The Union Cabinet has approved a two-year extension of service for Agniveers completing their initial four-year tenure under the Agnipath recruitment scheme, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani announced on Wednesday. The decision will allow eligible personnel to continue serving for an additional two years and subsequently apply for absorption into the regular armed forces, subject to prescribed selection criteria.The announcement comes just weeks before the first batch of Agniveers was scheduled to begin exiting the armed forces in a phased manner from mid-November. More than 18,300 personnel were expected to complete their four-year engagement by December 31, 2026.The revised arrangement gives the remaining 75% of Agniveers an opportunity to extend their engagement beyond the original four-year term, marking a change in the retention framework introduced under the Agnipath scheme.
Agniveers to receive two-year extension after four-year tenure
Announcing the decision at a media briefing, CDS General NS Raja Subramani said the armed forces had assessed the performance of Agniveers during their four years of service and received positive feedback.Under the original framework, only 25% of each batch was eligible for retention in the regular cadre, while the remaining 75% were required to leave after completing their four-year engagement.The revised arrangement provides the remaining personnel with an offer of a further two-year engagement. Their remuneration during the extended period will be higher than their existing pay, according to the CDS.Subramani said that after completing the additional two years, Agniveers willing to continue in the armed forces would be considered for enrolment as regular personnel. Their selection, however, will depend on objective criteria laid down by the services.
Higher remuneration during extended service
The two-year extension will also come with an increase in remuneration. Agniveers accepting the additional engagement period will receive higher emoluments than those paid during their initial four-year tenure.The enhanced pay structure is expected to apply during the extended period. However, the detailed financial provisions and implementation arrangements will be governed by the revised service framework.The CDS clarified that the additional engagement would not automatically guarantee permanent enrolment. Agniveers will have to meet the objective selection requirements before being considered for regular service.
Rajnath Singh calls extension a ‘Second Tour of Duty’
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the Cabinet’s decision and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the revised arrangement. He described the additional two-year engagement as a ‘Second Tour of Duty’.Singh said the decision was part of the government’s broader efforts to reform the armed forces and prepare them for emerging security challenges.He added that the revised arrangement would create an opportunity for willing Agniveers to enter the regular armed forces after completing four or six years of service, provided they meet the prescribed selection criteria.The defence minister also said the reforms were intended to build a younger, fitter and technologically equipped military capable of responding to the changing nature of warfare.
What is the Agnipath scheme?
The Agnipath recruitment scheme was introduced by the Centre in June 2022 to induct young personnel into the Army, Navy and Air Force for a fixed period of four years. Recruits selected under the scheme are known as Agniveers.Under the original recruitment framework, 25% of Agniveers were eligible for enrollment into the regular cadre based on merit and organisational requirements. Those selected could subsequently serve for another 15 years, while the remaining 75% were required to leave the armed forces after completing their four-year engagement.The scheme changed the existing recruitment structure for personnel below officer rank by introducing a short-term engagement model. It also drew criticism over the limited duration of service and the employment uncertainty faced by personnel completing their tenure.The latest Cabinet decision introduces an additional two-year engagement opportunity for the 75% who would otherwise have exited after four years. It also provides them with another opportunity to seek regular enrolment after completing the extended period.
Over 18,300 Agniveers were scheduled to complete service in 2026
The decision comes at a crucial stage for the first batch recruited under the Agnipath scheme. Around 24,400 personnel were inducted across the three services during the initial recruitment cycle.According to official figures cited in reports, the first batch included approximately 19,000 Agniveers in the Army, 2,850 in the Indian Air Force and 2,550 in the Indian Navy.Of these, more than 18,300 personnel were scheduled to complete their four-year tenure and leave the armed forces by December 31, 2026. The revised arrangement will give those eligible for the additional engagement period an opportunity to continue serving rather than exit immediately after their initial contract.The implementation of the revised framework and the selection criteria for subsequent regular enrolment will determine how the extended service arrangement translates into long-term career opportunities for Agniveers.
