Agnipath Scheme Rollback? Agniveers Can Now Be Absorbed Into Armed Forces

The government on Wednesday announced a two-year extension of tenure for Agniveers. The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Launched in 2022, Agnipath scheme provides for short-term induction of personnel into the armed forces with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services. Those recruited under the scheme are called Agniveers. 

The cabinet move came weeks before around 18,000 Agniveers were to exit the armed forces.

Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani said all Agniveers will be given an opportunity for continuing their engagement in the armed forces.

It will depend on the performance and review of their performance, he said.

"From the beginning it was clear that this scheme will be reviewed. Every year the Agniveers were reviewed and we arrived at a decision that there should be a two year extension," General Subramani said.

Under the Agnipath scheme, soldiers were recruited for a four-year term, with a provision to retain only 25 per cent of them in regular services.

The decision comes amid the criticism of the shorter period of engagement, which also led to many states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and others providing reservations for Agniveers in police and other services.