Defence Ministry: Cabinet clears two-year service extension for 75 percent of Agniveer recruits

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Thursday hailed the revised Agniveer policy as a win-win solution after the Union Cabinet approved a second <b>two-year engagement period</b> for <b>75 percent</b> of each batch. Earlier rules required all recruits to exit after completing a four-year tenure. The policy shift follows strong performance metrics recorded by Agniveers across diverse operational assignments during their initial deployment term. Officials noted that the revised framework aims to retain experienced personnel within the armed forces while ensuring continued opportunities for youth. According to defense analysts, extending the service tenure helps optimize military readiness and bridge manpower retention gaps in active units.