Agnipath Recruitment Scheme
Context: Agnipath Recruitment Scheme Recently, the Ministry of Defence announced the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the induction of young soldiers into tri-defence services.
About the scheme:
- Around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will leave the service in just four years.
- Of the total annual recruits, only 25% will be allowed to continue for another 15 years under permanent commission.
- Recruits under the scheme will be known as “Agniveers”.
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अमृत महोत्सव’ ‘नए भारत की नारी’ विषय पर प्रतिष्ठित सप्ताह
Agnipath Recruitment Scheme
Features:
- Enrolment in all three services: Centralised online system to conduct rallies & campus interviews at recognised technical institutes such as the Industrial Training Institutes, and the National Skills Qualifications Framework.
- Eligibility criteria: It is only for personnel below officer ranks. On an ‘All India All Class basis with the eligibility age ranging from 17.5 to 21 years, with medical and physical fitness standards.
- Educational qualification: Class X-XII
- Recruitment will be done twice a year.
- Pay and Perks: Annual package of ₹76 lakh in the first year to ₹6.92 lakh in the fourth year along with hardship allowance. Under the “Seva Nidhi” package (which is exempt from Income Tax), they will receive about ₹11.71 lakh, including contribution and interest, on completion of service. The recruits will have to contribute 30% of their monthly emoluments to Seva Nidhi, with a matching contribution made by the government. There will be no entitlement to gratuity and pensionary benefits under the scheme.
Gati Shakti scheme
Agnipath Recruitment Scheme
Who will be benefitted by this?
- Nation: National Integration based on unity in diversity with equal opportunity to youth including women from all regions. Nation Building through empowerment, disciplined & skilled youth with military ethos in civil society. It will considerably reduce the defence pension bill which has been a major concern of governments for many years.
अमृत महोत्सव’ ‘नए भारत की नारी’ विषय पर प्रतिष्ठित सप्ताह
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Agnipath Recruitment Scheme
Armed Forces:
- Improve battle preparedness through transformative evolution with energetic, fitter, diverse, more trainable resilient youth, suited to the changing dynamics.
- Selection of the best with rigorous transparent selection process.
- Youthful profile by optimal balance of youth and experience.
- Harness benefits of Skill India by induction from tech institutes.
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Agnipath Recruitment Scheme
Individuals:
- Opportunities for youth to fulfil their dream of joining the Armed Forces & serve the nation.
- Imbibe military discipline, motivation, skill, and physical fitness.
- Smooth integration into society with skill sets certification and diplomas /higher education/credits.
- Good financial package making him/her more stable than his /her civilian counterparts.
- Confident better citizens by military training, team building, ethos camaraderie forged over the years.
- Resume so unique that an Agniveer will stand out in crowd.
- 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.
अमृत महोत्सव’ ‘नए भारत की नारी’ विषय पर प्रतिष्ठित सप्ताह
Agnipath Recruitment Scheme
Related Concerns
- No Pilot Project to Test the Scheme, lead to the militarization of the society, will Dilute professionalism, military ethos and fighting spirit (took 7-8 yrs. to become fully ready combat soldier).
- No Pension Benefits, only lumpsum; difficult to find another job after giving 4 years.
- Will hit the basic ethos of Naam, Namak & Nishan (reputation of Battalion, fidelity & ensign).
- Tourist soldiering is not a good idea for India’s security challenges.
Agnipath Recruitment Scheme
Conclusion
- Need Proper Pilot Project to Test the Scheme.
- Modernisation is needed on all fronts (Personnel, arms, and warfare)
- These are fundamental and overdue reforms of our military. All major world militaries — the U.S., France, China, Russia, and others — have undertaken reforms to modernise the mass versus machine ratios, which is a key pillar of modern warfare.
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