CDS Announces 2-Year Service Extension for Over 18,300 Agniveers Amid Upcoming Exit
· India · Hindustan Times, The Hindu, India Today
Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani will announce a two-year service extension for Agniveers, senior government officials said, marking a policy shift weeks before the three services were to release 75% of the first Agniveer batch starting mid-November. Over 18,300 Agniveers were slated to exit the armed forces by December 31 after completing their four-year term under the Agnipath scheme, which accounts for three-fourths of the 24,400 recruits inducted in the first round. The decision to continue will rest entirely with the individual Agniveer, officials said, signaling the military values their contribution and requires their continued services. The move aims to retain experienced personnel as the Agnipath recruitment model, introduced in 2022 to keep the armed forces young and combat-ready, allows only 25% retention in regular service after the four-year term.
Why it matters
The extension directly affects over 18,300 Agniveers across the Army, Air Force, and Navy who now have the option to continue service beyond their original four-year term, potentially altering the force composition as the first batch faces phased release starting mid-November. It also signals the government's intent to retain skilled personnel amid ongoing scrutiny of the Agnipath model's long-term impact on the armed forces' manpower structure.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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