IAF Agniveer Vayu has been conducted under the Agnipath scheme since 2022, with multiple intakes every year. By now, there are four complete cycles of exam data to analyse — 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. This article breaks down which topics appear most frequently, gives you practice questions on those exact patterns (clearly labelled as practice questions, not claimed as original papers), and explains how the exam has evolved across intakes. Application for Intake 02/2027 closes 26 July 2026.
Exam Overview — How Many Intakes Have Happened?
| Intake | Year | Group Y Exam Pattern | Group X Exam Pattern | Key Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/2022 | 2022 | English (20Q) + RAGA (50Q) = 70Q, 45 min | Physics + Math + English + RAGA, 60 min | First Agnipath intake — baseline pattern set |
| 02/2022 | 2022 | Same as 01/2022 | Same as 01/2022 | Second intake within same year; format unchanged |
| 01/2023 | 2023 | English (20Q) + RAGA (50Q) = 70Q, 45 min | Physics + Math + English + RAGA, 60 min | RAGA defence current affairs weightage increased |
| 01/2024 | 2024 | English (20Q) + RAGA (50Q) = 70Q, 45 min | Physics + Math + English + RAGA, 60 min | More IAF-specific GK (new aircraft inductions, exercises) |
| 01/2025 | 2025 | English (20Q) + RAGA (50Q) = 70Q, 45 min | Physics + Math + English + RAGA, 60 min | Reasoning (blood relations, direction sense) slightly harder |
| 02/2027 (upcoming) | 2026 | Expected: same format | Expected: same format | No structural change announced |
The exam format has been stable since 2022. Group Y is 70 questions in 45 minutes; Group X adds Physics and Math to a 60-minute paper. No negative marking has been mentioned in official notifications. The strategic implication: attempt every question — there is no penalty for guessing.
Group Y Exam — Section-wise Topic Frequency Analysis
RAGA (Reasoning, General Awareness) — 50 Questions
| Topic Area | Approx. Questions per Paper | Frequency (2022–2025) | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Defence News (IAF exercises, new inductions, operations) | 10–12 | Every intake | ★★★★★ |
| Indian History (battles, freedom movement, ancient kingdoms) | 7–9 | Every intake | ★★★★☆ |
| Indian Polity (Articles, Fundamental Rights, Parliament) | 5–7 | Every intake | ★★★★☆ |
| Geography (rivers, mountains, states, climate) | 5–7 | Every intake | ★★★☆☆ |
| Science GK (Space missions, health, environment) | 5–6 | Every intake | ★★★☆☆ |
| Reasoning — Blood Relations | 3–4 | Every intake | ★★★★☆ |
| Reasoning — Number/Letter Series | 3–4 | Every intake | ★★★★☆ |
| Reasoning — Direction Sense | 2–3 | Most intakes | ★★★☆☆ |
| Sports & Awards (IAF-related + national) | 2–3 | Most intakes | ★★★☆☆ |
| General GK (National symbols, first in India) | 2–3 | Most intakes | ★★★☆☆ |
English Section — 20 Questions
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Frequency | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Error Detection (Spot the grammatical error in a sentence) | 4–5 | Every intake | ★★★★★ |
| Fill in the Blanks — Prepositions | 3–4 | Every intake | ★★★★★ |
| Synonyms & Antonyms | 3–4 | Every intake | ★★★★☆ |
| One-Word Substitution | 2–3 | Every intake | ★★★★☆ |
| Reading Comprehension (short passage, 2–3 questions) | 2–3 | Most intakes | ★★★☆☆ |
| Sentence Rearrangement / Para Jumbles | 1–2 | Some intakes | ★★★☆☆ |
| Idioms & Phrases | 1–2 | Some intakes | ★★☆☆☆ |
Group X — Additional Sections (Physics & Math)
Physics — Topic Frequency
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Frequency | Key Subtopics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laws of Motion (Newton's Laws, momentum, friction) | 3–5 | Every intake | F=ma, conservation of momentum, friction types |
| Electricity & Magnetism | 3–5 | Every intake | Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, magnetic force, electromagnetic induction |
| Optics (reflection, refraction, lenses) | 3–4 | Every intake | Mirror formula, lens formula, refractive index, total internal reflection |
| Waves & Sound | 2–4 | Every intake | Wave equation, resonance, Doppler effect |
| Work, Energy & Power | 2–3 | Every intake | KE, PE, conservation of energy, power calculations |
| Thermodynamics | 2–3 | Most intakes | Laws of thermodynamics, heat transfer, specific heat |
| Modern Physics (photoelectric effect, nuclear physics) | 1–3 | Most intakes | Einstein's photoelectric equation, radioactive decay |
| Units & Dimensions | 1–2 | Every intake | SI units, dimensional analysis |
| Gravitation | 1–2 | Some intakes | Kepler's laws, orbital velocity, escape velocity |
| Fluid Mechanics (pressure, buoyancy, Bernoulli) | 1–2 | Some intakes | Pascal's law, Archimedes principle |
Mathematics — Topic Frequency
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Frequency | Key Subtopics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trigonometry (ratios, identities, equations) | 4–6 | Every intake | sin/cos/tan identities, inverse trig, height & distance |
| Coordinate Geometry (lines, circles, conics) | 3–5 | Every intake | Distance formula, section formula, slope, equation of circle |
| Algebra (quadratic, polynomials, progressions) | 3–5 | Every intake | AP/GP, quadratic roots, Remainder theorem |
| Probability | 2–4 | Every intake | Basic probability, conditional probability, combinations |
| Calculus — Differentiation & Integration (basics) | 2–4 | Every intake | Derivatives of standard functions, integration by substitution |
| Statistics (mean, median, mode, SD) | 2–3 | Every intake | Central tendency, standard deviation, variance |
| Matrices & Determinants | 2–3 | Most intakes | Matrix operations, determinant calculation, Cramer's rule |
| Sets, Relations & Functions | 1–2 | Most intakes | Set operations, domain/range, composition of functions |
| Vectors (basics) | 1–2 | Some intakes | Dot product, cross product, angle between vectors |
| Binomial Theorem | 1–2 | Some intakes | General term, middle term, coefficient |
Practice Questions — RAGA (Defence & Current Affairs Pattern)
These questions follow the patterns observed in IAF Agniveer Vayu exams. They are practice questions — not sourced from any official paper.
Q1. Which aircraft did India induct into the IAF under the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) signed with France in 2016?
Answer: Rafale
India signed the IGA for 36 Rafale multirole fighter jets with France in September 2016. The first Rafale landed in India on 29 July 2020. All 36 aircraft were delivered to IAF by December 2022. Rafale is manufactured by Dassault Aviation and is based at 17 Squadron "Golden Arrows" at Ambala and 101 Squadron at Hasimara.
Q2. Tejas Mk1A is an upgrade of the Tejas aircraft. Which organisation developed Tejas?
Answer: Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO, with manufacturing by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited)
Tejas is India's indigenously designed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Tejas Mk1A includes an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, electronic warfare suite, and mid-air refuelling capability as upgrades over Mk1. IAF has ordered 83 Mk1A aircraft from HAL.
Q3. IAF Exercise "Tasman Saber" is a joint exercise conducted with which country?
Answer: Australia
Tasman Saber is an Australian Defence Force-led exercise involving Australia and the United States, in which India has participated as an observer/partner. More directly relevant for IAF: Exercise Cope India (India-USA), Exercise Shakti (India-France), Exercise Garuda (India-France), and Exercise Desert Knight are IAF bilateral exercises frequently tested in RAGA.
Q4. The C295 transport aircraft, inducted by IAF in 2023, is manufactured by which company?
Answer: Airbus Defence and Space (Spain)
India signed a deal in 2021 to procure 56 C295 aircraft — 16 in fly-away condition and 40 to be built in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in Vadodara. This is a historic deal as it is India's first private sector military aircraft manufacturing contract. The C295 replaces the aging Avro HS-748 in IAF.
Q5. What is the full form of IAF's AFNET?
Answer: Air Force Network
AFNET is IAF's digital information grid — a secure, interoperable communication network that integrates all IAF bases, radar networks, and operational commands. It was inaugurated in 2010 and replaced the legacy analogue system. AFNET enables Network-Centric Operations (NCO) across all IAF assets.
Q6. In which year was the Indian Air Force established?
Answer: 1932
The Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932 as the Royal Indian Air Force. It dropped the "Royal" prefix after India became a republic on 26 January 1950. The IAF's motto is "Nabha Sparsham Deeptham" (Touch the Sky with Glory), taken from the Bhagavad Gita.
Practice Questions — English Section Pattern
Q7. Choose the correct preposition: The aircraft flew ___ the clouds.
Answer: through
The aircraft flew through the clouds (penetrating the clouds). "Above" would mean above (over the top of) the clouds; "over" would mean across the top. The correct choice depends on context — "through" implies movement within the clouds. Preposition questions often test through/across/over/above/by/along distinctions.
Q8. Find the error: She plays the piano very good.
Answer: "very good" should be "very well"
Good is an adjective; it modifies nouns. Well is an adverb; it modifies verbs. Since "plays" is a verb here, the modifier must be "very well." This is among the most frequently tested error detection patterns — adjective vs adverb confusion.
Q9. One-word substitution: A person who walks in sleep.
Answer: Somnambulist
Other frequently tested one-word substitutions: Altruist (one who lives for others), Bibliophile (lover of books), Ambidextrous (able to use both hands equally), Polyglot (speaks many languages), Omnivore (eats both plants and animals).
Practice Questions — Physics (Group X Pattern)
Q10. A body of mass 5 kg is moving at 4 m/s. What is its kinetic energy?
Answer: 40 Joules
KE = ½mv² = ½ × 5 × (4)² = ½ × 5 × 16 = 40 J. This is a direct application of the kinetic energy formula. In IAF Group X, numerical problems on KE, work done, power, and momentum appear in every intake.
Q11. A convex lens of focal length 20 cm forms an image of an object placed 30 cm from the lens. Where is the image formed?
Answer: 60 cm on the other side of the lens (real, inverted)
Using lens formula: 1/v − 1/u = 1/f → 1/v − 1/(−30) = 1/20 → 1/v = 1/20 − 1/30 = (3−2)/60 = 1/60 → v = 60 cm. The positive sign means the image is on the opposite side (real image). Optics numericals — lens formula, mirror formula, and magnification — appear in 3–4 questions per Group X paper.
Practice Questions — Mathematics (Group X Pattern)
Q12. If sin θ = 3/5, find cos θ (where θ is acute).
Answer: cos θ = 4/5
Using Pythagorean identity: sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 → (3/5)² + cos²θ = 1 → cos²θ = 1 − 9/25 = 16/25 → cos θ = 4/5 (positive since θ is acute). Trigonometric identity questions are the single highest-frequency topic in Group X Math.
Q13. What is the probability of getting a sum of 7 when two dice are thrown?
Answer: 6/36 = 1/6
Pairs giving sum 7: (1,6), (2,5), (3,4), (4,3), (5,2), (6,1) — 6 favourable outcomes. Total outcomes = 36. Probability = 6/36 = 1/6. Dice and card probability problems appear in almost every Group X paper.
What Changed Between Intakes (2022→2025)
| Period | What Changed |
|---|---|
| 2022 (01/2022 & 02/2022) | First Agnipath intakes — baseline format established. RAGA had broad defence GK. Reasoning was straightforward (simple series, analogies). |
| 2023 (01/2023) | RAGA current affairs shifted noticeably toward IAF-specific news — Rafale deliveries, Tejas inductions. Generic GK proportion decreased slightly. |
| 2024 (01/2024) | More questions on new IAF aircraft (C295 transport, LCH Prachand helicopter) and IAF exercises with foreign air forces. Reasoning section introduced more direction + blood relation combo questions. |
| 2025 (01/2025) | English error detection became slightly more nuanced (subject-verb agreement + tense errors in same sentence). Physics numerical complexity stayed moderate. Math saw more coordinate geometry and probability questions. |
Common Mistakes Candidates Make in the Exam
- Spending too long on RAGA reasoning — each RAGA question should take no more than 45–60 seconds; the section has 50 questions in 45 minutes total (Group Y). Move on if stuck
- Preparing generic GK but ignoring IAF-specific news — 10–12 of 50 RAGA questions are IAF/defence-specific; generic GK books miss this entirely
- Not reading the English question type carefully — error detection and fill-in-the-blank have different solving approaches; misidentifying the question type wastes time
- Skipping Physics numericals in Group X preparation — numericals account for roughly half the Physics questions; formula-based questions are solvable in under 2 minutes each
- Guessing randomly when uncertain — while there is no negative marking, random guessing in blocks wastes time that could go to solvable questions
- Ignoring Trigonometry — candidates from Arts-adjacent boards often skip trig entirely; it is the single highest-frequency Math topic in Group X (4–6 questions)
- Not practising time management — Group X has 60 minutes for 4 subjects; untimed practice sessions do not prepare you for the real constraint
30-Day Strategy Before the Exam
| Day Range | Focus | Daily Time |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–7 | RAGA — IAF/defence current affairs (last 18 months): Rafale, Tejas Mk1A, C295, Operation Sindoor 2025, IAF exercises, new IAF bases, missile inductions | 2–3 hours |
| Days 8–14 | RAGA — History (Battles of Plassey, Panipat, key dates) + Polity (Articles 14, 19, 21, 32, 72, 356) + Reasoning (series + blood relations daily drill) | 2–3 hours |
| Days 15–20 | English — Error detection drills (10 sentences/day), Prepositions fill-in, One-word substitution list (50 words), Synonym/Antonym pairs (100 words) | 1.5–2 hours |
| Days 21–25 (Group X) | Physics — Formula revision (all chapters) + 10 numericals/day from Motion, Optics, Electricity. Math — Trigonometry identities + Coordinate Geometry standard problems | 2–3 hours |
| Days 26–30 | Full mock tests (1 per day, timed). Group Y: 45-min paper. Group X: 60-min paper. Review every wrong answer. Do NOT start new topics in this week. | 3–4 hours |
Recommended Study Resources
| Section | Recommended Resource | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IAF/Defence Current Affairs | jagran.com/defence, official IAF press releases, Testbook defence updates | IAF-specific — not covered adequately in generic books |
| RAGA — General Awareness | Lucent's General Knowledge (latest edition) | Comprehensive, compact format for GK facts |
| RAGA — Reasoning | RS Aggarwal "A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning" | Standard reference; all question types covered |
| English | Wren & Martin "High School English Grammar" (chapters on error detection + prepositions) | Grammar rules explained clearly |
| Physics (Group X) | NCERT Class 11 & 12 Physics (Chapters: Motion, Laws of Motion, Work & Energy, Optics, Electricity) | Exam-level — no over-preparation needed |
| Mathematics (Group X) | NCERT Class 11 & 12 Maths (Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Calculus, Probability) | Complete topic coverage at right difficulty |
| Mock Tests | Testbook, selfstudys.com — IAF Agniveer Vayu practice tests | Closest to actual exam format and difficulty |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there negative marking in IAF Agniveer Vayu written exam?
No negative marking has been stated in official IAF Agniveer Vayu notifications for past intakes (2022–2025). This means you should attempt every question — even if you guess on uncertain ones. Always verify this in the official Intake 02/2027 notification before your exam date, as exam terms can change between intakes.
How many questions are there in the Group X exam?
The Group X exam covers Physics, Mathematics, English, and RAGA in a 60-minute paper. The exact number of questions per section is not fixed officially, but based on pattern analysis across 2022–2025 intakes, the total runs to approximately 70 questions. The difficulty is moderate — NCERT Class 11–12 level is sufficient for Physics and Math.
What are the most important topics in RAGA for Group Y?
Across all intakes, the highest-priority RAGA topics have been: (1) IAF and defence current affairs — new aircraft, exercises, operations — 10–12 questions, (2) Indian History with battles and freedom movement — 7–9 questions, (3) Polity — constitutional articles and Fundamental Rights — 5–7 questions. These three together account for roughly 22–28 of the 50 RAGA questions.
Do IAF previous year question papers get released officially?
No — IAF does not release official question papers for Agniveer Vayu exams. The analysis available on coaching platforms (Testbook, selfstudys.com, PW) is based on student recall after exams, not official releases. Treat recalled papers as guidance on topic frequency and difficulty, not as exact reproductions.
Can a candidate who failed once in a previous Agniveer Vayu intake apply again?
Yes — there is no bar on re-applying for a future intake if you failed or did not qualify in a previous one. The age limit is the binding constraint — as long as you are within 17.5–21 years at the date of enrolment for the new intake, you can apply again. Some candidates apply in 2–3 consecutive intakes before qualifying.
Is the Group X exam significantly harder than Group Y?
Yes — Group X adds Physics and Math to the Group Y pattern, making it a 60-minute paper vs 45 minutes for Group Y. The additional subjects require NCERT Class 11–12 level preparation. The English and RAGA sections are identical in format for both groups. Candidates who are strong in Physics and Math find Group X more manageable; those from Arts background will find Group Y more aligned with their preparation.
