Union Cabinet extends Agniveer tenure by two years
The decision allows the remaining 75 per cent of Agniveers to apply for regular enrolment after an additional two-year period.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a two-year extension for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme, according to the Times of India. This move comes weeks before approximately 18,000 Agniveers were scheduled to leave the armed forces.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani stated that the first batch of Agniveers is approaching the end of its four-year term. While 25 per cent are to be enrolled into regular forces based on merit, the remaining 75 per cent will now be offered an additional two-year engagement period.
General Subramani said that after this two-year period, those willing to continue will be enrolled into the armed forces, provided they meet objective selection criteria. He noted that performance evaluations over the last four years have yielded positive feedback.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on X that the decision is a continuation of long-term structural reforms intended to create a younger and more technologically equipped military. He added that the move would allow all willing Agniveers who meet selection criteria to become regular soldiers after a total of four or six years.
The Agnipath scheme was launched on June 14, 2022, to recruit personnel for four-year terms. The decision follows criticism regarding the short engagement period, which led states such as Haryana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh to offer reservations for Agniveers in various services.