Agnipath Scheme

The Agnipath Scheme is a system for recruiting young people into the Indian armed forces for an initial four-year period. Introduced in 2022, it recruits personnel below officer rank, called Agniveers, into the Army, Navy and Air Force, with selected personnel subsequently entering the regular cadre.

Recruitment design

The scheme combines short-term military service with selective retention, rather than guaranteeing a full military career to every recruit. This design creates a recurring intake of young personnel while retaining a smaller proportion for longer service.

• Agniveers serve for four years, including their training period.
• Up to 25% of each specific batch may be enrolled in the regular cadre, depending on organisational requirements and objective criteria, including performance during service.
• Those selected for the regular cadre undertake a further engagement of at least 15 years under the applicable service conditions.

Principal objectives

The central objective is to create a younger and technologically adaptable force while maintaining military effectiveness. The scheme also connects military service with skill development and wider nation-building.

• The scheme seeks to lower the average age profile of the armed forces, supporting physical fitness and readiness for demanding operational duties.
• It aims to attract young talent capable of using modern technology and adapting to changing technical requirements.
• It seeks an optimal balance between youthful and experienced personnel, combining fresh recruitment with selective retention in the regular cadre.
• It provides young people with an opportunity to serve the nation and acquire military discipline, motivation and teamwork.
• It aims to return trained, disciplined and skilled individuals to civilian society, improving the availability of such human resources beyond the armed forces.

Defence preparedness and civilian transition

The scheme's contribution to defence preparedness depends on translating its younger age profile into operational capability. Recruitment reform must therefore work alongside effective training, leadership and preservation of specialised experience.

• A younger force is not a substitute for equipment modernisation or sustained development of military skills.
• The Seva Nidhi package provides an exit corpus, funded through individual contributions and matching government contributions, to support Agniveers after their service.
• Skill certification and support for further employment are important to the objective of enabling a productive transition to civilian life.