The Union Cabinet has approved a two-year extension for 75% of Agniveers, with higher remuneration and an opportunity for willing personnel to enrol in the Armed Forces.
The Union Cabinet has approved a two-year extension of service for 75 per cent of Agniveers who were earlier scheduled to exit the Armed Forces after completing their initial four-year tenure, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani said on Wednesday.
Briefing the media after the Union Cabinet meeting in New Delhi, General Raja Subramani said the first batch of Agniveers was nearing the completion of its four-year service period. Based on performance evaluations conducted during this period, the Army had received positive feedback about their performance, he said.
Under the revised arrangement, 25 per cent of Agniveers will continue to be enrolled in the regular forces based on merit. The remaining 75 per cent will be offered an additional engagement period of two years, he explained.
At the end of the extended period, Agniveers willing to continue their service will be enrolled in the Armed Forces, according to the announcement. The extension will also come with higher remuneration.
General Raja Subramani recalled that the Agnipath scheme was introduced on June 14, 2022. At the time of its launch, it was decided that Agniveers would undergo continuous performance evaluations and that the scheme would be reviewed periodically.
He said the recruitment footprint under the scheme had expanded, with Agniveers now being recruited from almost all districts across the country.
The recruitment process had also become more transparent and streamlined, he added.
The latest decision comes as the first batch of Agniveers approaches the end of its initial four-year engagement, marking a significant development in the implementation of the Agnipath recruitment scheme.
