🇮🇳 75% of Agniveers were due to leave after 4 years.

🇮🇳 75% of Agniveers were due to leave after 4 years. Now they get 2 more years, then a chance to join the regular forces.

The Union Cabinet approved a two-year "Second Tour of Duty" for Agniveers on 4 Nov. CDS Gen NS Raja Subramani announced it in Delhi.

What changed
• Old scheme: 4 years of service. 25% enrolled into the regular forces on merit. The other 75% were to return to civilian life.
• New scheme: the 25% merit route stays. The remaining 75% will be offered an extra 2-year engagement.
• After those 2 years, all willing Agniveers can be enrolled into the armed forces, subject to objective selection criteria.

Who it applies to
The Agnipath scheme began on 14 June 2022. The first batch of Agniveers is now close to finishing its 4-year tenure. The CDS said their performance reviews were very positive.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: all willing Agniveers who meet the criteria can become regular soldiers after 4 or 6 years.

Source: CDS briefing (ANI), Rajnath Singh on X