The Central Government has approved extension of additional service of two years for Agniveer. Under the new system, 75 percent of the Agniveers who are not selected in the regular army after completing four years of service will get the opportunity to serve for two more years.
Tezzbuzz Desk- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved an additional two years of service extension for Agniveer under the Agneepath scheme. After this decision, 75 percent of the Agniveers who have completed the initial tenure of four years and are not able to join the regular army will get a chance to serve in the armed forces for six years. This will give the Agniveers another opportunity to extend their service period and join the regular army.
Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani informed about this decision in Delhi. He described it as an important day for the Indian Armed Forces and fire fighters. According to him, after completion of the additional two-year tenure, Agniveers desirous of joining the regular Army will get an opportunity to be recruited on the basis of objective selection criteria.
Agneepath scheme was started on 14 June 2022. While implementing the scheme, it was said that the performance of Agniveer would be continuously evaluated and reviewed from time to time. Now the four-year tenure of the first batch of Agniveers is about to be completed. Based on the assessment of their performance over the years and positive feedback received from the Army, the Cabinet has approved the provision of additional service period.
Under the current system, a maximum of 25 percent of Agniveers who have completed four years of service can be included in the regular cadre on the basis of merit, eligibility and needs of the army. The remaining 75 percent of the firefighters were to be released from service. However, after the new decision, these firefighters will also get the opportunity to serve additional two years. During this period, they will be able to remain associated with the armed forces and on fulfilling the prescribed criteria, they will be able to take part in the selection process for recruitment in the regular army.
Giving information about this decision on social media platform He said that Agniveers willing to join as regular soldiers after completing four or six years of service will get the opportunity if they fulfill the selection criteria. According to the Defense Minister, this decision is an important step towards preparing the Indian Army for the changing nature of warfare and making the armed forces young, fit and technically capable.
The first batch recruited under the Agneepath scheme is scheduled to complete its four-year tenure in November and December 2026. First of all, Agniveer of the Navy will complete his service period on 21st November. After this, the tenure of the first batch of Air Force will be completed on 21st December and the tenure of Agniveers of the Army will be completed on 31st December.
Under the Agneepath scheme, Agniveers are recruited in the Army, Navy and Air Force for four years, which also includes the training period. There is a provision to include maximum 25 percent of Agniveers in the regular cadre after completion of four years. Firefighters who are released from service are given a service fund package of about Rs 11.71 lakh. They do not get the benefit of regular pension and gratuity. Now the provision of two years additional extension of service has opened the way for Agniveers to work with the armed forces for a longer period and get another opportunity for selection in the regular army.