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The government has announced significant changes to the Agnipath military recruitment scheme following directions from the Chief of Defence Staff. The revised plan offers 75 percent of Agniveers, who are not retained after their initial four-year term, a second engagement of two years, after which all personnel will be made permanent. This affects roughly 18,000 personnel completing their tenure by December 2026. The scheme, launched in June 2022 for candidates aged 17.5 to 21, initially integrated only 25 percent into regular service, with the remainder demobilised under the Seva Nidhi package. Further reforms include written exams before physical tests and the issuance of skill certificates recognising military service.
This affects roughly 18,000 personnel completing their tenure by December 2026. The scheme, launched in June 2022 for candidates aged 17.5 to 21, initially integrated only 25 percent into regular service, with the remainder demobilised under the Seva Nidhi package.
Further reforms include written exams before physical tests and the issuance of skill certificates recognising military service.