Indian Army GD Eligibility 2026-27: Age, Height and Education Guide

Indian Army GD (General Duty) is the entry for young men who want to serve as soldiers, recruited as Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme for a four-year engagement. Eligibility is set out in the notifications issued by each Army Recruiting Office (ARO) through the Join Indian Army portal. The current cycle is the Agniveer intake for Recruiting Year 2027, for which registration ran from 13 February to 1 April 2026.

This guide explains the Indian Army GD eligibility criteria in full: the Class 10 marks rule, the new 17.5 to 22-year age band and the dates it is measured on, region-based height standards, marital and domicile conditions, and the bonus marks you may qualify for. It ends with a five-minute self-check so you can confirm you qualify before you spend time on preparation.

Table of Contents

1. Indian Army GD eligibility at a glance

2. Educational qualification

3. Age limit and date of birth

4. Physical standards

5. Marital status, domicile and other conditions

6. Bonus marks you may be eligible for

7. Who is not eligible

8. Documents that prove your eligibility

9. Check your eligibility in five minutes

Indian Army GD Eligibility at a Glance

Women apply for a separate category, Agniveer General Duty (Women Military Police), which has its own notification and standards. This page covers the male GD entry.

Educational Qualification for Indian Army GD

The 45% and 33% Rule, Explained

You must have passed Class 10 (Matric) with at least 45% marks in aggregate of five basic subjects, and at least 33% in each of those five subjects. Both conditions must be met together. The rule is about your five basic subjects, so check how your board defines them on your marksheet.

A higher qualification such as Class 12 does not replace this rule. Your Class 10 marks are what count for GD, so even a graduate must meet the 45% and 33% conditions in Class 10.

Grading-System Boards, NIOS and Open Schools

• Grading boards: If your board awards grades instead of marks, grades equal to the percentages above are accepted. Keep the board's official grade-to-marks conversion handy for document verification.

• Recognised boards only: Each notification attaches a list of school boards recognised by state governments and union territories. CBSE, CISCE and NIOS are on the list.

• Open school certificate holders: Bring a school leaving certificate showing your date of birth and parents' names, countersigned by the Block or District Education Officer.

Result Awaited? You Can Still Apply

Candidates who have appeared in the Class 10 board exam and are waiting for results can apply, as long as they meet every other condition. You will be selected only if you produce the original marksheet during Phase II, the recruitment rally.

Indian Gorkhas and Driving Licence Holders

Indian Gorkha candidates need only a simple Class 10 pass, with no aggregate requirement. Separately, the notification gives preference for driver requirements to candidates holding a valid Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) or Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) driving licence. This is a preference, not an eligibility condition.

Indian Army GD Age Limit and Date of Birth

The age band for Agniveer GD in the Recruiting Year 2027 cycle is 17.5 to 22 years. In date-of-birth terms, you must be born between 1 July 2005 and 1 July 2009, both dates inclusive. The earlier upper limit was 21 years, so candidates who were just over the old limit should check again.

The recruiting year is the year your training starts, which is why the reference dates fall in 2027 even though the exam was held in 2026. Candidates under 18 attending the rally must submit an affidavit carrying their parents' consent.

For the next cycle, the date-of-birth window is likely to move forward, but do not assume the exact dates. Wait for the notification on the Join Indian Army portal.

Physical Standards for Army GD

Height, Chest and Weight

Physical standards are region-based, and your region follows your domicile. That is why two candidates of the same height can be eligible in one ARO and ineligible in another. The examples below are from Recruiting Year 2027 ARO notifications.

Read the physical standards in your own ARO's notification; the figure for your district is the one that applies. While applying, you must enter your height correctly to the millimetre. A wrong entry can lead to cancellation at the rally.

Relaxations in Physical Standards

An eligible sportsman can get all three relaxations together. Sports certificates are valid for two years from the first day of the CEE and must be from a government-recognised body.

Physical Fitness: What You Must Be Able to Do

Meeting the measurements gets you through the Physical Measurement Test, but you also need to clear the Physical Fitness Test at the rally: a 1.6 km run in 6 minutes 15 seconds or less, at least 6 pull-ups, a 9 ft ditch and zig-zag balance. Faster times and more pull-ups earn more marks. The Indian Army GD exam pattern page explains the full scoring.

Marital Status, Domicile and Other Conditions

• Unmarried only: Only unmarried candidates are eligible, and you must undertake not to marry during the four-year engagement. Agniveers who marry during that period are released from service.

• Domicile decides your ARO: You apply under the ARO covering your home district, supported by a domicile or nativity certificate. You can attend only one recruitment drive per recruiting year, and attending another on a different district's certificate leads to cancellation.

• Aadhaar is mandatory: Your Aadhaar number goes into the application and is authenticated biometrically at the exam centre and the rally. Name, parents' names and date of birth must match your Class 10 certificate exactly.

• Tattoos: Permanent tattoos of religious sentiment are allowed only on the inner forearm (elbow to wrist) and the back of the hand. Candidates from tribal communities may have customary tattoos elsewhere, with two prescribed certificates.

• Medical fitness: You must meet Army medical standards, which can differ from civil standards. Contact lenses are not permitted. The Army advises a check for flat foot, poor vision and ear wax before the rally.

Bonus Marks You May Be Eligible For

Bonus marks are not an eligibility condition, but they are decided by eligibility, not performance, so check them while applying.

The maximum bonus for GD is 25 marks, even if you qualify under more than one head. All supporting certificates must be shown at the rally. None are accepted after the rally ends.

Who Is Not Eligible

• Married candidates: Marital status is checked through an unmarried certificate issued within the last six months.

• Born outside the window: Anyone born before 1 July 2005 or after 1 July 2009 cannot apply in this cycle.

• Below the marks rule: Less than 45% aggregate in five basic subjects, or below 33% in any one of them (except Indian Gorkhas).

• Discharged personnel: Candidates discharged from the Indian Armed Forces for any reason are not eligible.

• Below regional height standard: Unless a listed relaxation applies to you.

• Fake or altered documents: Candidature is cancelled at any stage, and service is terminated even after enrolment if this comes to light later.

Documents That Prove Your Eligibility

The fee is Rs. 250 per category, paid online. You may apply for up to two Agniveer categories, with a separate form and CEE for each, but attend only one rally.

Check Your Indian Army GD Eligibility in Five Minutes

1. Date of birth: Is it between 1 July 2005 and 1 July 2009 for this cycle, or within the window the next notification sets?

2. Class 10 marks: Add up your five basic subjects. Is the aggregate 45% or more, and is every subject at 33% or above?

3. Height: Find the GD height in your ARO's notification and measure yourself barefoot. Are you at or above it?

4. Documents: Do your name and date of birth match exactly across your Class 10 certificate, Aadhaar and domicile certificate?

5. Fitness: Can you run 1.6 km in under 6 minutes 15 seconds and do at least 6 pull-ups today? If not, start training now.

Follow the official Join Indian Army portal for your ARO's notification.