India

Modi Government Extends Agnipath Tenure to Six Years and Opens Path to Regular Service

By Surendra Singh

In a major revision of the Agnipath recruitment scheme, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday extended the service period for Agniveers from four to six years, increased their pay, and opened a route for their absorption as regular soldiers. The decision will affect 300,000 Agniveers, including the first batch of 18,300 who will finish their four‑year term on December 31 this year. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the two‑year extension as a ‘second tour of duty’ and said it would allow all willing Agniveers who meet selection criteria to join the regular forces after the 4‑ or 6‑year period. He added that the move is part of long‑term structural reforms aimed at building a younger, fitter, technologically equipped, future‑ready military.

The changes are expected to ease recruitment pressures in various zones and address political criticism that the short‑tenure scheme was not intended to be permanent. Chief of Defence Staff General N S Raja Subramani noted that the Agnipath scheme was never meant to be fixed, and that performance reviews would continue. He said that 25 % of Agniveers would be offered regular employment based on merit during the first four years, while the remaining 75 % would receive a two‑year engagement period approved by the Cabinet. After this period, all Agniveers would be offered enrolment as regular soldiers if they are willing and meet objective selection criteria, including physical fitness, vigilance clearance and a clean discipline record.

A defence source told TOI that the Navy batch will complete its tenure on November 21, the IAF batch between December 21 and 25, and the Army batch on December 31. General Subramani said that during the two‑year engagement period, 75 % of Agniveers will receive higher remuneration than in the earlier four‑year period: Rs 43,500 per month in the fifth year and Rs 47,500 in the sixth year.

The scheme was introduced in June 2022 amid concerns that rising salary and pension costs were limiting defence modernization. The increased defence budget and export revenue have provided the government with the flexibility to accommodate Agniveers. Agniveers who choose not to continue after the four‑year period will receive a Seva Nidhi package, comprising their own 30 % monthly contribution plus matching government contribution and accrued interest.

General Subramani praised the overall performance of Agniveer recruits, noting their deployment in forward areas and on aircraft carriers such as INS Vikranta and INS Vikramaditya. He also confirmed that there would be no cohesion issues when integrating different Agniveer batches into the regular Army.

The Cabinet’s decision follows months of consideration by the military and marks a significant step in the defence forces’ ongoing reforms.