The Central Govt has decided to extend the service period of Agniveers by two years, giving those who are not selected for permanent recruitment another chance to continue in the Armed Forces. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General N. S. Raja Subramani announced the decision on Wednesday, 4 November. Under the revised arrangement, the 75% of Agniveers who would normally leave after four years will be able to serve for another two years, taking their total tenure to six years.
Addressing a press conference, General Subramani said the first batch of Agniveers was nearing the end of its four-year service period. Feedback on their performance has been positive so far. He said the Armed Forces had recommended extending their tenure, and the Union Cabinet had accepted the proposal.
The CDS said discussions on the extension had been going on for the past three to four months. He pointed out that the Agnipath scheme was always meant to be reviewed from time to time. The latest decision, he explained, was taken after considering the experience gained since the scheme was introduced and the requirements of the Armed Forces.
Under the original arrangement, only 25% of Agniveers could be retained for permanent service after completing four years. The remaining 75% were required to leave. The extension changes this for those who are not selected in the first round, as they will now get two more years to serve and prove themselves.
Once they complete six years, their performance will be reviewed again. Those meeting the required standards may be considered for permanent recruitment. General Subramani, however, clarified that the additional service period does not guarantee a permanent position. The final decision will depend on individual performance and the selection process followed by the Armed Forces.
Defence Ministry sources said the extension would help the military retain trained personnel for a longer period. Agniveers spend considerable time learning military duties and gaining practical experience during their initial service. Allowing them to continue for another two years would give the Armed Forces more time to use that experience.
At the same time, the government intends to maintain the original objective of bringing younger personnel into military service. Officials believe the revised arrangement would help maintain a balance between experienced soldiers and new recruits.
The Central Govt has also indicated that Agniveers who have already completed their four-year tenure and left the service may be given an opportunity to return for another two years, subject to the conditions of the revised arrangement.
The Agnipath scheme was launched in 2022 to recruit young people into the Armed Forces for four years. Around 18,000 Agniveers from the first batch are now approaching the end of their service period.
The announcement comes ahead of their scheduled discharge. For those who were expecting to leave after four years, the decision means they can remain in service for another two years and have their performance considered once again for permanent recruitment.