First batch of 18,300 Agniveers set to leave armed forces by December 31 as 4-year tenure ends

Over 18,000 Agniveers from the initial batch are scheduled to depart the armed forces by December 31, marking the conclusion of their four-year commitment under the Agnipath recruitment scheme, officials informed on Sunday. Subsequently, the remaining personnel will transition into second-career opportunities available to them. The navy, air force, and army will commence releasing 75% of the Agniveers from the first batch in stages starting mid-November, according to the officials.

The Agnipath recruitment model, introduced in 2022, aimed to maintain a youthful and combat-ready military force. Under this scheme, personnel are enlisted for a four-year tenure, with only 25% of them retained in regular service for an additional 15 years. Approximately 18,300 Agniveers from the first batch, comprising around 19,000 in the army, 2,850 in the IAF, and 2,550 in the navy, will be leaving the forces, representing three-fourths of the 24,400 recruits inducted during the first round of recruitment.

The services have expressed satisfaction with the Agniveers' performance across various roles. The government may consider adjusting the scheme in the future to retain more Agniveers with specialized skills. Presently, the army has around 270,000 Agniveers, the IAF has 27,000, and the navy has approximately 21,000. As the first batch completes their four years of service, they will seek job opportunities in the Central Armed Police Forces, state police, Indian Railways, the coast guard, and 16 defense public sector undertakings.

The government has already allocated half of the entry-level positions in these forces for ex-Agniveers. The upcoming release of the Agniveers will test the government's ability to resettle them, who will be between 21-and-a-half to 25 years old. They will be eligible for job quotas in various organizations. The government has requested the Central Armed Police Forces to develop training modules on internal security and law-and-order duties, as the Agniveers are primarily trained for warfare.

Some states have announced job opportunities for Agniveers in their police forces. The Agniveers faced challenges during Operation Sindoor last year, but their performance during the military confrontation with Pakistan demonstrated courage, resilience, and composure, dispelling doubts about the Agnipath scheme. The army evaluates the performance of its Agniveers based on parameters such as operational aptitude, weapon proficiency, physical fitness, and tests to assess other soldierly skills.

Agniveers receive a salary of ₹4.76 lakh in the first year of service and ₹6.92 lakh in the fourth year, receive a non-contributory insurance cover of ₹48 lakh, and an ex-gratia payment of ₹44 lakh for death attributable to service. Those being released now will receive a ₹11.71 lakh severance package, including ₹5.02 lakh contributed by them during their service.