The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s ambitious Agnipath scheme has faced opposition, from political parties and Armed Forces veterans alike, since it was announced in June 2022
Political Impact of the Agnipath Scheme
- A key plank in INDIA bloc’s campaign in states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan — where the Armed Forces are a sought after employer — was the opposition to this scheme for military recruitment.
- And the BJP’s performance in these states indicates that the pitch had some resonance on the ground.
- Now, with the BJP short of a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha, crucial alliance partners — Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party — too have called for a review of the contentious scheme.
What Is the Agnipath Scheme?
- The historic ‘Agnipath Scheme’ was approved by the Cabinet Committee on June 14, 2022.
- Under the ‘Agnipath Scheme’, Indian youngsters will be provided with an opportunity to serve in the Indian Armed Forces.
- While unveiling the central scheme, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Agnipath is a transformative initiative that will provide a youthful profile to the armed forces in the country.
- It’s a game-changing project that will give the Army, Navy, and Air Force a more young image.
Key Features of the Agnipath Scheme
- This scheme entails a recruitment process for individuals below the rank of officer, with the goal of deploying fitter, younger troops on the front lines, many of whom will be on four-year contracts.
- Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will leave the service in just four years.
- All the candidates aged between 17.5 years to 21 years are eligible to apply for the Indian Army Agniveer. Only for the recruiting year 2022-23, Indian Army gave a relaxation of 2 years in the upper age limit. So instead of 21 years, the upper age limit would be 23 years.
- Under this scheme, the youth joining will be called Agniveer
Terms of Service for Agniveers
- Once selected, the aspirants will go through training for six months and then will be deployed for three and a half years.
- After four years of service, 25% of the Agniveers will be retained in the regular cadre based on merit, willingness and medical fitness.
- They will then serve for a full term of another 15 years.
Eligibility Criteria for the Agnipath Scheme
- All three services will be enrolled through a centralized online system, with specific rallies and campus interviews conducted by recognised technical colleges such as Industrial Training Institutes and the National Skills Qualifications Framework, among others.
- Enrollment will be on a ‘All India All Class’ basis, with eligible ages ranging from 17.5 to 21 years old.
- The recruitment standards will remain the same, and recruitment will be done twice a year through rallies.
- The new system is only for personnel below officer ranks (those who do not join the forces as commissioned officers).
- Agniveers will meet the medical requirements for enlistment in the armed forces as they apply to their particular categories/trades.
Salary and Seva Nidhi Package
- Yearly package that the soldiers will get for the first year in this scheme will be 4.76 lakh rupees and it will rise to 6.92 lakhs in the fourth and final year of the period
- That is, In these four years of service, they will get a starting salary of Rs 30,000, along with additional benefits which will rise to Rs 40,000 by the end of the four-year service.
- Also during these service years, 30 per cent of their salary will be used under a Seva Nidhi programme, and the equal amount will be contributed by government monthly, and it will also accrue interest.
- It means after completing their required four years of duty, they will get the benefit of Seva nidhi package under which they will get Rs 11.71 lakh as a lump sum amount and it will remain tax free.
Benefits of the Agnipath Scheme
- The average age in the forces is 32 years today, which will go down to 26 in six to seven years, the scheme envisions.
- Efforts are being made that the profile of the Armed Forces should be as youthful as the wider Indian population. A youthful armed forces will allow them to be easily trained for new technologies.
- It will increase employment opportunities and because of the skills and experience acquired during the four-year service such soldiers will get employment in various fields.
- This will also lead to availability of a higher-skilled workforce to the economy which will be helpful in productivity gain and overall GDP growth
Concerns Surrounding the Agnipath Scheme
- The scheme provides a one-time payment of Rs 11.71 lakh on completion of 4-year tenure, but no gratuity or pension.
- This has caused widespread discontent among aspirants who were seeking job security and pension benefits.
- The 4-year term is seen as inadequate, with concerns that recruits may lack the same motivation and training as permanent soldiers.
- Also, this duration is insufficient to train and skill soldiers in the long term as it may lead to skill and experience deficit in armed forces.
- The current upper age limit of 23 years has excluded many youth who could not apply due to lack of recruitment during the pandemic.
- With limited permanent absorption (only 25%), the scheme is seen as exacerbating the already high youth unemployment in the country.
- This comes amidst wider economic challenges like rising inflation and inequalities.
- Experts believe the scheme was rushed through without adequate consultation, possibly as a political move ahead of elections. The lack of endorsement from defense forces also raises doubts.
- The scheme is seen as a way for the government to reduce its rising defense pension expenditure, prioritizing financial savings over long-term force building
Agnipath Scheme: A Global Perspective
- Voluntary tour of duty: In the USA tours are 6-9 or even 12 months’ deployment depending upon the needs of the military and branch of service.
- Mandatory tour of duty (called conscription): Countries that follow the practice of conscription include Israel, Norway, North Korea, and Sweden
Conclusion
The Agnipath Scheme is undeniably a bold reform aimed at revolutionizing military recruitment in India. While it promises a leaner, younger, and more skilled armed force, concerns over job security, pension, and long-term military readiness remain. As discussions around its implementation continue, the future of this scheme may depend on political consensus and evolving defense needs.
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