New Delhi, Nov. 5 -- Families of Agniveers across states welcomed the Centre's decision to extend the service of recruits by two years on Wednesday, saying it would give them more time to build a career in the armed forces and another opportunity to qualify for permanent enrolment. However, some said the extension was only a partial relief and that they hoped their children would eventually secure regular service.

The Union cabinet has decided to give Agniveers who failed to make the cut to serve beyond four years an option to remain in service for two more years and offered them a route to enrol as regular soldiers in the armed forces at the end of the extended period, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani said on Wednesday....