Government's big decision: Path cleared for all current Agni veterans to become permanent soldiers

Three services had recruited Agni veterans under the Agni Path scheme four years ago. Just before the end of the first batch’s employment period, the government made a major decision to pave the way for them to become permanent soldiers. Under this, 25% of Agni veterans who will be made permanent on merit, and the remaining 75% will be given an extension of the two-year employment period, after which they will have the opportunity to become permanent.

The army will offer the 75% of Agni veterans to become permanent soldiers after two years. These 75% personnel will be made permanent based on their desire and the selection criteria of the services.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the central cabinet meeting held here on Wednesday, where this proposal was approved.

Chief of Defence Staff General N S Raja Subramani gave the information after the meeting in the presence of Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Venkatesh. He said that the government made this decision on the recommendation of the services and that the Agni Path scheme will continue in its basic form. General Subramani said that the decision was made after careful consideration of the outstanding performance, physical fitness and discipline of Agni veterans during their training, and it will apply to all batches so far. He said that it was made clear at the start of the scheme that it would be reviewed from time to time, and the current decision was made based on that review.

He said that the decision to extend the two-year employment period for the 75% of Agni veterans with a desire for service was made under the basic purpose of balancing the aspirations of Agni veterans and organizational performance, after thorough, logical and detailed review and after receiving feedback.

General Subramani said that the Agni Path scheme was launched on 14 June 2022 and that the employment period of Agni veterans was set at four years in its basic form. After four years, only 25% of them were to be included in the services as permanent soldiers on merit.

He said that on the recommendation of the services, the government has now paved the way for all batches of Agni veterans to become permanent. After completing four years, 25% of Agni veterans will be made permanent on merit, while the remaining 75% will be given an extension of the two-year employment period. After completing two years, all Agni veterans among those 75% will be given the opportunity to become permanent soldiers. He clarified that they will be made permanent based on their desire and the selection criteria of the services.

Chief of Defence Staff said that during the two-year extension period, Agni veterans will be paid 43,500 rupees in the first year and 47,500 rupees in the second year. Additionally, they will be given a service allowance of 1,092,000 rupees.

In response to a question, he said that the 25% of Agni veterans made permanent on merit will be senior to the 75% of Agni veterans who are made permanent later on seniority. The Ministry of Defence said that after the Agni Path scheme was implemented, the recruitment of Agni veterans in various districts of the country expanded, and the recruitment process has been more standard and transparent. In addition, the physical fitness, courage, motivation, competitive spirit and discipline of Agni veterans are of a high level. During employment, they were given opportunities to advance in skills, technical ability and education. Women are also being included in various branches of the defence services.

In response to a question, the Chief of Defence Staff clarified that if a war hero does not take advantage of the opportunity to become a permanent soldier in the forces after six years, he will not benefit from the reservation or preference for recruitment into reserve forces after leaving the forces. He said that these decisions were only for war heroes who left the forces after four years.

Mr. Vishnu said that both the forces and the government believe that the Agni Patth Scheme has proven to be highly beneficial. He added that the government's schemes have previously undergone reforms and periodic reviews, and this process of reforms and reviews will continue in the future.