Every Agniveer will now have a route into the regular cadre, according to clarifications on the revised Agnipath framework. The scheme has been extended by a two-year engagement period, not rolled back, the clarifications said. Defence sources said the armed forces are also looking at family-related provisions for those who serve longer.
The first 25 per cent of Agniveers will be taken into the regular cadre after their initial four-year engagement. The remaining 75 per cent will serve a further two years, after which all of them will be absorbed, with no cap on numbers.
They said that the main criteria are that an Agniveer must be willing, physically fit and disciplined.
Seniority protected
The officials also addressed seniority for those absorbed after the second engagement. On joining the regular cadre, they will be placed immediately after batchmates who were absorbed at the four-year mark. They will not rank below any later batch.
Responding to the question of whether the scheme has been withdrawn, the officials said it has not. They described the change as the addition of a second engagement period of two years, which opens a path to regular service for all Agniveers.
Marriage rules under review
The armed forces are examining family-related provisions for Agniveers who serve beyond the first four years under the revised Agnipath framework, top defence sources indicated. They said relaxing the marriage-related restrictions during the additional two years is among the options being considered.
Under current rules, Agniveers cannot marry during their initial four-year engagement. The restriction is meant to keep recruits focused on training, operational duties and service discipline during that period.
