New Delhi: In a significant development for the Indian Armed Forces, the Agnipath Scheme has been revised to allow Agniveers to serve for six years instead of the initial four-year term. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani announced a two-year service extension on Wednesday. This move will directly benefit the 75% of Agniveers who, under the previous rules, were mandated to leave the service after completing four years.
What is the New Rule and Who Benefits? Under the current framework, 25% of Agniveers from each batch are absorbed into the regular army based on merit after four years. This 25% retention rule remains completely unchanged.
The major policy shift applies to the remaining 75%. Under the new system, these personnel will be offered a voluntary two-year service extension. During this extended period, they will receive increased salaries and allowances. Crucially, after completing six years, these Agniveers will get another opportunity to undergo a selection process to secure a permanent commission in the armed forces.
18,300 Troops Were Slated for Discharge by December Currently, around 3.18 lakh Agniveers are serving across the tri-services. According to official data, the four-year tenure of approximately 18,300 Agniveers (75% of the 24,400 inducted in the first batch) was set to conclude by December 31. Under the old plan, they were to be phased out starting mid-November. With the new extension, they now have a lifeline. Recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) also permanently retained 712 out of 2,850 recruits from its first Agniveer batch.
Key Questions Answered (FAQs):
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Will all Agniveers now stay for six years? No. The two-year extension is a voluntary option provided to the 75% of recruits who are not absorbed into the permanent cadre after their initial four-year term.
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Is a permanent job guaranteed after six years? No. After completing the extended two-year period, Agniveers will get another chance to become regular soldiers, but final selection will still be strictly based on merit and performance assessments.
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Has the recruitment process changed? Yes. The recruitment process now mandates a written examination first, followed by the physical test.
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Will Agniveers receive a Skill Certificate? Yes. The CDS confirmed that Agniveers will be awarded a skill certificate based on their training and experience, providing formal recognition of their military skills.
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Why was this change necessary? With the first batch of nearly 18,000 trained soldiers facing discharge by December, the military recognized the need to retain their combat experience and training, offering them an extended pathway to serve.
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