IAF Agniveer Vayu Syllabus 2026 – Phase 1 Exam Pattern, Group X & Y Subjects, Phase 2 PFT Standards
The Agniveer Vayu Intake 02/2027 selection process has two distinct phases. Phase 1 is a computer-based online test — the subjects and time limits differ sharply between Group X (Science/Technical) and Group Y (Other trades). Phase 2 is a physical test, medical examination, and document verification conducted at an Air Force Station. This guide covers both phases with exact topic lists, PFT standards, and subject-wise preparation strategy. Source: official agnipathvayu.cdac.in and the published examination PDF.
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Phase 1: Online Test – Exam Pattern Overview
Phase 1 is a Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted at designated CDAC test centres across India. The exam is objective type (multiple choice). There is negative marking — check the official notification for the exact fraction deducted per wrong answer. Candidates select their group (X, Y, or both X+Y) at the time of application. The paper and duration differ by group.
| Group | Subjects | Duration | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group X (Science Trades) | Physics + Mathematics + English + RAGA | 60 minutes | 10+2 CBSE level |
| Group Y (Other Trades) | English + RAGA | 45 minutes | 10+2 level |
| Group Y – Medical Assistant | Biology (PCB-based) + English + RAGA | 45 minutes | 10+2 PCB level |
| Group X + Y (Both) | Physics + Mathematics + English + RAGA | 85 minutes | Combined paper |
If you apply for both Group X and Group Y, you write the combined 85-minute paper. Your score is evaluated separately for each group, and you appear in the Group X merit list and Group Y merit list independently — this doubles your chances of qualification without doubling your effort on test day.
Group X Syllabus – Physics (10+2 CBSE Level)
Physics for Group X tests your understanding of 10+2 concepts. Questions are conceptual as well as numerical. Here are the key topic areas:
- Physical World and Measurement — SI units, dimensions, significant figures
- Kinematics — Equations of motion, projectile motion, relative velocity
- Laws of Motion — Newton's laws, friction, circular motion
- Work, Energy and Power — Work-energy theorem, conservation laws, power
- Motion of System of Particles and Rigid Body — Centre of mass, moment of inertia, torque
- Gravitation — Kepler's laws, gravitational potential energy, satellites and escape velocity
- Properties of Bulk Matter — Elasticity, pressure, surface tension, viscosity, Bernoulli's theorem
- Thermodynamics — Laws of thermodynamics, heat engines, specific heat
- Behaviour of Perfect Gas and Kinetic Theory — Ideal gas equation, kinetic energy, mean free path
- Oscillations and Waves — SHM, sound waves, Doppler effect
- Electrostatics — Coulomb's law, electric field, potential, capacitors
- Current Electricity — Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, Wheatstone bridge, potentiometer
- Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism — Biot-Savart law, Ampere's law, solenoid, Earth's magnetism
- Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents — Faraday's law, Lenz's law, LCR circuits, transformers
- Electromagnetic Waves — Nature, spectrum, uses of each band
- Optics — Reflection, refraction, lenses, mirrors, wave optics, interference, diffraction
- Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation — Photoelectric effect, de Broglie wavelength
- Atoms and Nuclei — Bohr model, radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion
- Electronic Devices — Semiconductors, p-n junction, diodes, transistors, logic gates
High-weight areas based on previous Agniveer Vayu papers: Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Optics, and Mechanics (Laws of Motion + Kinematics) together account for approximately 60% of the Physics questions. Focus these first.
Group X Syllabus – Mathematics (10+2 CBSE Level)
- Sets, Relations and Functions — Types of sets, domain/range, composition
- Trigonometric Functions — Values, identities, inverse trigonometry
- Algebra — Complex numbers, quadratic equations, sequences and series (AP/GP), permutations and combinations, binomial theorem
- Coordinate Geometry — Straight lines, circles, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola — standard forms and properties
- Calculus — Limits, continuity, derivatives (all standard rules), application of derivatives (maxima/minima, tangents), integration (substitution, partial fractions, by parts), definite integrals, area under curves, differential equations
- Vectors and 3D Geometry — Dot and cross product, direction cosines, line and plane equations in 3D
- Linear Programming — Graphical method, feasible region
- Probability and Statistics — Mean, variance, standard deviation, Bayes' theorem, probability distributions
- Matrices and Determinants — Types, operations, adjoint, inverse, Cramer's rule
Calculus (derivatives + integration) is consistently the heaviest topic in the Math paper. If you have limited time, master differentiation and integration first, then tackle Algebra and Coordinate Geometry.
English Syllabus – Group X and Group Y
English is tested in both Group X and Group Y. The level is 10+2 standard. Topics covered:
- Comprehension Passage — Short passage followed by 3–4 questions testing inference and vocabulary
- Grammar — Tenses, active/passive voice, direct/indirect speech, articles, prepositions, conjunctions, modals
- Vocabulary — Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases
- Error Spotting — Sentences with grammatical errors to be identified
- Fill in the Blanks — Appropriate words/phrases based on context
- Sentence Rearrangement — Jumbled sentences to be arranged in logical order
- Cloze Test — Paragraph with blanks, choose appropriate words
For Group Y candidates, English carries more weight relative to total marks since there are only two sections (English + RAGA). A strong English score is non-negotiable for Group Y qualification.
RAGA Syllabus – Reasoning and General Awareness
RAGA stands for Reasoning And General Awareness. It is tested in both Group X and Group Y. RAGA has two parts: Reasoning and General Awareness (GK).
Reasoning Topics
- Numerical Series — Find the missing or wrong number in a sequence
- Distance and Direction — Movement-based problems; find final position or distance
- Analogy — Word-based, number-based, and letter-based analogies
- Coding-Decoding — Letter shifts, number codes, symbol codes
- Blood Relations — Family tree problems; 3–4 generation relationships
- Odd One Out / Classification
- Ranking and Arrangement — Linear and circular seating
- Venn Diagrams — Relationship between groups
- Mirror and Water Images
- Paper Folding and Cutting
General Awareness Topics
- Current Affairs — Last 12 months: national events, appointments, awards, summits, schemes
- Science GK — Everyday science, inventions, scientific laws (non-technical level)
- History — Ancient India, Medieval India, Freedom Struggle, Modern India post-1947
- Geography — Physical geography of India, rivers, mountains, climate, resources; World geography basics
- Indian Polity — Constitution, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Parliament, Judiciary, elections
- Indian Economy — Five-year plans, budget basics, banking system, inflation concepts
- Sports — Major tournaments, Indian achievements, recent medal winners
- Defence and Military — Indian Air Force history, aircraft, ranks, major exercises, Defence Ministry schemes
Current Affairs and Defence/Military GK carry significant weight in RAGA. Candidates who subscribe to a monthly current affairs capsule (PIB, Adda247 free PDF, or Vajirao & Reddy monthly digest) and read about IAF history specifically tend to score better here.
👉 IAF Agniveer Vayu Eligibility 2026 — Age limits, education requirements, medical standards and physical criteria for Intake 02/2027.
Phase 2: Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
Phase 2 is held at an Air Force Station. Only candidates who qualify Phase 1 (CBT) are called for Phase 2. Phase 2 consists of three stages: Physical Fitness Test (PFT), Medical Examination, and Document Verification. All three must be cleared to be eligible for final merit listing.
PFT Standards (Official)
| Event | Qualifying Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.6 km Run | Within 7 minutes | Timed individually; must complete the distance within 7 min |
| Push-Ups | 10 push-ups | Must complete minimum 10 in one set |
| Sit-Ups | 10 sit-ups | Must complete minimum 10 in one set |
Source: official agnipathvayu.cdac.in. The 1.6 km run within 7 minutes is roughly a pace of 4:22/km. If you currently run at 5:00/km pace, you need to build speed over 6–8 weeks of consistent interval training. A 7-minute 1.6 km is achievable for most healthy 17–21 year olds with 8 weeks of dedicated preparation. The push-ups and sit-ups minimums are low — focus your training time on the run.
Medical Examination
The medical exam at Phase 2 tests vision, hearing, height, weight, and general health. Key medical standards (from the official notification):
- Height: Minimum 152.5 cm (all trades)
- Vision: 6/6 in better eye, 6/9 in worse eye without glasses — check eligibility article for full details; some trades have relaxed vision standards
- Colour vision: CP-III (colour perception) for most Group Y trades; CP-I for some Group X technical trades
- Hearing: Normal hearing in both ears
- Chest: No minimum, but must be proportionate; expansion of at least 5 cm required
- No history of significant medical conditions, tattoos (on face/neck/hand) are disqualifying per IAF policy
Preparation Strategy
Group X Candidates (60-minute paper)
You have 60 minutes for Physics + Math + English + RAGA. Time allocation matters. A practical split: Physics — 18 minutes (attempt 15–18 questions), Math — 18 minutes (12–15 questions), English — 10 minutes (10–12 questions), RAGA — 14 minutes (10–12 questions). This is not rigid — adjust based on where you are stronger. The key discipline: never spend more than 90 seconds on a single question in Physics or Math. If a question requires more, skip and return.
Physics and Math combined account for roughly half your marks in Group X. A student who finishes 10+2 PCM with 70%+ board scores has the right knowledge base — the gap is speed and accuracy under time pressure. Practice timed mock tests from Week 3 onwards.
Group Y Candidates (45-minute paper)
With only English and RAGA in 45 minutes, both subjects demand full preparation. RAGA's GK component is unpredictable — you can't memorise everything. Focus on building a strong Reasoning base (which is learnable) and keep current affairs updated monthly. For English, grammar rules and a 500-word vocabulary bank covers most questions.
Subject-Wise Books and Free Resources
| Subject | Recommended (Free/Low Cost) |
|---|---|
| Physics | NCERT Class 11 & 12 Physics (free PDF on ncert.nic.in); HC Verma Concepts of Physics Vol 1 & 2 — solve all "Exercises" section questions |
| Mathematics | NCERT Class 11 & 12 Maths (free PDF); RD Sharma Class 12 for Calculus practice; Khan Academy (free, covers all 10+2 topics in video format) |
| English | Wren and Martin High School Grammar (available in libraries); BBC Learning English online (free); previous year Agniveer Vayu English papers |
| Reasoning (RAGA) | RS Aggarwal Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning; free PDFs from Testbook or Adda247 for Agniveer-specific reasoning sets |
| GK/Current Affairs (RAGA) | PIB (pib.gov.in) — free; Drishti IAS monthly current affairs PDF (free download); Lucent's GK for static topics (₹200–₹250) |
| PFT Training | No cost required — running shoes, a track or road. YouTube channels like "Army Fitness India" for push-up/sit-up technique correction |
12-Week Preparation Plan
Weeks 1–4 (Foundation): Complete NCERT Physics Chapters 1–10 (Class 11) + NCERT Maths Chapters 1–8. Start Reasoning from RS Aggarwal — 30 questions per day. Run 1.6 km every morning, recording your time each day.
Weeks 5–8 (Core topics): NCERT Physics Chapters 11–20 (Class 12: Electrostatics through Optics). NCERT Maths Chapters 9–16 (Calculus + Vectors). English — 2 comprehension passages per day. RAGA GK — 15 static facts per day from Lucent's. Aim to reach 1.6 km in 7:30 by end of Week 8.
Weeks 9–12 (Mock tests + revision): One full mock test every 2 days. Review errors systematically — don't just mark wrong answers, identify why the error occurred. Update current affairs weekly. Push-ups and sit-ups: 3 sets of 15 daily. Reach 1.6 km within 7 minutes by Week 11.
Previous Year Paper Analysis (Key Observations)
Based on available previous year Agniveer Vayu question paper analysis from easetolearn.com and Adda247:
- Physics: Electrostatics and Current Electricity together account for 20–25% of Physics questions consistently across batches.
- Mathematics: Integration and Differentiation are the single largest topic cluster in Math — usually 30–35% of Math questions.
- English: Reading Comprehension + Fill in the Blanks together account for about 50% of English marks. Grammar (Tenses, Voice, Speech) is the next biggest cluster.
- RAGA Reasoning: Numerical Series and Coding-Decoding are the most frequently appearing Reasoning question types.
- RAGA GK: Defence and current affairs questions have increased in recent intakes — IAF-specific GK (aircraft names, recent IAF exercises, IAF commands) appears in most papers.
👉 IAF Agniveer Vayu Previous Year Papers 2026 — Download practice sets, section-wise questions, and answer keys for Intake 02/2027 preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there negative marking in the Agniveer Vayu Phase 1 exam?
Yes, there is negative marking. The exact fraction per wrong answer is specified in the official notification for each intake. Avoid random guessing — only attempt questions where you can eliminate at least two options.
Q: Can I apply for both Group X and Group Y?
Yes. Applying for both groups means you appear in an 85-minute combined paper. Your score is evaluated separately for each group's merit list. This is advisable for candidates with a Science/PCM background — it gives two chances to qualify.
Q: What is the passing mark for each subject in Group X?
You must qualify separately in each subject (Physics, Math, English, RAGA) — there is no aggregate pass. The minimum qualifying marks per subject are set by IAF and announced in the official notification. Typically each section has a qualifying threshold that candidates must clear independently.
Q: What is the 1.6 km run timing for Agniveer Vayu Phase 2?
The official qualifying time is within 7 minutes for 1.6 km. This is the standard as per the official agnipathvayu.cdac.in site. There is no separate timing for different categories — all Agniveer Vayu candidates must complete 1.6 km within 7 minutes.
Q: Is the Agniveer Vayu exam in Hindi or English?
The online CBT is conducted in English. The English, Physics, and Mathematics papers are in English only. RAGA questions may have bilingual (Hindi + English) presentation in some centres — check the admit card and official instructions for your specific test centre.
Q: How long does Phase 2 typically take?
Phase 2 is usually a 1–2 day process at the Air Force Station. Day 1 covers PFT and initial medical screening. Day 2 (or later the same day) covers detailed medical examination and document verification. You are informed of your Phase 2 date and venue when your Phase 1 result is declared.
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