Army considers deploying Agniveers to Jammu and Kashmir paramilitary units

The Indian Army is evaluating a proposal to deploy Agniveers to Rashtriya Rifles (RR) units operating in Jammu and Kashmir, according to defence sources. The move represents a notable expansion of roles for the short-service commissioned personnel introduced under the Agnipath scheme.

Agniveers have been restricted to postings within their parent regiments and units since the recruitment initiative was launched in 2022. The proposed deployment to RR units, which operate under operational command structures in counter-insurgency operations, would constitute their first assignment to extra-regimental formations.

If approved, the posting would leverage Agniveers' operational capabilities while addressing manpower requirements across internal security operations. The Rashtriya Rifles, primarily tasked with counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the Union Territory, have historically drawn personnel from regular Army units.

The proposal remains under review within Army headquarters, with final implementation dependent on operational assessments and policy clearances. Defence officials have not disclosed a timeline for any decision, though the initiative reflects broader discussions on optimizing Agnipath deployment strategies across various command structures.