Agnipath scheme: Armed Forces seek larger retention of Agniveers after end of 4-year tenure

📌 Summary:

• The Armed Forces are seeking an increase in the percentage of Agniveers retained after their four-year tenure; the currently approved retention is 25% for each service

• Likely asks: Navy ~75% retention of sailors; Army and IAF ~50% — up from 25%

• The first Agniveer batches (training began early 2023) complete their four-year tenure later this year; all will be released first, and selected volunteers re-enrolled as regular soldiers on merit

• Rationale: need for a larger pool of trained, operationally experienced soldiers familiar with new technologies and weapons; the issue will be discussed with the Department of Military Affairs (DMA)

• Even without a higher overall cap, specialised units (e.g. the Army's new Bhairav battalions) may induct a higher share of retained Agniveers while regular units take more serving Agniveers

• Scale: ~70,000 Agniveers were under training in the Army last training year; ~90,000 vacancies likely next year; the Army plans to progressively make up a shortfall of ~1.8 lakh troops

• An earlier proposal for higher retention was returned by DMA for re-evaluation

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Internal Security/Defence — Agnipath scheme design and course-correction, military manpower policy, force modernisation trade-offs

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Agnipath scheme (2022): 4-year tenure for soldiers ("Agniveers") in all three services; current retention cap 25%
• Department of Military Affairs (DMA) — created 2020, headed by the Chief of Defence Staff
• Bhairav battalions — newly raised Army units

🔑 Key Term: Agniveer — soldier recruited under the Agnipath scheme for a 4-year tenure, after which up to 25% (currently) are retained as regulars on merit.