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Military service age and obligation
India — 21 years of data
Historical Values
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) |
| 2006 | 16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) |
| 2007 | 16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) |
| 2008 | 16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women officers allowed in noncombat roles only (2008) |
| 2009 | 16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women officers allowed in noncombat roles only (2008) |
| 2010 | 17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2010) |
| 2011 | 17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2010) |
| 2012 | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2011) |
| 2013 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2012) |
| 2014 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2012) |
| 2015 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2012) |
| 2016 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as pilots, and will soon be allowed in all combat roles (2016) |
| 2017 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as pilots, and will soon be allowed in all combat roles (2016) |
| 2018 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as pilots, and will soon be allowed in all combat roles (2016) |
| 2019 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as pilots, and under consideration for Army combat roles (2019) |
| 2020 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as pilots, and under consideration for Army combat roles (2019) |
| 2021 | 16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as Air Force pilots, and under consideration for Army and Navy combat roles (currently can fly naval reconnaissance aircraft) (2021) |
| 2022 | ages vary by service, but generally 16.5-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2022) note 1: in 2022, the Indian Government announced that it would begin recruiting 46,000 men aged 17.5-21 annually to serve on 4-year contracts under a process called the Agnipath scheme; at the end of their tenure, 25% would be retained for longer terms of service, while the remainder would be forced to leave the military, although some of those leaving would be eligib |
| 2023 | ages vary by service, but generally 16.5-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023) note 1: in 2022, the Indian Government announced that it would begin recruiting 46,000 men aged 17.5-21 annually to serve on 4-year contracts under a process called the Agnipath scheme; at the end of their tenure, 25% would be retained for longer terms of service, while the remainder would be forced to leave the military, although some of those leaving would be eligib |
| 2024 | ages vary by service, but generally 16.5-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023) note 1: in 2022, the Indian Government began recruiting men aged 17.5-21 annually to serve on 4-year contracts under a process called the Agnipath scheme; at the end of their tenure, 25% would be retained for longer terms of service, while the remainder would be forced to leave the military, although some of those leaving would be eligible to serve in the Coast Guard, |
| 2025 | ages vary by branch of service and positions, but generally 17-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025) note 1: in 2022, the Indian Government began recruiting men aged 17.5-21 annually to serve on 4-year contracts; at the end of their tenure, 25% would be retained for longer terms of service, while the remainder would be forced to leave the military, although some of those leaving would be eligible to serve in the Coast Guard, the Merchant Navy, c |