Cabinet approves two-year service extension for Agniveers
The decision allows 75 per cent of Agniveers to serve an additional two years after their initial four-year term.
The Union Cabinet has approved a two-year service extension for Agniveers, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani announced on Wednesday, according to the Hindustan Times.
Under the revised arrangement, 25 per cent of those finishing their first four years will be absorbed into the regular armed forces. The remaining 75 per cent will be granted a second engagement period of two years, the CDS said.
General Subramani stated that after this extended period, any willing Agniveer will be considered for enrolment in the Armed Forces based on objective selection criteria. He described the decision as a "significant day" for the Indian Defence Forces.
The Agnipath recruitment model was introduced in June 2022 to maintain a young and combat-ready military. The scheme originally required soldiers to serve a four-year term, with only a quarter of them eligible for regular service.
The announcement comes as the first batch of Agniveers prepares to complete their initial tenure. Over 18,300 Agniveers were previously scheduled to exit the armed forces by December 31.
The three services have reported positive feedback regarding the performance of Agniveers. Currently, the army has approximately 270,000 Agniveers, while the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the navy have around 27,000 and 21,000 respectively.