Indian Army GD Eligibility 2025 – Agniveer GD Age, Height, Chest

 

Scope of the article: This article explains the latest eligibility criteria and selection process for joining the Indian Army as a General Duty (GD) soldier in 2025. It covers the required educational qualification, age limit, and physical standards like height, weight, and chest measurements. The information is updated regularly to keep it accurate and easy to understand.

Role of GD Soldiers in the Indian Army

General Duty (GD) soldiers in the Indian Army play a crucial role in various operations. They engage in combat, patrol borders, and secure vital areas. During internal threats, they are involved in counterinsurgency operations and protect key installations. GD soldiers are often first responders in natural disasters, providing humanitarian aid and rescue support. Additionally, they handle important support tasks, such as driving and operating equipment, making them essential to every Army unit.

The GD branch is the most vital segment of the Indian Army, providing highly attractive salary packages. With just a 10th-grade pass as the educational requirement, it stands out as an excellent job opportunity for young individuals.

Indian Army GD Eligibility 2025

Please note that the eligibility given in this article is for male candidates only, for female GD eligibility and selection process follow the given link.

1. Educational Qualifications

A candidate must have passed class 10 with at least 45% aggregate marks and a minimum of 33% in each subject.

To qualify, candidates must achieve a minimum of 33 marks in each subject (out of 100) and an overall score of at least 45%. For those with six subjects, only the top five scores will be considered. Candidates who fail in one additional subject but pass the other five are fully eligible to apply.

2. Age Limit

To apply for the Soldier General Duty (GD) position, candidates must be between 17½ and 21 years old, as stated in their official documents. When the recruitment notification is released, it will clearly define the eligible date range for applicants’ dates of birth (DOB). Candidates must ensure their DOB falls within this specified period.

To check your age eligibility, compare your date of birth (DOB) with the official notification. Also, once you create a profile on the Army website, you’ll see the rallies you can apply for.

3. Nationality

To ensure integrity, the Government of India has set specific nationality requirements for joining the Indian Army. The criteria are as follows.

1. All Indian, Nepali, and Bhutanese nationals are eligible.
2. A person who migrated from Sri Lanka and East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Pakistan, Burma the United Republic of Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire and Ethiopia, and Vietnam and settled permanently in India is also eligible.

4. Marital Status

The candidate should be unmarried.

5. Physical Standards

To attract the best candidates, the Indian Army has established specific physical standards.

• Height: The height criteria vary by state and district. This criterion can be relaxed depending on the candidate’s region, particularly for Gorkha candidates. Please refer to the table below for more information.
• Chest: The minimum chest required is 77 cm plus 5 cm after expansion.
• Weight: The candidate’s weight should be proportional to their height and age.

Indian Army Soldier GD Height, Chest & Weight requirements

Region	Minimum Height	Minimum Weight	Minimum Chest
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab Hills (Area South and West of the Inter-State Border between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and North and East of Road Mukerian, Hoshiarpur, Garh Shankar, Ropar, and Chandigarh), Garhwal and Kumaon (Uttarakhand)	163 cm	48 Kg	77 cm
Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, and Hill Region of West Bengal (Gangtok, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong Districts)	160 cm	48 Kg	77 cm
Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Western Uttar Pradesh (Meerut and Agra Division)	170 cm	50 Kg	77 cm
Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Orissa	169 cm	50 Kg	77 cm
Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dadar, Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu	168 cm	48 Kg	77 cm
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, and Puducherry	166 cm	50 Kg	77 cm

Physical standards for special regions and categories

Region	Height	Weight	Chest
Ladakhi Candidates	157 cm	50 Kg	77 cm
Nepali & Indian Gorkhas	157 cm	50 Kg	77 cm
Lakshadweep Group, including Minicoy, Andaman and Nicobar Islands	165 cm	50 Kg	77 cm
Tribals of recognized tribal areas	162 cm	50 Kg	77 cm

The weight figures given in the above table are the minimum values; the weight of the candidate should be proportionate to his height and age as per the army medical standards.

Relaxation in Physical Standards

Category	Height (cms)	Chest (cms)	Weight (Kg)
Outstanding Sportsmen (National / State & those who represented District / College / School in State / University / Board Championship & earned 1st/ 2nd position)	2	3	5
Outstanding Sportswomen (National/State & those who represented District, College/School State/University Championship).	2	–	5

Army GD Selection Process

For candidates who meet all the Army GD eligibility criteria mentioned in this article, here is a detailed step-by-step selection process for Agniveer GD.

Step 1: Online Registration  & Online Form Filling

Regardless of whether there is an upcoming Indian Army recruitment (Bharti) in your district, if you wish to join the army, you must first register online on the official army website. After creating your profile, you can log in to check for upcoming recruitment opportunities that you can apply for.

It’s important to stay in touch with the official website and regularly check for openings in your state. When a recruitment opportunity arises, the first step is to complete the online application process. After submitting your application, you will need to wait for your admit card.

The army admit card will be sent to your registered email address, or you can download it by signing into your profile on the official army website. The process of issuing admit cards typically begins the day after the online application period closes.

Step 2: Written Test

Candidates who receive the admit card are required to appear for the Common Entrance Exam (CEE), typically conducted 1 to 2 months after the closing of online registration. The written exam for soldier GD is also known as the NER exam.

Here are some important points related to the soldier GD CEE:

1. The written exam will feature objective-type questions with four answer options and will be available in Hindi and English.
2. There will be 50 questions worth a total of 100 marks, where each question carries 2 marks.
3. A negative marking of 0.5 marks will apply for incorrect answers, and candidates will have 60 minutes to complete the exam.
4. To pass, candidates must score at least 32 marks.
5. The exam consists of four sections: General Knowledge (15 questions, 30 marks), General Science (15 questions, 30 marks), Mathematics (15 questions, 30 marks), and Logical Reasoning (5 questions, 10 marks).
6. The marks scored by candidates in the Online Common Entrance Exam will be adjusted to account for differences in difficulty between exam sessions.
7. The names of short-listed candidates will be published on the official website.

Candidates should target a minimum score of 70+ marks, since the cutoff tends to be quite high. Aim for the bigger number to improve your opportunities.

Bonus Marks in Written Exam

Ser. No	Category	Bonus Marks
(a)	Son of Serving (SOS) Soldier / Ex-Servicemen (SOEX) / Son-in-Law of a War Widow (SOWW) / Son of Widow (SOW) (One son only)	20 Marks
(b)	Sportsmen: –
	(i) Represented India at the International level	20 Marks
	(ii) Represented State at the Senior/Junior National level and have won any medal in individual event or have reached upto eighth position in Team event	15 Marks
	(iii) Represented College / University in Inter University Championship and have won any medal in individual event or have reached up to sixth position in the Team event	10 Marks
	(iv) Represented State at National Level in Khelo India Games and have won any medal in individual event or have reached upto sixth position in the team event	10 Marks
	(v) Represented Dist at the State Level and have won any medal in individual event or have reached upto fourth position in the Team event	05 Marks
	(vi) Represented the State school team in the events org by All India School Games Federation and have won any medal in individual event or upto sixth position in the Team event	05 Marks
(c)	NCC ‘A’ Certificate	05 Marks
(d)	NCC ‘B’ Certificate	10 Marks
(e)	NCC ‘C’ Certificate	20 Marks
(f)	NCC ‘C’ Certificate and participated in Republic Day Parade	25 Marks

The maximum bonus marks a candidate can receive is 25, even if they qualify for more than one type of bonus mark.

Follow the link to get the Army GD syllabus and the best book recommendations.

Step 3: Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

The physical fitness test (PFT) is a critical step in the selection process. Candidates must aim for the highest score, simply qualifying is not enough; excelling in the following activities is essential for success.

Physical Fitness Test (At Rally Site)
Group	1.6 Km Run		Beam (Pull Ups)
	Time	Mark	Pull Ups	Marks
Group-I	Up to 5 Mins 30 Secs	60	10	40
Group-II	5 Mins 31 Secs to 5 Mins 45 Secs	48	9	33
Group-III	5 Mins 46 Secs to 6 Mins	36	8	27
Group-IV	6 Mins 01 Sec to 6 Mins 15 Secs	24	7	21
			6	16

Height, weight & chest measurement

When you arrive at the recruitment site, the first step will be to check your height. Candidates who do not meet the minimum height requirement will be disqualified from the rally and will not be allowed to proceed.

Weight and chest measurements can be taken at any point during the Physical Fitness Test (PFT). If someone does not meet the required criteria, they will be sent home immediately. Therefore, it’s important to check your eligibility before applying.

1-mile run (1600-meter race)

In this, a candidate has to run 1.6 Km within a set time limit. The hard part in a 1600-meter race is not the timing or distance, it’s the competition as everyone participating in the race wants to complete the race as soon as possible, therefore leaving no margin for those who are unprepared. Following is the marks distribution according to time.

Army GD 1600 meter race time & marks

Category	Timing (in min.)	Marks
Group 1	5.30	60
Group 2	5.31 – 5.45	48
Group 3	5.46 – 6	36
Group 2	6:01 – 6.15	24

Extra time will be added if the rallies are conducted on areas that are higher than 5000 ft. Following is the provision for extra time:

• Between 5000 ft. to 9000 ft. – extra 30 seconds will be given.
• Between 9000 ft. to 12000 ft. – extra 120 seconds will be given.

Keep in mind that you will be running in a group, meaning many people will be running alongside you. If you lose your balance and fall, other runners may unintentionally run over you, potentially causing serious injuries. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure you are well-prepared for running in the army. Refer to this article on how to prepare for the Indian Army for more information.

Pull Ups

Candidates are awarded marks out of 40 based on their pull-up performance, with more pull-ups resulting in higher marks. The standard marks distribution for pull-ups is as follows:

Army GD Pull-ups marks distribution

No. of pull-ups	Marks awarded
10	40
9	33
8	27
7	21
6	16
Less than 6 pull-ups – disqualify

Remember, just qualifying is not enough. If you somehow do clear pull-ups with qualifying marks only, then your chances of making it to the merit list will reduce significantly. This is why it’s important to prepare for pull-ups as well.

9 Feet Ditch Jump

In this test, candidates have to jump over a 9 feet ditch or hurdle. No marks are awarded for this part of PFT, candidates just have to qualify for this part. It is said that they give a candidate 3 attempts to clear this test, but one should try to clear this round on 1st attempt as you may not get another attempt.

Zig-zag balance

Just like 9 feet ditch, zig-zag balancing is also qualifying in nature i.e a candidate just has to qualify for this test and no marks are awarded for it. In this, the candidates will have to walk from one end to another end of a zig-zag shaped narrow wooden stand without falling.

Though this part is quite easy to clear and you may be given 3 attempts to clear it, but it can be tricky sometimes. Since many participants walk over that wooden stand, therefore it can become slippery and hard to walk on. So, before you climb on it, make sure that your feet are well dried.

Step 4: Medical Test

If you’re dreaming of joining the Indian Army as a Soldier General Duty (GD), your health and physical fitness are just as important as your dedication. Here’s a clear breakdown of the medical standards you must meet to be considered fit for service:

Overall Health

• You should be in excellent physical and mental condition.
• No long-term illnesses or conditions that need regular medication or medical devices.
• Fit enough to perform duties in all kinds of terrain and weather.

Vision & Hearing

• Must have normal hearing in both ears — no hearing aids.
• Should have sharp eyesight in both eyes:
  • Must see 6/6 clearly from a distance.
  • Able to correctly identify red, green, and white signal lights (CP-III standard using Martin’s Lantern).
  • For roles like Infantry, perfect vision (6/6) is a must.

Dental Health

• You should have at least 14 dental points.
• Good dental hygiene is a sign of overall physical fitness.

Bones, Muscles & Joints

• No bone deformities, past fractures that affect movement, or joint problems.
• You must be free from piles, hydrocele, or varicocele.

Medical History

• No mental health issues, history of seizures, or fits.
• You must not have had serious infections or contagious diseases like tuberculosis.
• No signs of heart disease, chronic conditions, or previous surgeries that could affect your duties.

 Medical Tests

• You’ll go through blood and urine tests to check for hidden problems.
• Only those with no signs of serious illness or long-term treatment needs will be cleared.

All of these conditions are carefully checked during your medical examination at the Army Recruitment Rally. Only candidates who pass every stage are declared medically fit for the Soldier GD role.

Army GD Salary and Benefits – for Agniveer

As per the new rules, all candidates applying for GD will be enrolled in the Agnipath scheme of the Indian Army Act 1950 for four years.

After completing four years of service, Agniveers will get a chance to apply for permanent enrollment in the Indian Army, depending on the Army’s needs and policies. Selection will be based on clear criteria, including their performance during the four years. Up to 25% of each Agniveer batch may be selected for permanent service. However, selection is not guaranteed, and final decisions will be made by the Indian Army.

Following is the breakdown of the salary package of an Army GD Agniveer:

Year	Customised Package (monthly)	In Hand (70%)	Contribution to Agniveers Corpus Fund (30%)	Contribution to Corpus fund by Govt of India
1st Year	30,000/-	21,000/-	9,000/-	9,000/-
2nd Year	33,000/-	23,100/-	9,900/-	9,900/-
3rd Year	36,500/-	25,550/-	10,950/-	10,950/-
4th Year	40,000/-	28,000/-	12,000/-	12,000/-
Total Contribution in Agniveers Corpus Fund after four years			Rs. 5.02 Lakh	Rs. 5.02 Lakh
Exit after 4 Years: Approximately Rs. 10.04 Lakh as Seva Nidhi Package (Absolute amount excluding Interest)

During the service period, all Agniveers will receive additional allowances and benefits such as Canteen Store Department (CSD) facilities and medical services, alongside their salary.

If you are curious about how high you can rank and what salary you might earn (if you become permanent), the following outlines the rank and salary structure available for a GD soldier.

• Sepoy is the entry-level rank for Soldier GD, with a starting basic pay of around ₹21,700 plus ₹5,200 Military Service Pay (MSP).
• Promotions follow this order: Sepoy → Lance Naik → Naik → Havildar → Naib Subedar → Subedar → Subedar Major.
• Starting basic pay increases with each rank, for example:
  Naik: approx. ₹29,200 + MSP
  Havildar: approx. ₹35,400 + MSP
  Naib Subedar (first JCO rank): approx. ₹44,900 + MSP
  Subedar Major (highest JCO rank): approx. ₹52,300 + MSP
• After JCO ranks, experienced soldiers may receive honorary ranks: Honorary Lieutenant and Honorary Captain, with starting basic pay around ₹56,100 and ₹61,300 respectively, plus MSP.
• These figures are basic pay only; actual salary is higher after adding allowances like Dearness Allowance, Transport Allowance, etc.
• Promotions depend on service, performance, and vacancies, offering a clear career and salary growth path for Soldier GD personnel.

Please note that the above-given information about the salaries may not be 100% accurate. For more details on the Indian army rank wise salary, follow the given link.

Indian Army General Duty Sample And Previous Year Papers

If you are preparing to join the Indian army then you will need to work very hard, as these days the competition is very high. As for physical, you will need to put all your efforts, especially into the running part. And to crack the written exam, you will need to practice the sample and previous year’s papers which are given below.

Click the buttons below to download the previous year’s and sample papers regarding the Indian Army GD.

GD sample papers

Hope this article was helpful for you. Please feel free to write your comments.