All Agniveers eligible for regular soldier role after 2-year extension: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday, 7 November 2026, that all Agniveers will be eligible for enrollment as regular soldiers after completing an additional two-year tenure, subject to their willingness and meeting selection criteria. He called the decision a 'significant Diwali gift for Agniveers' during an interaction with air warriors at West Bengal's Bagdogra Air Force station. The change, announced by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, applies to around three lakh Agniveers currently serving, including 18,300 first-batch personnel who were to be discharged from mid-November.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, termed the move a 'U-turn'. The government insists it rests on a four-year performance assessment. Meanwhile, Agniveers in Maharashtra have urged the state government to protect a 10% reservation in police and other uniformed services announced in September 2026, fearing the extension may affect their eligibility. Former Army chief Gen VP Malik welcomed the revision, saying the armed forces need young, tech-savvy soldiers.