All Agniveers to get permanent jobs after 6 years? Is Agnipath scrapped? Defence officials answer

The government has clarified that all Agniveers will now have a pathway to enrolment in the regular cadre of the Defence Forces, addressing major questions over the revised Agnipath scheme announced by Chief of Defence Staff N S Raja Subramani. Under the new arrangement, the first 25% of recruits will enter the regular cadre after completing their initial four-year engagement, while the remaining 75% will be absorbed after an additional two years of service, without a numerical limit.

Defence officials answer the three most frequently asked questions about permanent enrolment, seniority and the validity of the Agnipath scheme.

Will all Agniveers be absorbed into the regular cadre after six years?

Yes. Under the revised Agniveer retention rules, all recruits will have an opportunity to enter the regular cadre, with the process taking place in two stages.


The first 25% of an Agniveer batch will be absorbed into regular service after completing the initial four-year engagement period. The remaining 75% will continue in service for another two years under the second engagement period and will then be absorbed into the regular cadre without any numerical limit.

Also Read:Agniveer Scheme revamped: What's the new pathway to permanent Army jobs and why has govt changed Agnipath?

The key conditions for the second group are that Agniveers must be willing to continue, physically fit and disciplined. This means the revised arrangement creates a pathway for every Agniveer to become a regular soldier, rather than restricting regular enrolment to only 25% of each batch.

Those opting for the additional two-year engagement will also receive higher remuneration, an enhanced Seva Nidhi package and seniority benefits.

Will the remaining 75% of Agniveers lose seniority after the two-year extension?

No. The government has said the seniority of the remaining 75% will be protected even though they will enter the regular cadre two years after the first group.

Once they are enrolled as regular soldiers, they will be placed immediately after their own batchmates who entered the regular cadre after completing four years of service. They will not be placed below recruits belonging to subsequent batches.

The seniority provision is intended to ensure that Agniveers who serve the additional two-year engagement period do not face a disadvantage in the regular cadre simply because their absorption takes place later.

Also Read: Agniveers' tenure extended by two years; CDS says 75% outgoing Agniveers will also be given option to continue in armed forces

Has the Agnipath scheme been rolled back or scrapped?

No. The government has clarified that the Agnipath scheme has not been rolled back. The original four-year engagement period remains in place, as does the provision for the first 25% of Agniveers to enter regular service after completing that tenure.

The major change is the introduction of a second engagement period of two years for the remaining 75% of recruits. At the end of this extended service, they will be absorbed into the regular cadre without a numerical limit, provided they are willing, physically fit and disciplined.

The revised arrangement therefore expands the pathway to regular enrolment without scrapping the Agnipath scheme. It changes how the remaining Agniveers can move into the regular forces after their initial four-year tenure.