IndiaPosted at: Nov 4 2026 7:13PM

Parwinder Sandhu
New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) In a major relief to the first batch of Agniveers set to complete their four-year tenure and exit the Armed Forces by the end of this year, the government has approved an additional two-year engagement period for the 75 per cent who are not selected for regular service, opening the possibility of their eventual absorption as regular soldiers.
However, the Centre’s decision could also have implications for employment reservations announced by various State governments and paramilitary forces for the post-service rehabilitation of Agniveers.
Announcing the decision following the Cabinet approval, Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani said all Agniveers willing to continue in service would be offered the opportunity to join the regular Armed Forces after completing the extended tenure, subject to prescribed objective selection criteria, with no predetermined percentage cap on their final enrolment.
The decision marks a significant modification in the career progression of Agniveers, who were earlier expected to transition into civilian life after four years if they failed to make it to the 25 per cent selected for permanent enrolment.
Addressing a press briefing, General Subramani said the decision followed a comprehensive review of the Agnipath Scheme, introduced on June 14, 2022, and an assessment of the performance of Agniveers over the past four years. He said the three services had maintained a centralised database to monitor their performance, with annual evaluations conducted against objective parameters.
The review, which had been underway for the past three to four months, was based on feedback from the services and operational requirements. The Armed Forces had recommended the additional two-year engagement period, which has now received Cabinet approval.
Under the revised arrangement, the existing provision for selecting 25 per cent of Agniveers for regular enrolment after four years will remain unchanged. The remaining 75 per cent will be offered another two years of service, following which all willing personnel meeting the prescribed standards will be eligible for regular enrolment.
"There is no predetermined percentage cap. All willing Agniveers, subject to their willingness and meeting the selection criteria, will be considered for enrolment as regular soldiers," General Subramani said.
The selection parameters for the second engagement period will include physical fitness, adaptability, discipline, performance and vigilance records. Those selected after the additional two years will, however, rank junior in seniority to the 25 per cent enrolled after the initial four-year tenure.
The CDS said the existing Agnipath framework would continue and the additional engagement was intended to provide a longer service opportunity to those not selected in the first round. He maintained that the first 25 per cent retention provision was designed to recognise merit, sustain competitiveness and ensure that the services retained the best available personnel.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, he said Agniveers had demonstrated encouraging standards of physical fitness, motivation, morale, discipline and technological proficiency. The recruitment footprint had also expanded to cover almost every district in the country, while the selection process had become more transparent and streamlined.
During the additional two-year engagement, Agniveers will receive enhanced remuneration of Rs 43,500 in the first year and Rs 47,500 in the second year. A separate Seva Nidhi arrangement will also apply, under which the Government will contribute 70 per cent of the Agniveer's contribution. The accumulated package at the end of the two years will be approximately Rs 10.92 lakh.
The decision also has implications for employment reservations announced by various State governments and paramilitary forces for Agniveers completing their initial tenure. General Subramani said such provisions had been announced when the remaining 75 per cent were expected to leave the Armed Forces and enter civilian life.
"Now, the Indian Defence Forces are offering all these 75 per cent Agniveers an opportunity to join back for another two-year engagement period and subsequently become regular soldiers," he said, indicating that the earlier need for such reservation arrangements would no longer arise in the same manner.
He expressed confidence that a large number of Agniveers would opt for the extended engagement, while those unwilling to continue would have a dignified exit with the prescribed financial benefits and Seva Nidhi package.
Addressing concerns over the impact of the extended tenure on the age profile of the Armed Forces, the CDS said modern warfare required a combination of youth, technological proficiency and maturity. The revised arrangement, he said, would help maintain a youthful and motivated force while retaining trained personnel with valuable operational experience.
He added that there would be no adverse impact on unit cohesion or regimental spirit, and that opportunities for women Agniveers would continue to expand in accordance with the requirements of the three services.
At present, approximately three lakh Agniveers are serving across the Indian Armed Forces. Recruitment, General Subramani said, would remain a dynamic process governed by operational and organisational requirements.
He also clarified that the existing compensation policy for Agniveers suffering injuries or becoming battle casualties would remain unchanged.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a post on X, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the additional two-year ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme.
He said the decision would also provide an opportunity to willing Agniveers to enrol as regular soldiers after completing their four- or six-year tenure, subject to fulfilling the prescribed selection criteria. Describing the move as a continuation of long-term structural reforms in the armed forces, Singh said it was aimed at building a younger, fitter, technologically equipped and future-ready military. “It is not merely a recruitment policy; it is a way forward to prepare India's military for the changing character of warfare,” he said.
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