The Indian Coast Guard, an Armed Force of the Union under the Ministry of Defence, recruits sailors through the Coast Guard Enrolled Personnel Test (CGEPT). Two of its three sailor entries are open to candidates whose formal education ended at Class 10.
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Navik (Domestic Branch) requires Class 10 alone. Yantrik requires Class 10 together with an engineering diploma — and carries a starting basic of ₹29,200 at Pay Level-5, plus a dedicated Yantrik pay of ₹6,200 per month. That combination makes Yantrik one of the highest-paying entry-level posts in India available without a Class 12 certificate.
Navik (General Duty), by contrast, requires Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics and falls outside the scope of this guide.
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This article sets out the eligibility, compensation, four-stage selection process and application procedure for Navik (DB) and Yantrik.
Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Defence |
| Entry Scheme | Coast Guard Enrolled Personnel Test (CGEPT) |
| Posts covered | Navik (Domestic Branch), Yantrik |
| Navik (DB) Qualification | Class 10 from a COBSE-recognised board |
| Yantrik Qualification | Class 10 + 3 or 4-year AICTE-approved Diploma in Electrical / Mechanical / Electronics / Telecommunication (Radio/Power) Engineering |
| Age | 18 to 22 years |
| Gender | Male candidates only for sailor entries |
| Navik (DB) Pay | ₹21,700 basic, Pay Level-3 |
| Yantrik Pay | ₹29,200 basic, Pay Level-5, plus Yantrik pay ₹6,200 |
| Application Fee | ₹300 for General/OBC/EWS |
| Training | INS Chilka, Odisha |
| Portal | Official Coast Guard recruitment portal |
1. The Two Posts
Navik (Domestic Branch)
Domestic Branch sailors perform stewarding, catering and cooking duties aboard ships and at shore establishments. It is a logistics and hospitality role within an armed force.
Qualification: Class 10 pass from an education board recognised by the Council of Boards for School Education (COBSE).
That is the entire academic requirement. No percentage stipulation, no subject requirement, no Class 12.
Yantrik
Yantriks serve aboard ships and aircraft in the branch allocated to them — Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics/Telecommunication (Radio/Power). They are responsible for maintaining all machinery and equipment fitted on board ships, aircraft and stations, and for maintaining and accounting for the requisite level of spares.
Qualification — two routes:
- Class 10 from a COBSE-recognised board, and a Diploma in Electrical / Mechanical / Electronics / Telecommunication (Radio/Power) Engineering of three or four years duration, approved by AICTE; or
- Class 10 and Class 12 from a COBSE-recognised board, and a two or three-year AICTE-approved Diploma in the aforementioned streams
The first route is the significant one. A candidate who completed Class 10 and went directly into a three-year polytechnic diploma — without ever sitting Class 12 — is fully eligible for Yantrik, at Pay Level-5.
Why the Distinction Matters
| Post | Qualification | Basic Pay | Pay Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navik (Domestic Branch) | Class 10 | ₹21,700 | Level-3 |
| Navik (General Duty) | Class 12 with Physics & Maths | ₹21,700 | Level-3 |
| Yantrik | Class 10 + Diploma | ₹29,200 + ₹6,200 Yantrik pay | Level-5 |
Yantrik pays substantially more than Navik (General Duty) despite not requiring Class 12. The diploma, not the Class 12 certificate, is what lifts the pay level. For a Class 10 candidate deciding what to study next, a three-year AICTE-approved engineering diploma is worth considerably more than an academic Class 12.
2. Eligibility Conditions
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Male Indian citizen |
| Age | 18 to 22 years |
| SC/ST relaxation | 5 years, applicable only where posts are reserved for them |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) relaxation | 3 years, applicable only where posts are reserved for them |
| EWS | No age relaxation |
| Gender | Male only for Navik and Yantrik entries |
Indicative date-of-birth windows from a recent cycle: Yantrik (01/26 batch) — born between 1 March 2004 and 1 March 2008; Navik (DB) (02/26 batch) — born between 1 August 2004 and 1 August 2008. Windows are batch-specific and set afresh in each notification.
On women’s entry: sailor entries — Navik and Yantrik — are open to male candidates only. Women may join the Coast Guard as Assistant Commandant (General Duty – Women Short Service Appointment) and through certain Law and Technical entries, which are officer-grade posts requiring a bachelor’s degree.
Vacancies for Navik are distributed zone-wise, and a domicile certificate is required to be considered against the respective zone.
A recent cycle notified 630 vacancies across Navik (GD), Navik (DB) and Yantrik for the CGEPT 01/2026 and 02/2026 batches combined.
3. Compensation
Navik (Domestic Branch)
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹21,700, Pay Level-3 |
| Plus | Dearness Allowance and allowances based on nature of duty and place of posting |
| Approximate in-hand | ₹35,000 – ₹40,000, including DA and hardship allowance |
Yantrik
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹29,200, Pay Level-5 |
| Yantrik Pay | ₹6,200 per month, in addition |
| Plus | Dearness Allowance and allowances based on nature of duty and place of posting |
Promotion
A Navik may be promoted up to the rank of Pradhan Adhikari, carrying a pay scale of ₹47,600 at Pay Level-8, with Dearness Allowance.
Benefits in Kind
Beyond pay and allowances, sailors are entitled to:
- Free ration
- Free clothing
- Free medical treatment
- Government accommodation for self and family at a nominal rate
- Canteen facilities
- Various loan facilities
These are material to the real value of the post. With ration, clothing, medical treatment and near-free accommodation provided, a Navik’s disposable income substantially exceeds that of a civilian earning the same nominal figure while paying rent, food and medical costs from salary.
4. Selection Process
Selection is based on an All India Order of Merit determined by performance across four stages.
Stage I — Computer Based Examination
- Objective type with four options per question
- Sections vary by post — Yantrik (Mechanical), for example, takes Section I + V
- Passing each section separately is compulsory. A strong aggregate does not compensate for failing a single section.
- Reported as carrying no negative marking for Navik and Yantrik. Candidates should confirm the position against the current notification, as reports have varied.
- Syllabus drawn from Class 10 and 12 level: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and Current Affairs. For Yantrik, additionally Electrical, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering subjects.
Shortlisting for the examination is based on marks obtained in Class 10 and Class 12. Board marks therefore matter before the examination is even taken.
Stage II — Assessment Test, PFT, Document Verification and Medical
- Assessment Test — an OMR-based test, qualifying in nature
- Physical Fitness Test (PFT) — qualifying
- Document Verification — all originals verified against the application
- Recruitment Medical Examination
Physical Fitness Test standards:
| Event | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Running | 1.6 km in 7 minutes |
| Squats (Uthak Baithak) | 20 |
| Push-ups | 10 |
| Height | 157 cm minimum |
The PFT must be completed in one continuous sequence. There is no rest between events. Candidates should train for the sequence as a whole, not the events in isolation.
Stage III — At INS Chilka
Candidates clearing Stage-II and standing in the merit list are called to INS Chilka, Odisha, for:
- Final Document Verification
- Pre-Enrolment Medicals
- Submission of original documents, police verification and associated forms
Stage IV — Verification of Originals
All submitted documents are verified through the respective Boards, Universities and State Governments after candidates join for training.
Basic training for all Navik and Yantrik recruits is conducted at INS Chilka, Odisha.
5. Application Procedure
- Access the official Coast Guard recruitment portal.
- Select New Registration and enter basic details — name, email ID and mobile number — to create an account. The Aadhaar number is mandatory for online registration, and the Aadhaar-linked mobile must be active to receive OTPs.
- Log in and select the post — Navik (DB) or Yantrik.
- Complete the application with personal, communication and educational particulars.
- Indicate preferences for five examination cities. The first preference must be within 30 km of the current or communication address.
- Upload:
- Scanned photograph — recent passport-size colour, 20–50 KB, JPEG
- Scanned signature — on white paper in black ink, 10–30 KB, JPEG
- Thumb impression, where required
- Pay the application fee — ₹300 for General/OBC/EWS — through the online payment gateway.
- Review using Print Preview, submit, and print the final application.
Documents Required if Shortlisted for Stage-II
For all posts:
- Class 10 mark sheet
- Class 10 certificate
- EWS / SC / ST / OBC (non-creamy layer) certificate, where applicable, in the prescribed downloadable format
- Formula for conversion of CGPA/Grade into percentage
- NOC from the organisation, where the candidate is employed by a government body
Additionally for Yantrik:
- Class 12 mark sheet and certificate
- Mark sheets of all years/semesters of the diploma
- Diploma passing certificate
- Formula for CGPA/Grade conversion for Class 12, where applicable
At the Stage-I examination centre, candidates must carry a coloured printout of the e-admit card, a photo ID card as declared in the application, and the category certificate where applicable.
On the CGPA conversion formula: this is a routinely overlooked requirement. Where a board issues grades rather than marks, the official conversion formula must be produced. Candidates should obtain it from their board well in advance rather than during the document verification window.
6. Assessment
Navik (Domestic Branch) is one of the few Armed Force of the Union entries available on a Class 10 qualification alone, with no percentage or subject condition. At ₹21,700 basic with an approximate in-hand of ₹35,000 – ₹40,000 including DA and hardship allowance, plus free ration, clothing, medical treatment and nominal-rate family accommodation, and promotion available to Pradhan Adhikari at Pay Level-8, it compares favourably with any civilian option at that qualification level.
Yantrik is the stronger proposition where the diploma is held. At ₹29,200 basic on Pay Level-5 plus ₹6,200 Yantrik pay, it out-pays Navik (General Duty) — which requires Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics — by a substantial margin, on a Class 10 plus diploma qualification.
The constraints are real: entries are male only; the age band of 18 to 22 is narrow, with relaxation available only where posts are reserved; EWS candidates receive no age relaxation; and each examination section must be cleared separately.
Recommended approach for a Class 10 candidate: where a three or four-year AICTE-approved engineering diploma is achievable, it opens Yantrik at Level-5 — a materially better outcome than pursuing Class 12 to reach Navik (GD) at Level-3. Begin the 1.6 km run, squats and push-ups sequence training at least three months before the examination, and secure the CGPA conversion formula from the board early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can a 10th pass candidate join the Indian Coast Guard? Yes. Navik (Domestic Branch) requires Class 10 from a COBSE-recognised board, with no percentage or subject condition. Yantrik requires Class 10 together with a three or four-year AICTE-approved engineering diploma.
Q2. What is the Yantrik salary? ₹29,200 basic at Pay Level-5, plus a dedicated Yantrik pay of ₹6,200 per month, plus Dearness Allowance and allowances based on the nature of duty and place of posting.
Q3. What is the Navik (Domestic Branch) salary? ₹21,700 basic at Pay Level-3, plus DA and allowances, with an approximate monthly in-hand of ₹35,000 – ₹40,000 including hardship allowance. Free ration, clothing, medical treatment and nominal-rate accommodation are additional.
Q4. Is Navik (General Duty) open to 10th pass candidates? No. Navik (GD) requires Class 12 (10+2) with Mathematics and Physics from a COBSE-recognised board.
Q5. What is the physical fitness standard? 1.6 km run in 7 minutes, 20 squats and 10 push-ups, to be completed in one continuous sequence. Minimum height is 157 cm. The PFT is qualifying in nature.
Q6. Can women apply for Navik or Yantrik? No. Sailor entries are open to male candidates only. Women may join as Assistant Commandant (General Duty – Women Short Service Appointment) and through certain Law and Technical officer entries.
Q7. What is the age limit? 18 to 22 years, with 5 years relaxation for SC/ST and 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer) — applicable only where posts are reserved for them. EWS candidates receive no age relaxation.
Q8. Where is training conducted? All Navik and Yantrik recruits undergo basic training at INS Chilka, Odisha.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Vacancy numbers, eligibility criteria, date-of-birth windows, examination pattern, fees and physical standards are set batch-wise by the official notification and are revised periodically. Candidates must read the official notification for the relevant CGEPT batch on the Indian Coast Guard recruitment portal before applying and treat that notification as the final authority.