New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Ministry of Defence is reviewing a set of significant amendments to the Agnipath recruitment system, signalling that the short-term service model may undergo its first major restructuring since its launch. The proposal, currently being examined by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), focuses on expanding welfare protections and boosting the number of Agniveers who are absorbed into long-term service.
Officials familiar with the review say the three-pronged plan includes lifelong medical support for Agniveers who suffer service-related disabilities, a permanent financial allowance for families of those who die in uniform, and a substantial upward revision of the retention rate once the four-year engagement ends.
The discussion comes at a critical moment: the inaugural batch of Agniveers is set to complete its four-year stint in October 2025, requiring the government to finalise the terms under which they may continue or exit.
Under the current policy, only 25 percent of Agniveers are selected to join the forces as regular soldiers. Military leadership across the Army, Navy and Air Force has urged the government to revisit that ceiling. According to sources, the services have jointly recommended that at least half of all Agniveers be retained, with up to 60 percent in technical branches where training investments are higher and skill continuity is crucial.
Senior officers argue that the forces’ rapid shift toward technology — including drone operations, sensor analysis, electronic warfare and advanced air-defence systems — requires experienced hands who can remain well beyond a four-year cycle. Recent operations, including Operation Sindoor, have highlighted the need for personnel who understand complex surveillance and response platforms.
Welfare considerations are another pillar of the proposal. At present, the families of Agniveers who die in the line of duty are not entitled to pension benefits provided to families of regular soldiers. The new proposal seeks to introduce a lifelong subsistence allowance to fill that gap. Because Agniveers cannot marry during their four-year tenure, the suggested beneficiaries exclude spouses and instead focus on dependent parents and immediate family.
For Agniveers who sustain disabilities while on duty, the services want parity with regular troops — including full medical coverage for life and disability-related financial support.
Similar recommendations were made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence last year, when it called for aligning compensation for fallen Agniveers’ families with that of permanent soldiers.
Officials say the review is advancing swiftly, and the final decision — expected in the coming months — could reshape how the Agnipath scheme functions at both the operational and human levels of India’s armed forces.
