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Agniveer (Agnipath Scheme) Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge Syllabus

The Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge syllabus for Agniveer (Agnipath Scheme) in full: 4 chapters, 15 topics and 10 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge flashcards with answers.

4Chapters
15Topics
10Sub-topics
51Flashcards

Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge syllabus: all 4 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Indian Armed Forces Structure

     3 topics
    • Indian Army organisation
      • Commands, corps and regiments
      • Ranks and insignia of the Army
    • Indian Navy organisation
      • Naval commands and fleets
      • Ranks of the Navy
    • Indian Air Force organisation
      • Air commands
      • Ranks of the Air Force

  2. Agnipath Scheme Fundamentals

     4 topics
    • Objectives and overview of the scheme
    • Eligibility and four-year service term
      • Age, education and medical criteria
      • Enrolment as Agniveer
    • Pay, allowances and Seva Nidhi package
    • Retention, exit and post-service opportunities

  3. Weapons, Equipment and Operations

     4 topics
    • Major weapons and platforms of the forces
    • Indian missiles and defence programmes
    • Important wars and military operations of India
    • Joint exercises and peacekeeping missions

  4. National Security and Defence Organisations

     4 topics
    • Ministry of Defence and key institutions
    • DRDO, HAL and defence PSUs
    • Gallantry awards and decorations
      • Param Vir Chakra and wartime awards
      • Peacetime gallantry awards
    • Paramilitary and central armed police forces

Agniveer (Agnipath Scheme) Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge flashcards — 51 questions with answers

  1. What is the Agnipath Scheme and what are its enrolled soldiers called?

    Agnipath is a 2022 tour-of-duty recruitment scheme for the Indian Armed Forces enrolling youth for a four-year term; the recruits are called Agniveers.

  2. When was the Agnipath Scheme announced and when did it come into effect?

    It was announced on 14 June 2022 and implemented for recruitment that began later in 2022.

  3. State the main objectives of the Agnipath Scheme.

    To create a younger, fitter, more diverse profile of the armed forces; reduce the average age of personnel (from about 32 to around 26); infuse new technical skills; and provide a disciplined, skilled youth to society after service.

  4. What is the age eligibility for enrolment as an Agniveer?

    Candidates must be between 17.5 and 21 years of age (a one-time upper-age relaxation to 23 years was given for the first recruitment cycle in 2022).

  5. What is the educational qualification typically required for Agniveer (General Duty) entry?

    Class 10 (Matriculation) pass for General Duty, with higher qualifications such as Class 12 required for technical and clerical/store-keeper trades.

  6. How long is the engagement term of an Agniveer and what happens at its end?

    The term is four years (including training); at the end, up to 25% of each batch may be selected for permanent enrolment in the regular cadre, while the rest are released.

  7. What proportion of Agniveers can be retained in the regular armed forces after four years?

    Up to 25% of each Agniveer batch may be selected, on merit, for permanent enrolment for a full term.

  8. What is the Seva Nidhi package under the Agnipath Scheme?

    It is a lump-sum exit benefit: the Agniveer contributes 30% of monthly salary to a Seva Nidhi fund, the government matches it, and on exit after four years the Agniveer receives about Rs 11.71 lakh (including interest), which is tax-free.

  9. What is the monthly salary progression of an Agniveer over the four years?

    It starts at about Rs 30,000 in the first year and rises to roughly Rs 40,000 by the fourth year (in-hand being lower after the 30% Seva Nidhi contribution).

  10. Are Agniveers entitled to pension or gratuity after the four-year term?

    No. Agniveers who are not retained do not get pension or gratuity; they receive the lump-sum Seva Nidhi package and a skill certificate instead.

  11. What life-insurance (non-contributory) cover is provided to an Agniveer during service?

    A non-contributory life insurance cover of Rs 48 lakh for the duration of the four-year engagement.

  12. What compensation is paid for death of an Agniveer in the line of duty?

    Around Rs 1 crore including insurance, ex-gratia, Seva Nidhi and pay for the unserved period, paid to the next of kin.

  13. Name three post-service opportunities or reservations offered to released Agniveers ('Agniveer veterans').

    Reservation in CAPFs/Assam Rifles and many state police forces (10%), priority in defence PSUs and the merchant navy, skill certificates and bank-loan facilities for entrepreneurship.

  14. What is the supreme command structure head of the Indian Armed Forces, and who is the operational head of each service?

    The President of India is the Supreme Commander; each service is operationally headed by its Chief of Staff — Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) and Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).

  15. What is the role of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) created in 2019?

    The CDS is the single-point military adviser to the government, heads the Department of Military Affairs, and is tasked with promoting jointness and integration among the three services. India's first CDS was General Bipin Rawat.

  16. List the operational commands of the Indian Army by their general regional structure.

    The Army has seven commands: Northern, Western, South Western, Southern, Central, Eastern, and the training Army Training Command (ARTRAC).

  17. What is the highest rank in the Indian Army and which officers have held it?

    Field Marshal (a ceremonial five-star rank); held by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa.

  18. Arrange the Indian Army commissioned officer ranks from Lieutenant up to General.

    Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier, Major General, Lieutenant General, General.

  19. What is a regiment in the Indian Army and name three famous infantry regiments.

    A regiment is the basic infantry organisational and traditional unit. Examples: the Gorkha Rifles, the Sikh Regiment, the Rajput Regiment, the Maratha Light Infantry, and the Parachute Regiment.

  20. How is the Indian Navy organised by commands?

    Three commands: Western Naval Command (Mumbai), Eastern Naval Command (Visakhapatnam), and Southern Naval Command (Kochi, the training command).

Show the other 31 Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge flashcards

  1. What are the three operational commands of the Indian Air Force besides its functional commands?

    The IAF has five operational commands — Western, Eastern, Central, South Western, and Southern Air Commands — plus Training Command and Maintenance Command.

  2. What is the highest rank in the Indian Air Force and who has held it?

    Marshal of the Indian Air Force (five-star rank); held only by Arjan Singh.

  3. What is the highest rank in the Indian Navy and what is its title?

    Admiral of the Fleet is the ceremonial five-star rank; the serving head holds the rank of Admiral (four-star).

  4. Name India's aircraft carriers in service.

    INS Vikramaditya (Russian-origin, ex-Admiral Gorshkov) and INS Vikrant (IAC-1, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, commissioned 2022).

  5. What is the main battle tank fielded by the Indian Army that was indigenously developed by DRDO?

    The Arjun MBT (Main Battle Tank); the Army also operates the T-90 Bhishma and T-72 Ajeya tanks of Russian origin.

  6. Which is the indigenous light combat aircraft of the Indian Air Force?

    The HAL Tejas (LCA - Light Combat Aircraft), developed by HAL/ADA.

  7. Name the multirole fighter aircraft inducted by the IAF from France in 2020.

    The Dassault Rafale.

  8. What is the BrahMos and what is special about it?

    BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India (DRDO) and Russia; it is one of the world's fastest cruise missiles and can be launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air platforms.

  9. Classify India's Agni missile series by role.

    Agni is a family of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles: Agni-I to Agni-V/VI range from medium-range to intercontinental ballistic missiles (Agni-V being ICBM-class, over 5,000 km).

  10. What is the Prithvi missile?

    Prithvi is India's first indigenously developed short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, part of the IGMDP.

  11. What was the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and who led it?

    A DRDO programme (1983) to develop five missile systems — Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Trishul and Nag — led by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

  12. What is the Akash missile system?

    Akash is an indigenous medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by DRDO for air defence.

  13. What is the Nag missile?

    Nag is an indigenous third-generation 'fire-and-forget' anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by DRDO.

  14. What does DRDO stand for and what is its function?

    Defence Research and Development Organisation — the premier agency under the Ministry of Defence responsible for the military's research and development of weapons, missiles and technologies. It was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in New Delhi.

  15. What does HAL stand for and what does it produce?

    Hindustan Aeronautics Limited — a defence PSU that designs and manufactures aircraft, helicopters and aero-engines (e.g., Tejas, Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter).

  16. Name three Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) of India besides HAL.

    Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Garden Reach Shipbuilders, and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).

  17. Under which ministry do the armed forces and DRDO function, and what are its key departments?

    The Ministry of Defence (MoD); its main departments include the Department of Defence, Department of Military Affairs (headed by CDS), Department of Defence Production, and Department of Defence Research & Development (DRDO).

  18. Name the four major wars India fought with Pakistan.

    The wars of 1947-48 (First Kashmir War), 1965, 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation War) and the 1999 Kargil War.

  19. What was the outcome and significance of the 1971 Indo-Pak war?

    India's decisive victory led to the surrender of about 93,000 Pakistani troops and the creation of Bangladesh; it is regarded as one of India's greatest military victories.

  20. What was the Kargil War (Operation Vijay) of 1999?

    A conflict in the Kargil sector of Kashmir where India recaptured high-altitude posts infiltrated by Pakistani forces; victory is commemorated as Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26 July.

  21. What was the Sino-Indian War of 1962?

    A border war between India and China, fought mainly in Aksai Chin and the North-East Frontier Agency (Arunachal), which ended in a setback for India and a Chinese-declared ceasefire.

  22. What was Operation Meghdoot (1984)?

    The Indian Army operation to seize control of the Siachen Glacier, making it the world's highest battlefield, securing key passes ahead of Pakistan.

  23. What was the 2019 Balakot operation?

    An IAF air strike on a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan, carried out in response to the Pulwama attack.

  24. What is India's record in United Nations peacekeeping missions?

    India is one of the largest contributors of troops to UN peacekeeping operations, having participated in dozens of missions worldwide since the 1950s (e.g., Korea, Congo, Lebanon, South Sudan).

  25. Name important bilateral/multilateral military exercises India conducts and with whom.

    Malabar (naval, with US/Japan/Australia), Indra (with Russia), Yudh Abhyas (army, with US), Garuda (air, with France), and Hand-in-Hand (with China).

  26. What are India's gallantry awards in peacetime and wartime, ranked highest first?

    Wartime: Param Vir Chakra > Maha Vir Chakra > Vir Chakra. Peacetime: Ashoka Chakra > Kirti Chakra > Shaurya Chakra.

  27. What is the Param Vir Chakra (PVC)?

    India's highest wartime military gallantry award, given for the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy; the first recipient was Major Somnath Sharma.

  28. Which gallantry award is the highest for peacetime acts of valour?

    The Ashoka Chakra, the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra.

  29. What are the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs? Name them.

    CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), BSF (Border Security Force), CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police), SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal), and the NSG (National Security Guard).

  30. What is the difference between the Armed Forces and Paramilitary/CAPFs in India?

    The Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) are under the Ministry of Defence for external defence; CAPFs/paramilitary forces are under the Ministry of Home Affairs for internal security and border guarding. The Assam Rifles is jointly administered (MHA control, Army operational command).

  31. Which border force guards the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, and which guards the India-China border?

    The Border Security Force (BSF) guards the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders; the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) guards the India-China border.

Agniveer (Agnipath Scheme) Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge FAQ

What is in the Agniveer (Agnipath Scheme) Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge syllabus?

Agniveer (Agnipath Scheme) Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge is split into 4 chapters: Indian Armed Forces Structure, Agnipath Scheme Fundamentals, Weapons, Equipment and Operations and National Security and Defence Organisations. Together they contain 15 topics and 10 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in Agniveer (Agnipath Scheme) Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge?

4 chapters, containing 15 topics and 10 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Agnipath Scheme Fundamentals, with 4 topics.

Are there flashcards for Agniveer (Agnipath Scheme) Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge?

Yes — a 51-card Defence Awareness and Armed Forces Knowledge deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.