Agniveer program not scrapped, all eligible recruits to be absorbed after six years: MoD

At the end of the second period of deployment, all those willing and meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria will be absorbed as regular soldiers, officials said. File | Photo credit: Sathyamoorthy M

A day after announcing a two-year extension to the Agniveer engagement period, the government on Thursday (November 5, 2026) clarified that the Agnipath scheme has not been scrapped and that the revised arrangement creates a pathway for all Agniveers to eventually join the regular cadre of the armed forces.

According to Defense Ministry sources, the scheme remains unchanged in its basic structure, with an additional two-year engagement period introduced for the 75% of Agniveers who are not integrated into the regular cadre after their initial four-year tenure. At the end of the second period of deployment, all those willing and meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria will be absorbed as regular soldiers, officials said.

Responding to concerns over the seniority of the 75% Agniveers who will serve for six years before joining the regular cadre, a Defense Ministry official said their seniority will be protected. When absorbed, they will be placed immediately after their teammates who joined the regular squad after completing an initial four-year commitment period. They will not be placed under personnel belonging to subsequent batches, the official clarified.

The official also confirmed that there will be no numerical limit to absorb the remaining 75% after the second encounter period. While the first 25% will continue to be absorbed after four years, the remaining Agniveers will be inducted into the regular cadre after six years, provided they are willing, physically fit and adhere to the required standards of discipline.

The cabinet’s decision to extend the deployment period has drawn mixed reactions from military veterans, with questions raised about its implications for the original structure of the Agnipath scheme and the long-term personnel management of the armed forces.

Defense Minister Rajesh Kumar Singh described the revised arrangement as a “win-win solution” and said the system envisages a review after the initial four-year period.

“From the very beginning, it was stated that the program would be re-evaluated after four years. At this re-evaluation, if Agniveer’s performance is exceptionally good, including in various operational forays, the possibility of offering him a second two-year period can be considered. After that, those who are willing and meet the required eligibility criteria, including the prescribed operational parameters, will be given the opportunity to join the army permanently.

Mr. Singh said the revised arrangement would allow the Agniveers to demonstrate their capabilities through a competitive process while also giving the Army an opportunity to retain well-performing personnel.

Published – 5 Nov 2026 22:43 IST