NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has approved a major change to the Agnipath recruitment scheme, offering an additional two-year engagement to the 75 per cent of Agniveers who are not selected for enrolment in the regular forces after completing their initial four-year tenure.
Announcing the decision at a Cabinet briefing, Chief of Defence Staff Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani said the revised arrangement would create a pathway for Agniveers to continue serving in the Indian Armed Forces.
“Today is a very important day for the Indian Armed Forces and our Agniveers. The Cabinet has approved a pathway for Agniveers to be absorbed into the Indian Armed Forces,” Subramani said.
Under the existing arrangement, 25 per cent of Agniveers are selected for enrolment in the regular forces based on merit after completing four years of service. The remaining 75 per cent were earlier expected to leave the forces and transition to civilian life.
The revised scheme changes this provision. The remaining 75 per cent will now be offered a second engagement period of two years after completing their initial tenure. At the end of the additional period, Agniveers who are willing to continue will be enrolled in the Armed Forces, subject to objective selection criteria.
“Upon the completion of these two years, all Agniveers who are willing to continue will be enrolled in the Armed Forces, subject to objective selection criteria,” the CDS said.
Subramani said the Agnipath scheme was introduced on June 14, 2022, with provisions for continuous performance evaluation of Agniveers and periodic reviews of the recruitment model. With the first batch now nearing the completion of its four-year tenure, the Armed Forces have assessed their performance over the past four years.
“During these four years, we have received positive feedback on their performance,” he said.
The CDS also explained that the original scheme envisaged the 25 per cent merit-based retention of Agniveers, while the remaining personnel would return to civilian life as disciplined and motivated young people. The Cabinet-approved change now provides the latter group with an additional two years of service and a further opportunity to enter the regular forces.
The revised arrangement marks a change in the post-four-year service pathway under the Agnipath scheme. However, enrolment into the regular forces after the additional engagement will remain subject to the individual's willingness and the prescribed objective selection criteria.
The detailed implementation provisions of the revised arrangement will determine how the new pathway is applied to the Agniveer batches.
With inputs from PTI and media reports