In response to a troop shortfall of approximately 1.8 lakh personnel, the Indian Army plans to increase Agniveer recruitment vacancies to over 1 lakh annually, up from the current 45,000-50,000. The shortfall has been exacerbated by the retirement of 60,000-65,000 soldiers each year during the COVID-19 pandemic and the phased retirement of Agniveers beginning in December 2026. The Army aims to recruit a total of 1.75 lakh Agniveers over the initial four years of the Agnipath scheme, with additional vacancies to be released while maintaining training standards across regimental centres. This strategic adjustment is crucial for addressing personnel deficiencies and ensuring operational readiness in the long term.