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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of Defence Staff, addresses a press conference, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan
In a major tweak to the Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the Indian Armed Forces, the government on Wednesday announced a two-year extension of service for all Agniveers whose four-year contractual term is ending in December.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen NS Raja Subramani announced the decision following a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Taking a significant decision today, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Shri @narendramodi has approved a two-year ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers under #Agnipath. I sincerely thank PM Modi for taking the decision of additional 2-year ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. This would also provide enrollment of all willing Agniveers as regular soldiers after the tenure of 4/6 years, who meet the selection criteria. This decision is continuation of long-term structural reforms of our defence forces, aimed at creating a younger, fitter, technologically equipped and future-ready military. It is not merely a recruitment policy; it is a way forward to prepare India’s military for the changing character of warfare.— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 4, 2026
The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has held that a soldier convicted by a court martial can be granted bail even if the trial proceedings are awaiting confirmation by the competent military authority.
In accordance with the law, all findings and sentences passed by a court martial have to be confirmed by the designated higher authority depending on the type of court martial and the rank of the individual tried, before these can be promulgated.
A District Court Martial (DCM) had tried an Air Force Sergeant for professional misdemeanour and sentenced him to detention for a period of two months and reduction in rank.
The Air Force had opposed the suspension of sentence and grant of bail, contending that until the findings and sentence of the DCM are confirmed by the competent authority, the trial proceedings cannot be said to have attained finality and, therefore, grant of bail at this stage would not be appropriate.
“The pendency of confirmation proceedings cannot be permitted to result in continued detention without due consideration of the applicant’s right to personal liberty, as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the Tribunal’s Bench, comprising Justice Rajendra Menon and Lt Gen CP Mohanty, ruled.
“Merely because the process of confirmation of the findings and sentence awarded by a court martial is pending, the same cannot operate as an impediment to the exercise of jurisdiction by this Tribunal to consider suspension of the sentence and grant of bail,” the Bench said.
Observing that the applicant had already undergone detention for a period of 35 days, which is more than half of the total sentence of two months’ detention, the Bench said that the period of detention already undergone shall necessarily be taken into account while computing the total period of sentence.
“Taking note of the aforesaid circumstances, we are satisfied that this is a fit case in which the sentence of detention deserves to be suspended and the applicant granted bail, pending confirmation of the findings and sentence by the competent authority, the Bench ruled while directing that the execution of the sentence of detention shall remain suspended pending confirmation, and the applicant be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond.
The Bench, however, made it clear that the suspension of sentence is confined to the punishment of detention only. Insofar as the punishment of reduction in rank is concerned, the same shall be given effect immediately upon confirmation of the findings and sentence by the competent authority, in accordance with law. There shall be no stay on the implementation of the said punishment, the Bench said.
More than six months after the Attari-Wagah border was closed following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has made a rare exception by permitting a 49-member Pakistani Sikh jatha to return home through the land route ahead of Diwali. The jatha, comprising 21 men, 26 women and two children, had arrived in India by air and were scheduled to fly back. The devotees will instead cross the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP) on foot on Thursday under a special arrangement approved by the ministry.
For the pilgrims, many of whom had waited years for an opportunity to visit Sikh shrines in India and reunite with loved ones, the decision came as another unexpected blessing during a journey filled with emotional moments. The pilgrims arrived at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 8 via the Lahore-Tashkent-New Delhi route, carrying visas valid until November 6 and confirmed return air tickets.
However, under a special arrangement approved by the MHA, they will now cross the Attari-Wagah border on foot on November 5, saving them considerable travel expenses. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Harmeet Singh Kalka and its chief adviser (international affairs), Paramjit Singh Chandok, had approached the MHA seeking permission to change the return route and provide logistical support to the devotees.
“This trip has become a lifetime memory for all of us,” said jatha leader Papinder Singh, who received the official permission letter from the Indian authorities. “We are deeply grateful to the Indian and Pakistani governments, especially the DSGMC, for facilitating our return by land as a special case. We have already surrendered our return air tickets and will receive refunds. Besides making the journey easier, this has helped us save money,” he said. Chandok said the process of securing refunds for the air tickets had also been initiated by the DSGMC.
This was the second special gesture extended by the MHA to the jatha during its visit. Earlier, around 40 members of the delegation were granted a rare opportunity to undertake a pilgrimage to Hemkunt Sahib in Uttarakhand just two days before the annual closure of the revered shrine.
Recalling the twists and turns of the journey, Papinder said, “Initially, we bought expensive air tickets but were denied boarding at Faisalabad airport. A few days later, special arrangements were made with the support of the DSGMC, and we finally reached India. Then came the unforgettable experience of visiting Hemkunt Sahib.”
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday made a ‘course correction’ on the Agnipath scheme. The decision corrects some of the inherent operational and social flaws created by the scheme.
Though the announcement stops well short of an ‘admission of failure’, it does address the core concerns. Upcoming assembly elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand seem to have forced the decision at hand. There have been protests in Uttarakhand.
The Agnipath scheme, which uses the nomenclature Agniveers for soldiers, envisages a four-year contract for recruits. It was launched in June 2022. The announcement to tweak the scheme was made by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) NS Raja Subramani in New Delhi and impacts almost 3 lakh soldiers who have been recruited under the scheme in the past four years. The four-year tenure of about 20,000 recruits who were in the first batch under the scheme was to end in December.
What is the change
As per the original policy, Agniveers were to serve for four years. Post that, 25 per cent were to be retained and the remaining 75 per cent were to exit and look for jobs in the civilian world, state police and para military forces, among others.
The Union Cabinet has now approved that the 75 per cent recruits, who were supposed to exit, will serve for an additional two years. After the two years, all soldiers will be retained. However, the main criterion behind it is the ‘willingness’ of the recruit to be retained as a full-time soldier.
In the announcement, the CDS made it clear that “all those exiting will be absorbed for two more years and will be retained as regular soldiers after the two-year period, subject to their willingness.”
Former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash called the extension a good step. “It is good step but I had hoped the scheme would be abolished,” he said. The Agnipath scheme is devoid of logic and is damaging the combat readiness of the forces, he added.
Former Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia (retired), once an ardent critic of the scheme, says he is elated with the decision. “I see it as excellent modification as it meets the needs of organisation and has congruence with the needs of the soldiers,” he said.
The changes mean the soldiers will be on an extended ‘probation period’ of two years before being absorbed into the force altogether. During this two year period, emoluments will be increased, insurance benefits will be better and their seniority will be protected as per the original batch.
“This will mitigate the needs of the forces that now carry out multi-domain operations. An individual has the option to leave after six years while the organisation has a choice to retain the recruits,” Gen Bhatia added.
Issues in original plan
The scheme’s core idea was that a quarter of recruits of each batch would be retained as regular soldiers while the rest would leave with a corpus and a skills certificate. With thousands of trained young men and women about to be released, it became an immediate administrative and political problem.
An Army, Navy or Air Force had spent four years training someone, only to discard three in four of them. It was a wasted investment.
Admiral Arun Prakash said, “The two-year extension creates a separate class of soldiers. Perhaps it’s a face-saving measure for the government.” The 25 per cent retention rate was always contentious in military and political circles.
The Agniveers were also facing issues socially. They were not allowed to marry for the four-year term of service, meaning that by the time they got a chance to be a regular soldier, eligible girls in rural India would already be married off.
For the people of Katrain village in Kullu district, Lt Gen Sushil Chander Mahant’s latest appointment is a moment of immense pride. The boy who once studied at Government High School, Katrain, and Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira, has risen to a key leadership position in the Indian Army, becoming the Director-General of Integrated Training at the Integrated Headquarters in New Delhi. He is also the first Lieutenant General from Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira.
Mahant’s military journey began with the National Defence Academy in January 1988, followed by the Indian Military Academy, where he was commissioned in December 1991. Over more than 35 years of service, he has distinguished himself through professional excellence, securing first position in three Army courses and qualifying in high-altitude warfare at Gulmarg.
His career spans several important assignments, including Commanding Officer of 11 Field Ordnance Depot, Brigadier Ordnance of a Strike Corps and Major General Ordnance Services of a strategically significant Command along the northern frontier with China.
An adventure enthusiast since his school days, with interests in kayaking, canoeing, skiing and water sports, Mahant now brings his extensive experience in logistics and resource management to the Army’s training ecosystem.
For Katrain and his alma mater, his achievement is more than a promotion; it is a historic milestone and an inspiring story of local roots reaching national heights.
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Saturday assumed charge as the 29th chief of the Indian Air Force succeeding Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who superannuated after 42 years of service.
The new IAF Chief takes over as the force is at the cusp of a major modernisation drive. Following Operation Sindoor, the Defence Ministry approved upgrades in communications, surveillance, air defence, drones and fighter jets, with inductions expected over the coming years.
The IAF fighter strength has fallen to 29 squadrons against a sanctioned 42, and 36-40 jets are needed annually. Three routes are under way: The first Tejas Mark1A squadron is expected within months; a deal for procuring 114 Rafale jets is expected this fiscal; and a 5th-generation jet is being considered as a stop-gap option since the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft is a decade away.
The IAF has issued a roadmap seeking indigenous drone propulsion and GPS-denied navigation. The last S-400 air defence squadron is expected to arrive next year, and five more systems have in-principle approval of the Ministry. A dedicated IAF satellite has been cleared, the networking system called the IACCS is being upgraded to cut down sensor-to-shooter time, and Airbus A321-based surveillance aircraft are being developed.
Among his first challenges are the proposed theatre commands, where the IAF opposes dividing its fighter assets, and the exit of the first 2,850 Agniveers, of whom 25% will be retained. Their successful placement matters for the morale of later batches.
Air Chief Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in December 1986.
Over a career spanning four decades, ACM Dixit has a rich experience across diverse domains such as operations, flight testing, capability development and joint services assignments.
The IAF Chief is an accomplished fighter pilot, qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, with over 3,300 hours of flying experience on a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, various MiG variants, the Jaguar and several transport aircraft
He is recognised for his contribution to the modernisation of the Indian Air Force and was instrumental in finalising the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade projects and in the completion of the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) activities of the Tejas fighter jets.
His operational command assignments include command of a Mirage-2000 squadron, a Forward Base Support Unit in the Western Sector and Air Force Station Bidar, a premier fighter training base of the IAF.
He commanded the Central Air Command and later served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee during Operation Sindoor.
Prior to assuming charge as Chief of the Air Staff, he served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
Earlier in the day Air Chief Marshal AP Singh handed over command and inspected a Guard of Honour at the Air Force Station New Delhi (AFND) – the same station which has been in the news as the Urban Affairs Ministry surveyed the Air Force Sports complex and it led to its closure for members. The sports complex is co-located with the AFND. The outgoing Chief also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial.
On October 31, 2026, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the outgoing hugely popular Chief of the Air Staff, inspected the ceremonial guard of honour and paid homage at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
He later handed over command of the Indian Air Force to Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, marking a significant transition in leadership.
IMAGE: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh inspects the ceremonial guard of honour at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: @IAF_MCC X/ANI Photo
IMAGE: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh pays homage to the bravehearts at the National War Memorial. Photograph: @IAF_MCC X/ANI Photo
IMAGE: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh takes a salute as he inspects the ceremonial guard of honour at the National War Memorial. Photograph: @IAF_MCC X/ANI Photo
IMAGE: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh hands over command of the Indian Air Force to Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: @IAF_MCC X/ANI Photo
| Insignia | Rank | Component | Date of rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Officer | Indian Air Force | 21 December 1984[2] | |
| Flying Officer | Indian Air Force | 21 December 1985[2] | |
| Flight Lieutenant | Indian Air Force | 21 December 1989[2] | |
| Squadron Leader | Indian Air Force | 21 December 1995[2] | |
| Wing Commander | Indian Air Force | 14 May 2001[2] | |
| Group Captain | Indian Air Force | 5 November 2007[2] | |
| Air Commodore | Indian Air Force | 30 December 2010[2] | |
| Air Vice Marshal | Indian Air Force | 1 August 2016[2] | |
| Air Marshal | Indian Air Force | 1 February 2021[2] | |
| Air Chief Marshal (CAS) | Indian Air Force | 30 September 2024[20 |
