Indian Army GD Syllabus 2026: Subject-Wise CEE Topics

The Indian Army GD syllabus covers four subjects in the Common Entrance Examination (CEE): General Knowledge, General Science, Mathematics and Logical Reasoning. Questions are set at Class 10 level, so most of what you need is already in your school books. The challenge is speed and accuracy, because 50 questions have to be solved in 60 minutes with negative marking.

The Army names the subjects and shares sample material, but it does not publish a detailed topic-wise syllabus for GD. The topic lists below are built from the official subject areas, the sample material and questions asked in previous years. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list. This page also covers the physical tests at the rally, because they decide selection as much as the written paper does.

Indian Army GD Syllabus and Exam Pattern at a Glance

Each question carries 2 marks, and 25% of the marks (0.5) is deducted for every wrong answer. The split shown is the one commonly seen in sample and previous papers.

Key Changes to Know

• Written test comes first: Since the Agnipath scheme, the CEE is held before the rally. Older guides that describe a rally-first process with a written test afterwards are out of date.

• Negative marking applies: Some pages still say the GD paper has no negative marking. The Agniveer CEE deducts a quarter of the marks for a wrong answer, so practise accordingly.

• Adaptability test at the rally: Candidates who clear the CEE also face an adaptability test along with the physical and medical stages.

• Wider age window: The 2026-27 cycle allowed candidates up to 22 years, so some students restarting preparation after a break are eligible again.

General Knowledge Syllabus for Army GD

GK carries 30 marks, the same as maths. Questions mix static facts with current affairs from roughly the last 6 to 12 months before the exam.

Defence-related questions are a small but reliable part of GK, and most candidates skip them. Learning the Army's ranks, commands, major regiments and gallantry awards takes a few hours and pays off in the exam.

General Science Syllabus for Army GD

General Science also carries 30 marks. The questions test Class 9 and 10 concepts and everyday applications rather than long numericals.

Physics

• Measurement and motion: SI units, speed, velocity, acceleration, Newton's laws of motion.

• Force, work and energy: Gravitation, work, power, kinetic and potential energy, simple machines.

• Heat, sound and light: Temperature scales, reflection, refraction, lenses and mirrors, human eye, properties of sound.

• Electricity and magnetism: Current, resistance, Ohm's law, household circuits, magnets and electromagnets.

Chemistry

• Matter and its states: Elements, compounds, mixtures, physical and chemical changes.

• Atoms and the periodic table: Atomic structure, valency, symbols of common elements.

• Acids, bases and salts: pH scale, indicators, common salts and their uses.

• Metals, non-metals and carbon: Properties, corrosion, alloys, carbon compounds, fuels.

Biology

• Cell and tissues: Cell structure and functions, plant and animal tissues.

• Human body: Digestive, respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems, blood groups.

• Health and nutrition: Vitamins, minerals, deficiency diseases, communicable diseases and their causes.

• Plants and environment: Photosynthesis, plant parts, ecosystem, pollution.

Biology and chemistry facts (vitamins, diseases, common chemical names) are the quickest marks in this section. Physics needs more practice, so keep formula revision for motion, electricity and light on your weekly list.

Mathematics Syllabus for Army GD

Maths carries 30 marks and is where most candidates lose time. Questions are arithmetic-heavy, with a few from mensuration, algebra and geometry.

Arithmetic topics such as percentage, profit and loss, interest and speed questions make up the bulk of the section. Master these first, then move to mensuration, which follows a fixed set of formulas.

Logical Reasoning Syllabus for Army GD

Reasoning has only 5 questions, but they are usually the fastest 10 marks on the paper. Expect questions from these areas:

• Series: Number and letter series, missing terms.

• Coding-decoding: Letter and number codes.

• Analogy and classification: Word and number analogies, odd one out.

• Directions and blood relations: Distance and direction problems, family relationships.

• Non-verbal basics: Mirror and water images, figure counting, Venn diagrams.

Subject-Wise Weightage and Where to Score

All three main subjects carry 30 marks each, but they do not take the same effort. The table below compares them so you can plan your study hours.

The timings are a practical guide, not an official rule. A sensible order in the exam is reasoning, GK, science and then maths, so that the slow section never eats into time meant for quick marks. Adjust the order after a few full-length Army GD mock tests on Testkart if your strengths are different.

Study Resources for the Army GD Syllabus

• NCERT books for Class 9 and 10: The base for maths and science. Read the theory, then solve the in-text and exercise questions, because CEE questions are rarely harder than these.

• Official sample material: The Join Indian Army website has published sample questions and practice material for the CEE. Use it early to understand the format, and again near the exam to check progress.

• A monthly current affairs source: Pick one and stay with it. Switching between many sources leads to half-read notes and poor revision.

• Previous year papers: They show which topics repeat, especially in GK and arithmetic, and help you judge the real difficulty level.

• Your own short notes: One page per maths chapter with formulas and solved shortcuts, and a running list of GK facts you got wrong in tests.

Physical Fitness Test at the Rally

The physical tests have no written syllabus, but they work like one: you must meet fixed standards to stay in the race. They are conducted at the recruitment rally after the CEE.

Height, chest and weight are measured at the same rally, with region-wise height standards. The Indian Army GD eligibility page lists them in full.

How the CEE and Rally Preparation Overlap

Is There an Interview for Army GD?

No. There is no interview or personality test with a separate syllabus for Agniveer GD. After the CEE, candidates go through the rally (PFT, PMT and adaptability test), document verification and the medical examination.

How to Cover the Indian Army GD Syllabus in 12 Weeks

1. Weeks 1 to 4, basics: Revise Class 9 and 10 NCERT maths and science, one chapter a day. Start 20 to 30 minutes of daily current affairs and begin running every morning.

2. Weeks 5 to 8, topic practice: Take topic-wise tests after each chapter, cover static GK and reasoning, and add pull-up practice on alternate days.

3. Weeks 9 to 10, speed: Solve sectional tests on a timer and keep an error log of every wrong or slow question.

4. Weeks 11 to 12, full mocks: Attempt two to three full-length tests a week with negative marking, analyse each the same day and revise from your error log.

If you are short of time, follow one rule: do not move to the next phase until you can score at least 70% in topic tests for the current one. It is better to finish arithmetic, science basics and GK properly than to touch every topic once.

Testkart's Indian Army GD online tests include topic-wise and full-length practice in the current pattern, and the section-wise analysis shows which subject needs more time. For revision, keep short notes of formulas and GK facts alongside Army GD previous year papers, so you know what kind of questions actually appear.

Common Mistakes While Preparing

• Ignoring the physical test until the result: The rally usually follows the CEE result within weeks. That is not enough time to bring a slow run under 5 minutes 30 seconds.

• Guessing on every question: With 0.5 marks lost per wrong answer, random guessing on ten questions can cancel out two or three correct ones.

• Studying from outdated material: Books written for the old rally-first system may skip negative marking or show a different paper structure.

• No mock analysis: Taking tests without reviewing them repeats the same mistakes. Spend at least as long on analysis as on the test itself.