New Delhi, November 4
Based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered regular employment in the Defence Forces as envisaged earlier, while the remaining Agniveers will be given another engagement period of two years based on their willingness. Post completion of this two-year engagement period, all Agniveers will be enrolled as regular soldiers subject to their willingness and meeting the prescribed selection criteria.
An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered regular employment in the Defence Forces.
Further, for the remaining 75% Agniveers, on the recommendations of the Indian Defence Forces, another engagement period of two years has been approved by the Cabinet. After completion of this two-year engagement period, all Agniveers will be offered enrolment as regular soldiers subject to their willingness and meeting the selection criteria.
The introduction of another engagement period of two years for the willing 75% Agniveers has been done after deliberate, reasoned and elaborate evaluation and feedback, with the fundamental aim of aligning the aspirations of Agniveers with organisational efficiency.
After four years of implementation of the Agnipath Scheme, detailed feedback about its efficacy and the performance of Agniveers was obtained. Some of the salient achievements of the scheme include an increased footprint of recruitment of Agniveers across districts of the country, a more standardised and transparent recruitment process, very high levels of physical fitness, morale, motivation, competitive spirit and discipline, enhancement of skills, technological adaptability and education in service, and the opening up of various branches of the Defence Forces for women.
Based on these achievements, the Agnipath Scheme shall continue. The second engagement period will have higher remuneration, an enhanced Seva Nidhi package and seniority benefits.
With the introduction of another engagement period of two years followed by the induction of all Agniveers as regular soldiers, the Cabinet has created a pathway for the absorption of all Agniveers into the Defence Forces.