**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