📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Indian Navy
Defence
Government Extends Agniveers Tenure by Two Years, Says Defence Ministry
✍️ Nagaland Post
🗓 05 Nov 2026, 06:32 AM
👁 17
The Ministry of Defence announced that the tenure of Agniveers, the short‑term reserve force, will be extended by two years, effective immediately.
New Delhi – The Ministry of Defence has issued a circular confirming that the tenure of Agniveers, the three‑year short‑term reserve personnel recruited under the recent scheme, will be prolonged by an additional two years. The decision, announced on Monday, is aimed at strengthening the operational readiness of the armed forces without altering the existing recruitment framework.
Agniveers, who undergo a rigorous training program before being deployed for a limited period, were introduced to augment the regular army and provide a flexible manpower pool. Extending their service period means they will now serve for up to five years, allowing the military to retain trained soldiers for a longer duration.
Defence officials said the move will help address manpower gaps in critical units and reduce the turnover cost associated with frequent recruitment cycles. The extension does not affect the benefits or pay structure already promised to the Agniveers.
The policy change will be communicated to all training centers and recruitment agencies, and the revised tenure will apply to both current and future batches of Agniveers.
Agniveers, who undergo a rigorous training program before being deployed for a limited period, were introduced to augment the regular army and provide a flexible manpower pool. Extending their service period means they will now serve for up to five years, allowing the military to retain trained soldiers for a longer duration.
Defence officials said the move will help address manpower gaps in critical units and reduce the turnover cost associated with frequent recruitment cycles. The extension does not affect the benefits or pay structure already promised to the Agniveers.
The policy change will be communicated to all training centers and recruitment agencies, and the revised tenure will apply to both current and future batches of Agniveers.