Politics · India · 50 mins ago
India extends Agniveers’ service by two years
India’s Cabinet has approved a two-year extension for Agniveers who are not selected for regular forces after four years of service.
The change applies to recruits under the Agnipath scheme, introduced in 2022 for short-term service in the armed forces.
Under the revised plan, 25% can enter the regular forces after four years, while the remaining 75% can serve for two more years.
After that, those who wish to stay can be selected for regular service under objective criteria.
The Defence Ministry said those not retained after six years will have no reservation in government jobs.
Congress criticised the extension, saying it does not resolve concerns about recruits’ employment prospects and alleging it was linked to upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand.
The next step is selection under the stated criteria for Agniveers who seek regular service.
The Union Cabinet approved a two-year extension for Agniveers who are not selected for regular forces after their initial four-year service.
The revised arrangement offers 25% of Agniveers enrolment in regular forces after four years based on merit, while the remaining 75% may serve for two more years.
After six years, willing Agniveers may be enrolled in the armed forces if they meet objective selection criteria.
Congress criticised the decision, calling it a U-turn linked to upcoming assembly elections and questioning the prospects of those not selected.
- Who
- The Union Cabinet approved the change, announced by Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani. It affects Agniveers serving under the Agnipath scheme.
- What
- The remaining 75% of Agniveers may receive a two-year extension after their initial four years, followed by another opportunity to join regular forces.
- When
- November 4, 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The government described the change as part of long-term defence reforms and a way to offer willing Agniveers another chance to enrol as regular soldiers. Congress said it was driven by upcoming assembly elections.
Union government
Congress
Reason for the decision
Union government
The government described the extension as a defence reform and an additional chance for willing Agniveers to join regular forces.
Congress
Congress alleged the decision was a U-turn driven by upcoming assembly elections.
Impact on recruits
Union government
The government said willing Agniveers could enrol after four or six years if they meet selection criteria.
Congress
Congress warned that recruits not selected after the extension could be left unemployed.
The Union Cabinet introduced the Agnipath scheme for four-year recruitment into the armed forces.
The Union Cabinet approved the two-year Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers, and General N.S. Raja Subramani announced the arrangement.
25% of Agniveers are to be enrolled in regular forces based on merit, while the remaining 75% may receive a two-year extension.
Willing Agniveers may be enrolled in the forces if they meet objective selection criteria.
- Initial service
- Four years
- Initial enrolment share
- 25% of Agniveers, based on merit
- Extension
- Two additional years for the remaining 75%
- Potential total service
- Six years
- Announcement date
- November 4, 2026
- Scheme introduced
- June 2022
6 sources
Review of Agniveers’ performance behind service extension: CDS
'U-turn out of fear': Congress links Centre's Agniveer tenure extension to upcoming assembly polls
Agniveer service tenure extended by two years, CDS announces
What people are saying
Elections are approaching in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. A large number of youth from these states want to join the armed forces. So, they (government) took a U-turn out of fear
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.
Posts on X
Taking a significant decision today, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Shri @narendramodi has approved a two-year ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers under #Agnipath. I sincerely thank PM Modi for taking the decision of additional 2-year ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers under