Centre extends Agniveer service tenure from 4 to 6 years

In what comes as a relief to Agniveers and armed forces aspirants, the Union government on Wednesday (November 4) announced a two-year extension of Agniveers' tenure.

Under the Agnipath scheme, young soldiers are recruited for a four-year term, with a provision to retain only 25 per cent of them in regular service. Upon completion of the initial four-year term, the remaining 75 per cent, who were initially expected to return to civilian life with a Seva Nidhi package, will now be eligible to opt for an additional two-year engagement.

At the end of the extended tenure, more candidates may be inducted into the regular armed forces, subject to an objective selection process.

“Today is a very significant day for the Indian Defence Forces and for our Agniveers,” said CDC General NS Raja Subramani at a press conference. “Earlier, the remaining 75 per cent were to exit the forces and enter civilian life as disciplined and motivated young people. Under the revised scheme, however, the remaining 75 per cent will be offered another engagement period of two years.”

The Agnipath scheme was launched on June 14, 2022, with the aim of reducing the average age of Indian armed forces personnel and modernising the military. However, the scheme faced widespread backlash. With only 25 per cent of recruits eligible for retention in the regular forces, the remaining 75 per cent faced the prospect of leaving military service at a relatively young age. While the Seva Nidhi package was intended to provide financial support upon exit, critics argued that it did not address the larger question of long-term employment security.

The announcement of the optional two-year extension comes just weeks before more than 18,000 Agniveers from the first batch are due to complete their initial four-year tenure. The move can be seen as an attempt by the government to recalibrate the scheme, offering greater flexibility to recruits while strengthening military preparedness.