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