Agniveers get two-year service extension, second chance at regular recruitment
CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News / Agencies, Bhopal:
The central government has approved a major change in the Agnipath scheme, allowing a two-year additional service extension for Agniveers who complete four years of service. The decision will bring relief to around 18,300 Agniveers who were to exit the Army by the end of 2026. They will now get an opportunity to serve in the armed forces for two more years. After that, they will also be given another chance to be recruited as regular soldiers.
According to the Defence Ministry, under the arrangement already fixed for the Agnipath scheme, 25 percent of Agniveers will be inducted into the regular forces on the basis of eligibility and merit after completing four years of service. The remaining 75 percent of Agniveers will be offered two years of additional service with their consent. After this period, willing Agniveers will be able to join as regular soldiers on the basis of prescribed selection standards and performance.
Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani informed about the decision on November 4. He said the performance, skills, physical capacity and technical proficiency of Agniveers had been assessed over the past four years. The recommendation for an additional service period was made after this review.
According to the government, during this additional two-year tenure, Agniveers will receive higher pay than before, a better Seva Nidhi package and benefits linked to seniority. However, appointment as a regular soldier will not be automatic, and meeting the prescribed standards will remain mandatory.
The government has clarified that the Agnipath scheme is not being ended. The existing recruitment system will continue, but Agniveers will now get an additional opportunity to enter regular service.
Hashtags: #Education #Bhopal #Agniveers #ServiceExtension #RegularRecruitment #Agnipath #TwoYearServiceExtension #AgnipathScheme #DefenceMinistry #AgniveersTwoYearService
