The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an additional two-year engagement period for Agniveers not selected for regular service after their initial four-year tenure, creating a pathway for all willing personnel to join the regular armed forces, subject to meeting selection criteria.
The existing provision to offer regular employment to 25 per cent of Agniveers based on merit will continue. The remaining 75 per cent will be offered a further two years of service, depending on their willingness. After completing this period, they will be eligible for enrolment as regular soldiers, subject to their willingness and fulfilment of selection criteria.
The second engagement period will carry higher remuneration, an enhanced Seva Nidhi package and seniority benefits, according to the government.
The decision follows a detailed assessment of the Agnipath scheme’s first four years and recommendations from the armed forces. The government said evaluations had yielded positive feedback on Agniveers’ skills, motivation, physical fitness and technological capabilities.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the additional engagement as a two-year “Second Tour of Duty” and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Cabinet’s decision.
In a post on X, Singh said the revised arrangement would enable willing Agniveers who meet the selection criteria to enter regular service after four or six years.
“This decision is continuation of long-term structural reforms of our defence forces, aimed at creating a younger, fitter, technologically equipped and future-ready military,” he said.
Singh added that the scheme was part of efforts to prepare India’s military for the changing character of warfare.
(PIB)
