Current Events :
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.
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
Another tweak to the Agnipath scheme is on the cards, with Agniveers likely to be allowed to marry during their term of engagement with the armed forces. However, there is no change on the pending demand of granting a pension to families of soldiers who die in the line of duty.
Sources confirmed to The Tribune the three armed forces had discussed the issue of marriage of Agniveers. At present, the policy bars an Agniveer from marrying during the mandated four-year term in the Army, Navy or Indian Air Force. The development comes a day after the government announced that Agniveers, who were to exit on completion of their four-year term, would be retained for an additional two years before being absorbed as regular soldiers.
With Agniveers set to remain in service for a longer period, the existing no-marriage clause would need to be revisited.
“A relaxation is expected as the service rules are framed by the armed forces and can be amended to permit marriage during service,” an official said.
The clause barring an Agniveer from marrying has created social issues, the official said. Most soldiers come from rural areas. A young recruit joins as an Agniveer between the ages of 17 and 21. If the service period extends to six years, finding suitable marriage prospects could become difficult, particularly in rural areas where marriages are often arranged at a younger age.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen NS Raja Subramani on Wednesday announced a two-year extension in service for the first batch of Agniveers and said all of them would subsequently be absorbed into the regular cadre.
However, no change in pension rules is expected. The present rules do not have the provision of pension for the family of Agniveers dying in the line of duty. In case a regular soldier gets killed in action, his family — wife or parents — gets pension for life.
In the past, the armed forces had proposed a lifelong “subsistence allowance” for the dependants of an Agniveer who dies in the line of duty, including parents and dependent siblings.
In December 2023, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence chaired by BJP MP Jual Oram recommended that families of Agniveers, who die in the line of duty be provided the same benefits as given to the families of regular soldiers.
The other pending issue is lifelong medical treatment in case of disability. At present, an Agniveer receives a lump-sum compensation package but is not entitled to a lifelong disability pension.
The Centre has taken possession of another prime government land parcel near the Prime Minister’s official residence, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) formally handing over 39.5 acres housing its Sports Complex at Race Course Air Force Station in New Delhi to the Land and Development Office (L&DO).
The distinction is to be noted that Air Force Sports Complex is co-located to Air Force Station and is neither part of it nor falls under land of station. The complex land parcel is owned by government.
The transfer, completed on an “as is where is” basis, marks the latest development in the Centre’s exercise to reclaim prominent government properties around 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, where several defence-linked sporting and recreational facilities have come under scrutiny.
The next step will be a joint survey involving the Defence Estate Office, the IAF and the L&DO to establish the exact extent of the land and verify its measurements. The exercise is significant as it will help the three agencies establish the precise area being handed over and identify any variations in the recorded dimensions. The transfer itself has already been completed, with the survey now expected to settle the land measurement details.
The development follows the closure of the sports complex last Wednesday, days before the formal handover.
The Tribune had first reported on October 28 that the facility had been shut, staff had been barred from entering and the L&DO was moving to reclaim the property. Its report had also highlighted that the purpose for which the government intended to use the land remained unclear.
The complex, which had a golf course, swimming pool, badminton courts and other sporting facilities, was closed after the L&DO, under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, issued eviction notices to its management, directing it to vacate the premises.
The takeover is part of a wider government exercise to review and reclaim high-value land parcels in the vicinity of Lok Kalyan Marg, including properties being used for defence golf courses and sporting facilities.
Earlier, the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry had directed the concerned entities to return the land occupied by the Air Force Golf Course.
In August, the L&DO took possession of the Delhi Race Club’s 53-acre premises on Lok Kalyan Marg, citing the requirement of the land for an unspecified public purpose. The Centre has also reclaimed the Jaipur Polo Ground from the India Polo Association, citing broader public purposes, governance requirements and defence infrastructure projects.
The handover of the IAF Sports Complex adds another substantial property to this list, while the joint survey will now establish the exact land area and provide clarity on its measurements.
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.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday successfully flight-tested the quasi-ballistic missile ‘Pralay’ from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, paving the way for its imminent induction into the armed forces.
The Pralay has a range of about 500 km is classified as ‘quasi-ballistic missile’ as it blends features of ballistic and cruise missiles. It can travel fast and high like a ballistic missile but stays within the atmosphere and performs mid-flight manoeuvers, allowing it to change course and evade enemy defences.
The Ministry of Defence said the test was conducted around 11.10 am. “All test objectives were fully met, as confirmed by data captured by various range instruments,” the Ministry said.
Pralay is an indigenously developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads that can detach and target various targets.
The missile has been indigenously developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, along with other DRDO laboratories. Bharat Dynamics Limited, one of the development-cum-production partners, has produced the system.
Senior officials from DRDO, representatives of the industry and the Defence Forces were present during the test, which was conducted as part of user evaluation trials.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, the Defence Forces and industry partners on the success. He said the missile, equipped with advanced technologies, would further enhance the technological capabilities and operational preparedness of the military against emerging threats.
Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the teams associated with the flight-test.
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM is a former four star air officer of the Indian Air Force. He last served as the 28th Chief of the Air Staff.[3][4] He was previously serving as the 47th Vice Chief of the Air Staff.[5] He earlier served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command[6] and as the Senior Air Staff Officer at the Eastern Air Command.[7]
He is an alumnus of S.B.M. School, Delhi and later the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi.[8]
The air officer was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 21 December 1984 from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. In a distinguished career spanning across 38 years, he has tenanted various staff and instructional appointments. He has flown a variety of fighter and trainer aircraft with more than 5000 hours of operational flying. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an experimental test pilot with service flying on a variety of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.[5] As Wing Commander, he commanded the No. 22 squadron, then made up of the MiG-27 fighter aircraft.[9] He spearheaded the MiG-29 Upgrade Project Management Team at Moscow, Russia and was instrumental in flight testing of the HAL Tejas. He served as the Chief Test Pilot at Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment.
After being promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he served as the Project Director at National Flight Test Center, Aeronautical Development Agency and as the Air Officer Commanding of 2 Air Defence Control Centre at Gandhinagar.[2]
After being promoted to the rank of Air Marshal, he was appointed as the Senior Air Staff Officer of the Eastern Air Command at Shillong. A year later, on 1 July 2022, he took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command succeeding Air Marshal Richard John Duckworth who superannuated from service on 30 June 2022.[6][10]
On 1 February 2023, Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh took over as the 47th Vice Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Marshal Sandeep Singh when the latter superannuated from service on 31 January 2023.[11] As VCAS, he was at the forefront of the largest ever multinational Air Exercise Tarang Shakti held in India that was concluded in September 2024. In a significant message on the importance and the efficiency of India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, he flew extensively during the drill including a sortie with VCOAS Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani and VCNS Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.[12]
On 21 September 2024, the Government of India appointed Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh as the next Chief of the Air Staff.[13] On 30 September 2024, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh took over as the 28th Chief of the Air Staff succeeding Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari who superannuated after more than four decades of service.[3][4] In February 2025, during Aero India 2025, he had criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for delays in delivering of the Tejas fighter aircraft.[14] He has also supported the procurement of indigenously designed defence systems over imports from international companies.[15]
He superannuated on 31 October 2026 after more than four decades of service to the nation and was succeeded by Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit.[16]
He is married to Sarita Singh and the couple has a son and a daughter.[17] He is a keen squash player.
