Agniveers get option for extension; pathway to join army as regular soldiers

5 NOVEMBER 2026

The Union Cabinet has approved an additional two-year engagement period for a section of Agniveers, creating a pathway for all cadets under the Agnipath scheme to join the armed forces as regular soldiers, subject to their willingness and fulfilment of selection criteria.
The move marks a significant revision of the original Agnipath framework, under which only up to 25% of each batch of Agniveers were eligible for retention in the regular cadre after four years, while the remaining personnel were to be released from service.
Under the revised arrangement, 25% of Agniveers will continue to be offered regular employment while the remaining 75% would be given an opportunity to serve for another two years, following which they would be eligible for consideration for enrolment as regular soldiers.
The second engagement period will come with higher remuneration, an enhanced Seva Nidhi package, and seniority benefits.
The government said a detailed assessment of the Agnipath scheme after four years of implementation had brought out several achievements, including a wider geographical footprint of recruitment across districts, a more standardised and transparent recruitment process, and high levels of physical fitness, morale, motivation, competitive spirit, and discipline among Agniveers.