New Delhi: The Union government on Wednesday announced a two-year extension of the service tenure of Agniveers, weeks before the first batch of recruits was scheduled to complete its four-year engagement with the armed forces.

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The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move is expected to benefit around 18,000 Agniveers who were due to leave the armed forces by December 2026 after completing their initial four-year term. Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani said all Agniveers will be given an opportunity to continue their engagement with the armed forces.

“It will depend on the performance and review of their performance,” he said.

Under the revised arrangement, 75 per cent of Agniveers who are not selected for regular enrolment will be offered an additional two years of service. The existing provision allows up to 25 per cent of each batch to be absorbed into the regular cadre, subject to organisational requirements and performance-based assessments.

The government has also outlined changes to the selection process for regular enrolment. Agniveers will now take a written examination before proceeding to the physical test. They will also be provided with skill certificates recognising the training and experience gained during their service, according to reports.

What is the Agnipath scheme?

The Agnipath scheme was introduced in June 2022 as a new recruitment model for the Army, Navy and Air Force. It allows young people to serve in the armed forces for an initial period of four years. Those recruited under the scheme are known as Agniveers.

The scheme was introduced with the stated objective of creating a younger and more technically skilled military force while reducing the average age profile of personnel.

Under the original recruitment framework, candidates aged between 17.5 and 21 years were eligible to apply. The upper age limit was temporarily relaxed to 23 years for recruitment in 2022. At the end of the four-year engagement, up to 25 per cent of each batch could be selected for permanent enrolment, depending on organisational requirements and performance. Those selected for the regular cadre are required to serve for a further 15 years under the applicable service conditions.

Salary and benefits

Agniveers receive a customised monthly salary package, starting at Rs 30,000 in the first year and increasing to Rs 40,000 in the fourth year. Thirty per cent of their monthly package is contributed to the Agniveer Corpus Fund, with an equal contribution from the government. On completion of the four-year engagement, those leaving the armed forces are entitled to a tax-exempt Seva Nidhi package of approximately Rs 11.71 lakh, including interest, under the original scheme.

They are also provided with a non-contributory life insurance cover of Rs 48 lakh during their engagement. However, the original scheme does not provide pension or gratuity benefits to Agniveers completing the four-year term. The scheme also provides opportunities for skill development and certification, with the aim of helping those leaving the armed forces find employment in civilian sectors.

The first batch of Agniveers was recruited in 2022, with approximately 24,400 personnel inducted across the three services during the initial recruitment cycle. Around 18,300 of them were scheduled to complete their four-year engagement and leave the armed forces by the end of 2026.