Indian Coast Guard Navik
Sailor-rank (enrolled personnel) entry into the Indian Coast Guard as Navik (General Duty) or Navik (Domestic Branch), with basic pay of ₹21,700 (Pay Level 3) plus allowances; the same CGEPT notification also covers the diploma-based Yantrik (technical) post.
Eligibility
Unmarried male Indian citizens aged 18–22 years (a specific date-of-birth window is given per batch; women are currently inducted into the Coast Guard only as officers). Navik (General Duty) requires Class 12 with Mathematics and Physics from a COBSE-recognised board; Navik (Domestic Branch) requires Class 10. Height, chest and vision standards apply, with relaxations notified for some regions and categories.
Age limit: 18–22 years
Exam pattern
Four-stage selection. Stage I is a computer-based test: Section I (60 questions, 45 minutes, Class 10-level Maths, Science, English, Reasoning and GK) for all posts; General Duty candidates also sit Section II (50 questions, 30 minutes, Class 12 Maths and Physics). There is no negative marking, but each section has its own pass mark. Stage II is the Physical Fitness Test (1.6 km run in 7 minutes, 20 squat-ups, 10 push-ups) plus document verification and initial medicals; Stage III is the final medical at INS Chilka; Stage IV is training enrolment. Merit is drawn all-India from Stage I scores.
Syllabus at a glance
Section I covers Class 10 mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, mensuration), general science, English grammar and comprehension, logical reasoning and general awareness. Section II (General Duty only) is Class 12 Physics (mechanics, electricity, waves, modern physics) and Mathematics (algebra, trigonometry, calculus basics, probability).
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CGEPT 01/2027 & 02/2027 batch notification | Jul–Aug 2026 (expected; the previous combined notification came in Jun 2025) | expected |
| Online application window (typically ~2 weeks from notification) | Jul–Sep 2026 (expected) | expected |
| Stage I computer-based test | Sep–Nov 2026 (expected, per last cycle's schedule) | expected |
| Stage II (PFT, document verification, initial medicals) | Late 2026 – early 2027 | tba |
| Basic training commences at INS Chilka (01/2027 batch, then 02/2027) | Feb 2027 and Jul 2027 (expected) | tba |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Indian Coast Guard Navik (GD) Recruitment Exam Guide — Arihant Experts
- NCERT Class 11–12 Physics and Mathematics textbooks
- Lucent's General Knowledge — Dr Binay Karna and team
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
- Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi
How toppers play it
- There is no negative marking in the CGEPT — answer every single question; an educated guess has strictly positive expected value.
- Each section carries its own pass mark, so General Duty candidates cannot bank everything on Section I — Class 12 Physics and Maths (Section II) must be revised from NCERT cover to cover.
- Shortlisting for Stage II is by all-India merit at a multiple of the vacancies, so aim well above the bare pass marks — cutoffs run far higher than the qualifying scores.
- Start PFT conditioning early: 1.6 km in 7 minutes plus 20 squat-ups and 10 push-ups back-to-back eliminates unprepared candidates regardless of written score.
- Use the official mock tests on the CGEPT portal to rehearse the section timers (45 + 30 minutes), and keep education, domicile and category documents ready — Stage II document verification is strict.