Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 4: In a virtual rollback of its “Agnipath” scheme, the Central government making a major shift in its policy on Wednesday decided to give all the willing “Agniveers” an opportunity to be absorbed in the armed forces if they meet the objective selection criteria after four to six years of engagement with the defence services.
The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepting the recommendations of the defence services. Under the revised “Agnipath” recruitment scheme, while 25 per cent of the “Agniveers” would be absorbed in the armed forces after completion of four years as per the original scheme, the services of the remaining 75 per cent would be extended by two more years after which all the “willing” Agniveers would be absorbed in the armed forces if they meet the rigorous selection criteria.
If anyone failed to meet the selection criteria, the released Agniveers would not enjoy reservation in any government job. Under the original “Agnipath” recruitment scheme launched in 2022, only 25 per cent of the “Agniveers” were to be retained in the services of the armed forces while the remaining 75 per cent of them were to be released from the armed forces which had caused much of heart-burning and agitation by a section of the youths keen to join the armed forces. They were also supported by the opposition parties who had strongly criticised the Modi government’s “slip-shod recruitment policy for the defence services.”
The decision comes amid the criticism of the shorter period of engagement after which as a solace to the 75 per cent of the Agniveers to be released from the armed forces, the centre then had promised to them reservations and priority in recruitment in some of the government services while several BJP-ruled states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and some other states had announced 10 per cent reservation for them in the state police and other allied services.
The decision to give the 75 per cent of the Agniveers who have to exit another opportunity to meet the selection criteria to be absorbed in the armed forces was taken by the union cabinet just about fortnight before the first batch “Agniveers” are to exit the armed forces after completing four years of engagement with the armed forces on November 21. Launched in 2022, Agnipath scheme provides for short-term induction of personnel into the armed forces with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services. Those recruited under the scheme are called Agniveers.
Announcing the union cabinet’s decision, the Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani said all Agniveers will be given an opportunity for continuing their engagement in the armed forces. It would depend on the performance and review of their performance, he said.
“From the beginning it was clear that this scheme will be reviewed. Every year the Agniveers were reviewed and we arrived at a decision that there should be a two year extension,” General Subramani said, adding the scheme from the beginning “was not set in stone.” “This review did not just happen today; it has been an ongoing process. We have been discussing this for the past three to four months, and today the cabinet has approved our recommendations,” he said.
The General further stressed that the Agnipath scheme in its current form, that is, the first four years, would also continue. “The Agnipath scheme has not been discontinued. It will continue. Secondly, this second engagement period of two years gives those Agniveers who have not been selected in the first four years a chance to serve longer.
“Their relative experience, qualifications and skills are relative. It’s not that they are bad; it’s relative. So, in these two years, they get a chance to serve longer in the Army, with the provision that they can be enrolled as regular soldiers. So this is a win-win situation for both,” he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the decision would provide all “willing” Agniveers a chance to enrol as regular soldiers after their tenure of four or six years, conditional on them meeting the selection criteria. “Taking a significant decision today, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Shri @narendramodi has approved a two-year ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers under #Agnipath. I sincerely thank PM Modi for taking the decision of additional 2-year ‘Second Tour of Duty’ for Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. This would also provide enrolment of all willing Agniveers as regular soldiers after the tenure of 4/6 years, who meet the selection criteria,” Mr Singh said in a post on X.
“This decision is continuation of long-term structural reforms of our defence forces, aimed at creating a younger, fitter, technologically equipped and future-ready military. It is not merely a recruitment policy; it is a way forward to prepare India’s military for the changing character of warfare,” he added.
The Agnipath scheme was announced in 2022 for the recruitment of soldiers — youth between 17.5 to 23 years — in the three branches of the armed forces, on a short-term basis. Currently, there are around 3,00,000 Agniveers in the defence forces.
Meanwhile, the first batch of Agniveers will exit service on November 21. Around 2,100 Agniveers were inducted into the Indian Navy in the first batch, of whom approximately 550 (nearly 25 per cent) have been absorbed into the Navy under the retention policy. “The remaining Agniveers were earlier scheduled to exit after completing their four-year engagement. However, under the updated framework, they will now be offered an additional two-year engagement period.”
Along with the Indian Navy, the first batches of Agniveers in the Indian Air Force and the Army were also scheduled to complete their four-year engagement by December 31. More than 18,000 Agniveers across the three services were earlier expected to exit by the end of the year. However, following the latest announcement, the remaining 75 per cent will be offered an additional two-year engagement period.
The Agnipath Scheme is aimed at transforming the recruitment process in the Indian Armed Forces, including the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy recruits 10th- and 12th-qualified youth as Agniveers. They undergo basic training at INS Chilka (Odisha) and subsequently attend professional courses at various training schools of the Navy, spread across the country. The Agniveers are attached to afloat platforms for sea exposure and later deployed for duties in ships, air squadrons, and shore establishments. Training imparted in the Navy is based on the proficiency required to handle the assigned tasks in a supervised/independent role.
Agniveers receive a monthly customised package of Rs 30,000 in the first year, which increases to Rs 40,000 in the fourth year. Of this amount, 70 per cent is paid as a monthly in-hand salary, while 30 per cent goes towards the Agniveer Corpus Fund, with an equivalent contribution made by the government. On completion of the four-year engagement period, 25% of the Agniveers are retained in the Navy, based on performance evaluation during the engagement period and would accrue highly motivated and qualified sailors to the navy.
The retained sailors undergo further training and gain hands-on experience to be entrusted with the operation or maintenance of potent weapon systems, complex machinery, and electronics. They receive pay and allowances applicable to regular sailors in the Navy.