The additional engagement period was approved on the recommendations of the three services following an elaborate evaluation and feedback process.
The second engagement period will come with higher remuneration, an enhanced Seva Nidhi package, and seniority benefits.
I sincerely thank PM Modi for taking the decision of additional 2-year 'Second Tour of Duty' for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme.
It has further enabled the opening up of various branches of the defence forces to women.
Based on the assessment and feedback, the government has decided to continue with the Agnipath scheme while introducing the additional two-year engagement period and a subsequent pathway for regular enrolment.
The Union Cabinet has approved an additional two-year engagement period for the 75% of Agniveers who are not selected for regular service after their initial four-year tenure, creating a pathway for all Agniveers to join the armed forces as regular soldiers, subject to their willingness and fulfilment of selection criteria.
Addressing the media at the National Media Centre, General N. S. Raja Subramani said that under the revised arrangement, 25% of Agniveers will continue to be offered regular employment in the Defence Forces on merit, as originally envisaged under the Agnipath scheme.
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, subject to selection criteria and their willingness, he said.
The decision follows an assessment of the performance of Agniveers in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency. The evaluation found that they had demonstrated outstanding performance in skills, motivation, physical fitness and technological prowess, according to the government, he added.
The additional engagement period was approved on the recommendations of the three services following an elaborate evaluation and feedback process. The objective is to align the aspirations of Agniveers with the operational requirements and organisational efficiency of the armed forces, the Defence Ministry said.
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.
Taking a significant decision today, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Shri @narendramodi has approved a two-year 'Second Tour of Duty' for Agniveers under #Agnipath. I sincerely thank PM Modi for taking the decision of additional 2-year 'Second Tour of Duty' for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. This would also provide enrollment of all willing Agniveers as regular soldiers after the tenure of 4/6 years, who meet the selection criteria. This decision is continuation of long-term structural reforms of our defence forces, aimed at creating a younger, fitter, technologically equipped and future-ready military. It is not merely a recruitment policy; it is a way forward to prepare India's military for the changing character of warfare. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 4, 2026
The scheme has also contributed to enhancing the skills, technological adaptability, and educational qualifications of personnel during their service. It has further enabled the opening up of various branches of the defence forces to women. Based on the assessment and feedback, the government has decided to continue with the Agnipath scheme while introducing the additional two-year engagement period and a subsequent pathway for regular enrolment.
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.
