Agniveer: Which Agniveers are sent home after four years? Find out the criteria for discharge..

Agniveer 4-Year Rule: Discussions regarding the Agnipath scheme have intensified once again. When the scheme was launched in 2022, a rule was established stating that after four years of service, only 25% of Agniveers would be retained permanently, while the remaining 75% would be discharged and sent home. Now, the four-year tenure of the first batch—which began training in early 2023—is set to conclude in 2026. Consequently, everyone is wondering which soldiers will get the opportunity to continue in the armed forces after four years and who will have to return home. What are the criteria for their discharge? Let us understand the rules...

What does the rule regarding the discharge of Agniveers after four years say?
Under the current rule, only 25 out of every 100 Agniveers are retained for permanent service, while the service of the remaining 75 comes to an end. According to reports, the armed forces themselves now wish to increase this number. The Navy is seeking to retain up to 75% of Agniveers, whereas the Army and Air Force are aiming for around 50%. However, the government has not yet approved this change, so the existing 25% rule remains in effect for now.

How is it decided which Agniveer leaves and which one stays?
According to the rules, only those Agniveers who perform the best over the four-year period get the opportunity to continue; the rest are sent home. Several factors are taken into consideration:
Daily work performance: Discipline, diligence in duty, and conduct all matter.
Physical fitness: There are set criteria for performance in physical fitness tests.
Medical fitness: Medical reports must be impeccable; candidates must meet the standards established by the armed forces.
Skills and proficiency: Competence is assessed across various areas, ranging from weapon handling to the use of new technologies. Performance within the team is also taken into account.

What are the criteria for the discharge of Agniveers?
After the completion of the four-year term, the Army retains only those soldiers who prove to be the best based on established standards. Agniveers who rank lower on the merit list or fail to meet the required selection criteria are discharged. The Army prepares a merit list based on its set standards, and only those at the top of this list are given the opportunity to continue, while the others are sent home.

What happens to those who are not selected?
Upon completion of service, a lump-sum amount of ₹11.71 lakh is provided, which is entirely tax-free.
They receive skill and experience certificates, which assist in securing future employment.

10 percent of vacancies are reserved in forces such as the CAPF and Assam Rifles.
Several state governments have also announced that priority will be given to them in police recruitment.
Age relaxations are also granted to facilitate applications for other government jobs.