Overview
- The Union Cabinet cleared the policy on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, allowing about 75% of the first Agnipath cohort to be offered a two‑year second engagement after their initial four‑year term.
- Roughly 18,300 Agniveers from the first batch are affected and their original staggered exit dates include the Navy on November 21, the Air Force on December 21, and the Army on December 31.
- Those who take the extra two years will receive higher pay and an increased Seva Nidhi contribution during the extension, rather than an automatic return to civilian life after four years.
- At the end of the extended period, willing Agniveers may be enrolled into regular service but only if they meet objective selection criteria to be set and applied by the services.
- The change builds on the 2022 Agnipath reform to keep the forces younger and retain trained personnel and follows positive performance reviews of the first batch, though detailed selection rules and implementation timelines are still to be published.