3 Services propose improvements to Agnipath scheme

5 OCTOBER 2026

With the first batch of Agniveers enrolled in 2023 set to complete their four-year tenure later in 2026, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have submitted recommendations to the Department of Military Affairs on ways to improve the implementation of the Agnipath scheme.
Under the scheme, young men and women between 17.5 and 21 years of age are recruited as Agniveers for a four-year period, including six months of training.
Under the existing policy, up to 25% of each batch of Agniveers can be retained in the regular cadre based on organisational requirements and performance. Those retained go on to serve as regular armed services personnel, while the remaining 75% exit after four years with a tax-free Seva Nidhi package, which is built through monthly contributions from the Agniveer and matched by the government. Those exiting after four years do not receive any pension or gratuity benefits.
The reassessment of the scheme comes as the armed forces seek to balance the objective of maintaining a younger force with the need for operational experience and continuity.