Cabinet approves two-year extension for 75% of Agniveers, with a route to regular enrolment

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday, 4 November, approved an additional two-year engagement for 75% of Agniveers who were to exit after four years, said Chief of Defence Staff Gen N S Raja Subramani, per Asianet Newsable and Republic World. This piece is as of the evening of 4 November.

What was approved

Gen Subramani said the Agnipath scheme, introduced on 14 June 2022, remains active (Republic World). The 25% selected on merit after four years are retained as before; the remaining 75% will be offered the second engagement and, after six years in total, another opportunity to join the regular forces if they are willing and meet objective selection criteria, per The Indian Express and Asianet Newsable. Daily Excelsior describes the offer as permanent recruitment, subject to eligibility criteria and individual consent.

Pay and package

The Indian Express reports that those serving the additional engagement will receive Rs 43,500 in the first year and Rs 47,500 in the second, against a starting pay of Rs 30,000 for the first batch. It also says those who leave after the engagement will get an enhanced Seva Nidhi package, with the government contributing 70%, against the original 50-50 contribution by the Agniveer and the government (The Indian Express).

Reasons given and the numbers

Gen Subramani said the decision followed continuous evaluation of Agniveers, with the Defence Forces recommending the change (Asianet Newsable). The Indian Express says he told the media it will help keep the forces youthful while providing experienced troops. Daily Excelsior quotes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as describing the move as part of "long-term structural reforms" of the defence forces.

The outlets give different figures for those affected, and their scope and timing differ. The Indian Express says over three lakh Agniveers are in training, including around 2.8 lakh in the Army, of whom around 19,000 will complete their initial tenure in four years. Daily Excelsior says the change came just over three weeks before around 18,000 Agniveers were to exit the armed forces, and that over 300,000 soldiers recruited under the scheme are serving. Republic World says the decision comes amid criticism of the shorter engagement period, which led many states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra, to provide reservations for Agniveers in police and other services.