Agniveer Vayu 2026 Status and Source Discipline

The Indian Air Force conducts Agniveer Vayu recruitment under the Agnipath scheme. Notification details, intake size, exam city allocation, and schedule appear in the official notification on agnipathvayu.cdac.in.

Agniveer Vayu Exam Pattern (Last-Cycle Basis)

Science Stream Written Test

For candidates with Class 12 Physics and Mathematics (PCM or PCB background):

Other Than Science (OTS) Stream Written Test

For candidates with Class 12 in any stream other than Science (or ITI holders):

Note: OTS stream has fewer questions because there is no subject-specific physics or maths section. Confirm the exact pattern for both streams in the official notification on agnipathvayu.cdac.in.

Negative Marking

AFCAT uses 0.25 mark deduction per wrong answer in the written test (last-cycle basis). Confirm the current negative marking rule in the official notification.

Eligibility Table (Verify in the 2026 Notice)

Female candidates: confirm which streams and post categories are currently available for female Agniveer Vayu applicants.

Syllabus: Section-by-Section Breakdown

English (20 marks, both streams)

• Comprehension passage: 1 passage, 3 to 5 questions testing detail recall and inference
• Grammar: subject-verb agreement, articles (a, an, the), prepositions, tenses, reported speech, active/passive voice
• Vocabulary: synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms
• Sentence correction: choose the grammatically correct option from 4 choices
• Fill in the Blanks: grammar and vocabulary-based

English at Agniveer Vayu level is Class 10 to 12 standard. The questions are not complex but require good accuracy.

Physics (25 marks, Science stream only)

The Physics section tests Class 11 and 12 topics:

Class 11 Physics:

• Physical World and Measurement: SI units, dimensions, significant figures, errors
• Kinematics: distance, displacement, velocity, acceleration; equations of motion; projectile motion
• Laws of Motion: Newton's three laws, friction, circular motion, work-energy theorem, conservation of momentum
• Work, Energy, Power: kinetic and potential energy, work-energy theorem, power
• Gravitation: universal law, g and its variation, orbital velocity, escape velocity
• Properties of Matter: elasticity, viscosity, surface tension, fluid pressure
• Thermodynamics: heat, temperature, specific heat, thermodynamic laws, ideal gas
• Oscillations and Waves: SHM, sound waves, standing waves, Doppler effect

Class 12 Physics:

• Electrostatics: Coulomb's law, electric field, potential, capacitors
• Current Electricity: Ohm's law, resistors in series and parallel, Kirchhoff's laws, Wheatstone bridge
• Magnetic Effects of Current: Biot-Savart law (concept), Ampere's law, force on current-carrying conductor, solenoid
• Electromagnetic Induction: Faraday's law, Lenz's law, AC generator, transformer basics
• Optics: reflection, refraction, lenses and mirrors (formulae), total internal reflection, optical instruments
• Modern Physics: photoelectric effect, Bohr's atomic model (hydrogen), radioactivity, nuclear reactions

Prioritise the most frequently tested topics: Newton's Laws, energy conservation, electrostatics, and optics calculations. Derivation questions are not asked; application and formula-based questions dominate.

Mathematics (25 marks, Science stream only)

Algebra:

• Complex numbers: representation, modulus, argument, polar form
• Matrices and Determinants: operations, inverse, system of linear equations (Cramer's rule)
• Sequences and Series: AP, GP, HP, sum formulae
• Quadratic equations: discriminant, nature of roots, sum and product of roots
• Permutations and Combinations: nPr, nCr, counting problems
• Binomial Theorem: expansion, general term, middle term

Trigonometry:

• Compound angles, multiple angles, sub-multiple angles
• Properties of triangles (sin rule, cosine rule)
• Inverse trigonometric functions

Coordinate Geometry:

• Straight lines: slope, intercept, various equation forms, perpendicular distance
• Circles: general equation, radius, centre
• Parabola, ellipse, hyperbola: standard forms and properties

Calculus:

• Limits and continuity: standard limits, L'Hopital's rule
• Differentiation: product rule, quotient rule, chain rule, implicit differentiation
• Application of differentiation: maxima and minima, tangents and normals
• Integration: basic antiderivatives, substitution, integration by parts
• Definite integrals: area under curve

Statistics and Probability:

• Measures of central tendency and dispersion
• Probability: classical, addition and multiplication theorems
• Bayes' theorem (concept)

Reasoning and General Awareness (30 marks Science / 50 marks OTS)

Reasoning:

• Verbal reasoning: analogies, classification, series completion, coding and decoding, blood relations, direction and distance
• Non-verbal reasoning: figure series, mirror images, embedded figures, paper folding
• Mathematical reasoning: number series, letter series, missing terms

General Awareness:

• Current affairs (last 6 to 12 months): national and international events
• Indian Air Force: key facts (aircraft in service, major IAF operations, IAF bases, rank structure)
• Indian history: national movement, independence, major events
• Geography: India's physical features, important states, rivers, capitals
• Science basics: everyday science questions, recent discoveries
• Sports: major tournament results, India's performance
• National achievements: space missions (ISRO), defence indigenisation

Physical Fitness Test (PFT) for Shortlisted Candidates

Candidates who clear the written test are called for a Physical Fitness Test:

Physical fitness training should begin at least 8 to 12 weeks before the expected PFT date. Build running endurance first (1.6 km at target time without stopping), then add push-ups and squats progressively.

Medical Examination

Candidates who pass the PFT undergo a medical examination at a designated Air Force Medical Centre:

• Vision: specific standards for Science and OTS streams; uncorrected vision requirements are typically strict; confirm in official notice
• Hearing: hearing in both ears (specific audiometry standards)
• Dental: adequate teeth, no active dental disease
• General: no flat feet, no varicose veins, no colour blindness (for certain technical streams)

Medical standards for Agniveer Vayu are published in the official notification. Candidates with doubts about meeting medical standards should consult the official guidelines carefully before applying.

Stage-Wise Selection Process

1. Online Written Test: Merit-based shortlisting.
2. Physical Fitness Test (PFT): For shortlisted candidates at designated centres.
3. Adaptability Test (AT): Psychological test at the PFT centre.
4. Medical Examination: Medical standards assessment.
5. Document Verification: Class 12 certificates, age proof, category documents.
6. Merit List and Provisional Selection: Final merit based on written test; PFT and medical are qualifying stages (no merit from these).
7. Basic Training: At an IAF training establishment.

Preparation Strategy

Phase 1: Physics (Science Stream, Weeks 1 and 2)

Revise Class 11 and 12 NCERT Physics. For Agniveer Vayu, focus on formula-based problem-solving rather than derivations. Electrostatics, current electricity, and optics are the highest-frequency question topics. Practise 25 Physics questions per session.

Phase 2: Mathematics (Science Stream, Weeks 2 and 3)

Revise calculus (differentiation and integration) and coordinate geometry from Class 11 and 12 NCERT. Trigonometry identities are tested regularly. Practise 25 Maths questions per session with a timer (25 marks in roughly 20 minutes is the target).

Phase 3: Reasoning and GK (All Streams, Week 3 and 4)

OTS stream candidates must invest heavily here (50 marks). Non-verbal reasoning (figure-based questions) often trips candidates who have only practised verbal reasoning. Practise embedded figures, mirror images, and figure series daily.

General Awareness: maintain a current affairs diary. IAF-specific GK (aircraft names, operations) can be covered in 2 to 3 dedicated sessions.

Phase 4: English (Week 4 and 5)

Grammar revision from Class 9 to 12 NCERT English textbooks. Practise 20 English questions per session. Comprehension is the easiest section; ensure you do not lose marks here.

Phase 5: Physical Training (Throughout)

Start physical training from Week 1. Aim to run 1.6 km under 7 minutes for safety margin (the exact time will be in the official notice; candidate-reported standard has been around 7 to 8 minutes). Progress push-ups to 20 to 25 (exceeding the minimum) before the test day.

Sample Questions with Answers

Q1. What is the Agnipath scheme? Agnipath is a four-year short-service military recruitment scheme launched by the Government of India in June 2022. Under it, recruits (Agniveers) serve for 4 years in the Army, Navy, or Air Force. Approximately 25 percent may be retained as regular servicemen. The rest receive a Seva Nidhi package and priority in certain government jobs. Confirm the current retention percentage and post-service benefits on official government and service portals.

Q2. Using the formula v = u + at, if initial velocity is 0, acceleration is 5 m/s^2, and time is 4 seconds, find final velocity. v = 0 + (5)(4) = 20 m/s.

Q3. Which IAF squadron was the first to operate the Tejas LCA? No. 45 Squadron Flying Daggers based at Sulur, Tamil Nadu, was the first IAF squadron to be equipped with the Tejas LCA. Confirm the current operational status of Tejas squadrons on official IAF sources.

Internal Links

For related Air Force preparation, see the AFCAT 2 2026 exam guide. For Agniveer Army preparation, see the Agniveer Army CEE 2026 guide. For the Agniveer Navy 2026 guide, see PapersAdda. For the 2026 government exams calendar, see PapersAdda.