India approves two-year extension for 75% of Agniveers

India’s Union Cabinet has approved an additional two-year engagement period for Agniveers who are not selected for regular military service after their initial four years, creating a second opportunity to seek enrolment while leaving final selection conditional on eligibility and merit. Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani announced the decision on November 4. Under the revised arrangement, 25% of Agniveers may enter the regular armed forces on merit after four years, as under the original scheme. The remaining 75% will be offered two more years of service, bringing their total engagement to six years. After that extension, Agniveers who are willing may seek regular-force enrolment under the applicable selection criteria. The additional period is an opportunity to qualify, not a guarantee of permanent recruitment. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the measure as a Second Tour of Duty. The Agnipath scheme’s initial four-year engagement structure remains in place. Introduced in 2022, it recruits young people as Agniveers into the Army, Navy and Air Force for a fixed term. The Cabinet decision changes the route available to those not selected in the first...