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Relevance: GS-II (Governance) | GS-III (Security) | Source: The hindu
The Context: The Union Cabinet has approved a two-year service extension for Agniveers, giving them a wider path to become permanent soldiers. This practical update balances the goal of a young military with the need to keep well-trained, battle-ready troops on the ground.
1. What Has Changed?
- The Original 25% Rule: Under the 2022 rules, youths (aged 17.5–21) serve for four years, after which only up to 25% are kept as regular soldiers.
- The New 2-Year Extension: Soldiers in the remaining 75% can now get a two-year extension with higher pay, bigger savings, and seniority—plus a second chance at permanent recruitment.
- Ground Feedback: CDS General N.S. Raja Subramani noted that all three services backed this move after Agniveers proved strong in fitness, discipline, and handling modern tech.
2. Core Concepts You Need to Know
- Seva Nidhi Package: Agniveers put 30% of their monthly pay into a fund matched equally by the government, walking away with a tax-free ₹11.71 lakh corpus after four years.
- Insurance vs. Pension: They get a free ₹48 lakh life insurance cover during service, but those exiting early do not get lifelong pensions, gratuity, or ECHS healthcare.
Practice MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Agnipath scheme:
- The original framework allowed up to 25% of each batch to be retained in regular service after four years, with a tax-free Seva Nidhi corpus co-funded by the government.
- Agniveers exiting after their short-term tenure receive lifelong military pensions and Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) benefits.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Hint: Statement 1 is correct; up to 25% are retained initially (now supplemented by a 2-year extension track) and the Seva Nidhi payout is tax-free. Statement 2 is incorrect because short-term exiting Agniveers do not get regular pensions or ECHS benefits.
Hint: Statement 1 is correct; up to 25% are retained initially (now supplemented by a 2-year extension track) and the Seva Nidhi payout is tax-free. Statement 2 is incorrect because short-term exiting Agniveers do not get regular pensions or ECHS benefits.
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