Shillong: The Union Cabinet just granted Agniveers a two-year service extension. This follows their initial four-year term. The government made the announcement this past Wednesday. It changes the recruitment structure set in June 2022. That policy originally mandated a four-year stint for all recruits. Only 25 percent were slated for permanent retention before this update.
The policy change comes just in time. The military planned to release 75 percent of the first Agniveer batch starting in mid-November. Over 18,300 soldiers face an exit deadline of December 31. These service members may now stay longer. They can earn permanent roles if they meet eligibility standards and agree to the terms.
Defence experts approve. Brig. Hemant Mahajan (Retd) praised the shift. He noted the initial four-year window was too brief for complex technical training. He said, "This will prove to be mutually beneficial for both the Armed Forces as well as Agniveers, as the latter, having trained in multi-pronged operations over a period of time, will enrich the services."
The extension allows more time for mastering ground skills. It also improves the odds of full absorption into the military. Defence expert Dhruv Katoch echoed this positive sentiment. He feels the policy shift provides a massive boost for those in uniform. He remarked, "I consider this a very positive step, and I would say that Diwali has arrived four days early for all the Agniveers."
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