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Cabinet approves two-year ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers, with a path to regular service
Agniveers whose four-year term ends in December can stay for two more years; those who are willing and meet the criteria can then be enrolled as regular soldiers, the Chief of Defence Staff said.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a two-year "Second Tour of Duty" for Agniveers whose four-year contract ends in December, and Chief of Defence Staff Gen NS Raja Subramani said those who are willing and meet the criteria can then be enrolled as regular soldiers, The Tribune reported.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the change on X, calling it a way to prepare India's military for "the changing character of warfare."
What has been decided
- Agniveers due to leave when their four-year term ends in December can serve a further two years.
- After that second term, willing Agniveers can be enrolled in the regular forces, subject to physical fitness, performance and the prevailing guidelines, according to Gen Subramani.
- The Tribune reported that the change applies to the remaining 75% of the first batch who were due to exit. The other 25% were already eligible for absorption into the regular forces under the existing policy.
- More than 18,300 Agniveers were due to be discharged by 31 December after completing four years, the Tribune reported.
"The Cabinet has created a pathway for all Agniveers to be absorbed into the Indian Army," Gen Subramani said, according to Asianet Newsable.
Why it matters now
The Agnipath scheme was introduced on 14 June 2022 with a four-year engagement and periodic reviews, Asianet Newsable reported. The first batch is now close to the end of its tenure. The short engagement drew criticism, and several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra, have reserved posts for Agniveers in the police and other services.
The CDS said the Agniveers' performance over the four years had been very good, the Tribune reported.
What is not yet known
The reports do not say what pay, rank or benefits will apply in the second term, what the selection criteria for regular service will be, or how many Agniveers are expected to opt in or be absorbed. Rajnath Singh's post also refers to enrolment "after the tenure of 4/6 years"; the Tribune notes that the reference to six years is not explained in its report. It is also not yet clear whether a formal order has been issued.
BDT will update this story when the Ministry of Defence publishes the full terms.
How we verified this
VerifiedThe Cabinet approval, the two-year “Second Tour of Duty”, the announcement by CDS Gen NS Raja Subramani and the willingness and selection conditions are reported by both The Tribune and Asianet Newsable. The two differ in how they describe the groups affected (the Tribune says the extension covers the remaining 75% who were due to exit in December; Asianet says 75% are offered the extra two years and 25% are enrolled on merit), and the story follows the Tribune’s more detailed account. The Tribune’s count of more than 18,300 Agniveers due to be discharged is a single-source figure. Pay, rank, the selection criteria and the number who will be absorbed have not been published in these reports. No Ministry of Defence or PIB release had been read when this was written; BDT will update the story when one is available.
