The Agniveer Scheme is a tour of duty style scheme approved by the Government of India on June 14, 2022, for recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers. The scheme is also known as the Agnipath Scheme and allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. Selected candidates under this scheme are known as Agniveers. The Agniveers will be divided into four disciplines: drivers, gunners, radio operators, and technical assistants, based on their aptitude and skill. The scheme aims to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces and provide an opportunity to the youth who may be keen to don the uniform by attracting young talent from the society who are more in tune with contemporary technological trends and plough back skilled, disciplined, and motivated manpower into the society.

Under this scheme, more than 46,000 posts are available, and the qualification for this post will be 10th, 12th, and ITI. Agniveers will be given an attractive customized monthly package along with risk and hardship allowances as applicable in the three services. On completion of the engagement period of four years, Agniveers will be paid one time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package which shall comprise their contribution including accrued interest thereon and matching contribution from the Government equal to the accumulated amount of their contribution including interest.

The scheme provides an avenue to Indian youth, desirous of serving the country, to get recruited in the Armed Forces for a short duration. The scheme enhances the youth profile of the Armed Forces and is a transformative reform of the recruitment policy of the Armed Forces. The Agniveers will be enrolled in the Forces under respective Service Acts for a period of four years and would form a distinct rank in the Armed Forces, different from any other existing ranks. Upon the completion of four years of service, based on organizational requirement and policies promulgated by the Armed Forces from time to time, Agniveers will be selected to be enrolled in the Armed ...