Agnipath Scheme: Navy, Army, Air Force Seek to Retain More Agniveers Beyond 4 Years

The armed forces are pushing to increase the proportion of Agniveers retained after their four-year tenure under the Agnipath scheme, even as the current approved retention rate stands at 25% for each service.

Recruited under the Agnipath scheme, the first batch of Agniveers began training in early 2023 and will complete four years of service later this year. Upon completion, all Agniveers will be released, and a selected number who volunteer will be re-enlisted as regular soldiers based on merit.

Sources indicate that the Navy is likely to seek a retention rate of around 75% for sailors, while the Army and the Indian Air Force may push for an increase to 50%, up from the current 25%. The defence forces have not yet confirmed these figures.

The Indian Express sent queries to the Army, Navy and Air Force on July 1 regarding retention plans but has not received a response.

The need for higher retention stems from the requirement for a larger pool of trained and experienced soldiers who have participated in operations over the past four years and are adept at handling new technologies and weapon systems.

The matter is expected to be discussed further between the services and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) to explore viable options. Even if overall retention remains at 25%, certain specialised units like the Army's newly raised Bhairav battalions may induct a higher proportion of retained Agniveers, while other units may rely more on those still serving their tenure.

A previous proposal for higher retention rates was returned by the DMA for re-evaluation. Training under the Agnipath scheme is ongoing across all services. In the last training year, around 70,000 Agniveers were training in the Army alone. For the next training year, approximately 90,000 vacancies are expected to be released to boost recruitment, aiming to address a shortfall of about 1.8 lakh troops.

Over the past four years, several memorandums of understanding have been signed with banks to provide benefits to Agniveers, whose allowances, including leave, are at par with regular soldiers.