Agniveers get two-year extension; total service to stretch to six years
PTC Web Desk: Agniveers who are not absorbed into the regular cadre after their first four years will now be able to serve for two more, the armed forces announced on Wednesday. Three-fourths of such personnel will benefit from the move, bringing their total time in uniform to six years.
Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani made the announcement at a press conference. He said the first batch was close to finishing its initial engagement and that assessments of its work had been encouraging. According to him, the proposal came from the armed forces themselves and has since received Cabinet clearance.
A second chance at regular service
Once the extra two years are over, Agniveers will be evaluated again for permanent enrolment. The CDS made clear that merit and accomplishments will continue to weigh heavily in deciding who is retained. The final selection will follow the prescribed process and criteria.
Asked whether the Agnipath scheme itself might change, Subramani said its working is governed by established rules but is “not set in stone”. He indicated that the scheme would have to be examined periodically as experience accumulates.
Training beyond the physical
The CDS noted that Agniveer preparation extends well past fitness. It also includes moral grounding, technological know-how and skill development. He added that the services are widening the range of branches and roles open to them, with adaptability and readiness to shoulder varied responsibilities forming part of the evaluation.
He also spoke about educational advancement, with personnel able to move from Class 10 to Class 12 and then to a graduate degree. Pay, promotions and service conditions were discussed as well; the figures mentioned were Rs 43,500 for the first year and Rs 47,000 for the second. The Seva Nidhi package under the current framework will remain in place, while pay and responsibilities during the extended period will be set by the relevant guidelines.
Background
Introduced in June 2022, Agnipath brings young recruits into the Army, Navy and Air Force on four-year terms. As originally designed, up to 25 per cent of each intake could be taken into the permanent cadre depending on performance, organisational needs and other criteria. The remainder were to exit with a one-time Seva Nidhi payment and skill certificates meant to help them find work in the civilian sector.
The first batch is now reaching the end of its term. The Navy’s cohort completes its tenure on November 21, the Air Force’s on December 21 and the Army’s on December 31. Over 18,000 members of this batch were due to finish four years of service by the end of 2026.
The new provision adds a further stretch of service for those not initially retained, while keeping performance-based assessment central to who ultimately joins the regular forces.
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