India Extends Agniveer Tenure by Two Years for Those Completing Four-Year Term

The Union Cabinet approved a two-year extension of service for Agniveers whose four-year contractual term ends in December 2026, Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani announced on November 4.

Under the original Agnipath scheme launched in 2022, only 25 percent of each batch were selected for permanent service after four years. The remaining 75 percent were due to leave. Those personnel will now be offered an additional two-year engagement.

After the extension, willing Agniveers who meet physical fitness, performance, and selection criteria can be enrolled as regular soldiers. The decision applies to the first major batch, roughly 18,300 personnel expected to complete their initial term by December 31.

General Subramani said continuous evaluation of the Agniveers over four years had shown positive results. The extension will help the forces retain trained personnel while maintaining a youthful profile.

Agniveers who take the additional term will receive higher monthly emoluments, rising to approximately Rs 43,500 in the fifth year and Rs 47,500 in the sixth, along with an enhanced Seva Nidhi package if they later exit.

The three services currently have around three lakh Agniveers. The first cohort included roughly 19,000 in the Army, 2,850 in the Air Force, and 2,550 in the Navy.

The change creates a pathway for all Agniveers to potentially join the regular forces, subject to objective criteria after the six-year mark. It does not guarantee absorption for every individual.

The announcement comes weeks before the first large group of Agniveers was scheduled to leave the forces. Officials said the Cabinet decision followed recommendations from the defence services based on performance data.

Details on implementation, including exact selection standards for the second stage, are expected to be issued by the individual services in the coming weeks.