NEW DELHI : The Union Cabinet has approved a two-year extension of the engagement period under the Agnipath scheme, opening a clear pathway for all Agniveers to seek regular enrolment in the armed forces. The landmark decision was announced on Wednesday by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General N. S. Raja Subramani during a Cabinet briefing.
Under the revised framework, the 75% of recruits who were previously scheduled to exit after completing their initial four year tenure will now be offered an additional two year engagement period. Following feedback on the scheme, the CDS confirmed that after this extended service, all willing Agniveers will have the opportunity to enroll as regular soldiers based on performance and objective merit criteria.
The modification directly impacts nearly 18,000 personnel from the inaugural 2022 batch who were set to complete their initial tenure in December 2026. Additionally, the government announced structural updates to future recruitment processes, including conducting written examinations prior to physical tests, and issued official skill certificates to recognize the military training and expertise gained during service.
