Agniveers to get option of two more years in armed forces

The government has allowed most Agniveers who are not kept on permanently after their four-year term to serve two more years. Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani made the announcement on Wednesday, 4 November.

Subramani said 75% of non-retained Agniveers will be offered the option to extend their service by two years. Those who extend will get another chance to join the armed forces as regular soldiers, if they meet the selection criteria. Subramani said those who opt for the extra two years will get higher salaries and a larger exit package.

Why the change matters now

Agniveers are recruited under the Agnipath short-term scheme. Candidates can serve a four-year term, and 25% of them are kept for permanent service with a minimum of 15 years. The scheme began on 14 June 2022 and sparked protests in several states. Aspirants there wanted permanent jobs with pension benefits.

Agniveers do not get a pension when their four years end. They receive a lump-sum package instead. The timing of the announcement matters because about 18,000 Agniveers from the first batch are due to finish their term and leave in December. The armed forces currently have around three lakh Agniveers.

What is still unclear

How the extension will work, including how many people will take up the offer, has not been detailed. Some questions about what happens to Agniveers after the extension remain open. The parents of an Agniveer who died in Operation Sindoor are still seeking a pension a year later, but that is a separate matter.