The central government of India has opposed a petition seeking equal death benefits for Agniveers and regular soldiers, filed by Jyotibai Naik, the mother of martyred Agniveer M Murali Naik, who was killed during Operation Sindoor in Poonch on May 9, 2025. In an affidavit submitted to the high court, the government stated that Agniveers, who serve under the Agnipath scheme for a duration of four years, are not 'similarly situated' as regular soldiers, and thus cannot claim the same pensionary benefits for their families. The government emphasized that the Agnipath scheme is a contemporary response to current national security needs, contrasting with the long-term service requirements of regular soldiers. It further noted that no pension provisions exist in the Agnipath scheme for the next of kin of deceased Agniveers. Following Naik's death, the government reported that all eligible financial benefits, totaling approximately ₹2.3 crore (roughly $276,000 USD), including insurance and compensation, have been disbursed to his family. The next hearing for this case is scheduled for June 18.