Agnipath Scheme
Introduction
The Union Cabinet of India approved one of the attractive schemes for Indian youth that they can join the Indian armed forces. The name of this scheme is Agnipath and the Selected candidate under this scheme is known as Agniveer. The cabinet committee on security has taken a historic decision on May 14, 2022, to approve the experimental scheme ‘Agnipath’. Agnipath Army Bharti scheme is a Central Government scheme for all Indian Candidates. Through Agnipath one can serve in the combat forces and approximately 46,000 soldiers will be recruited every year for the service term of just four years. The youth of the country who are between the age of 17 and half years to 21 years which is later extended to 23 years can apply for this scheme. It is a new HR management scheme for the Indian armed forces. The candidates recruited via this scheme will be called Agniveers. They will get a distinct rank in the respective armed forces that will be different from the existing ranks. Every Agniveer will be required to sign documents accepting the terms and conditions of the scheme, those who are under the age of 18 at the time of enrolment their guardian will sign the documents. Agniveer’s enrolled under this scheme are liable to be assigned any duty in organizational interest at the discretion of the respective armed force. They will be entitled to honors and awards as per government guidelines. To encourage and recognize the dynamism of youth uniforms will be worn by Agniveers during their engagement period.
“Agniveer” refers to fire and bravery. Agniveer is a movement of brave warriors dedicated to the worship of purifying Agni through thoughts, words and actions, and right devotion.
Relation Between Agniveer And Agnipath
- Defence minister Rajnath Singh and three Services chiefs introduced a new defence services recruitment for youngsters, the Agnipath scheme is a short-term defence model by the central government. Agniveer will be selected as personnel below officer rank. Their ranks would be distinguished unlike any existing Commissioned or non-commissioned ranks. A total of 46,000 ‘ Agniveer ‘ will be recruited this year. The candidate under the Agnipath scheme will be known as Agniveer and will serve in the military for four years including a training period of six months. The scheme entails a recruitment process for individuals below the rank of an officer with the goal of deploying fitter and younger troops on the front lines, many of whom will be on four years contracts. It will be a game-changing project that will give the Army, Navy And Air Force big benefits in future.
Changes In The Recruitment Process:
Everyone knows that even though the Indian army is a volunteer Force there is very tough competition getting selected, whether in the ranks as a recruit or as a cadet is a very tough competition.
Earlier recruitment was done with the help of the PERMANENT COMMISSION and SHORT SERVICE COMMISSION, here is a brief history of the process, as the President of India granted many types of commission to those who wish to serve the country by joining or being associated with the armed forces as officers.
Permanent Commission: It means a career in the armed forces till retirement, The entry will give an option to serve the nation up to the age of retirement, for permanent Commission you have to join the National Defence Academy, Pune, or Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. In permanent Commission an individual must sign a bond to serve for a minimum period of 20 years, on completion of 20 years, he must apply for retirement and will get a pension. If they got selected through a permanent Commission after their entry, they have to serve up to 60years till retirement in Army, Air force, and Navy.
Short Service Commission: In the short Service Commission the initial bond is for 5 years and extendable for another 5 years or 9 years which is a total of 14 years. However, on leaving there is no pension earned. Prior to the completion of 5 years, the batch is considered for Permanent Commission by a Selection Board. On getting Permanent Commission an officer loses about 8-9 months of seniority. Then after 10 years of service, they can choose three options such as:
- opt for a permanent Commission
- Opt for a 4years extension, and can resign at any time during this period of 4years extension.
- Opt-out
- Short Service Commission nourishes the skill set in analytical thinking and planning which will help in diverse career options.
Recent Changes In The Recruitment Process
Agnipath is a scheme of Short Service Commission total for 4 years including training period after training period Agniveer’s will retain 25% and other reservations in different state government jobs like CAPF, Assam Rifles, and State Police. Even after completing 4years in service, there is an opportunity that they might continue with the service if performance remains satisfactory enough to keep them after completion of their Tour Of Duty. Under the scheme, it will give service of four years but 25 % of soldiers the best professionals will be re-inducted as Permanent Soldiers on the basis of their willingness and fitness. They will then serve for a full term of another 15 years. While Other 75% will be demolished with an exit or given a Seva Nidhi as well as skill certificates and bank loans for help in their second careers. Under this scheme this year will begin on an “all-India-all- class” basis.
Agniveer will be given a 3-year age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit for recruitment in 2022, as the recruitment process is delayed because of the covid Situation for the last two years.
Reservation
- Rajnath Singh approved a proposal to reserve 10% of the job vacancies in the defence Ministry for Agniveer, in Central paramilitary forces, in the Assam Rifles, in the Indian coast guard, in the defence public sector, and in all 16-defence public sector undertaking, in addition with the existing reservation of ex-servicemen.
Pay Structure And Incentives
In the first year of enrolment under the Agnipath scheme, an Agniveer will get a monthly salary of 30,000 which translates to an annual package of 4.56 lakh. The in-hand amount is estimated around 21,000. The remaining 9,000 will go to a corpus with an equal contribution from the government. They will be given a Seva Nidhi after completion of 4years which is a corpus of a one-time amount of Rs. 11.71 lakh plus interest. The soldiers relieved of their services will be placed in civilian jobs after the completion of 4years.
At the end of the service period, they shall be paid of 11.71 lakh package.
| Year | Package | In-hand | Contribution to Agniveer corpus fund | Contribution to corpus fund by GOI |
| 1st | 30000 | 21000 | 9000 | 9000 |
| 2nd | 33000 | 23100 | 9900 | 9900 |
| 3rd | 36500 | 25580 | 10950 | 10950 |
| 4th | 40000 | 28000 | 12000 | 12000 |
- In case of disability based on the certification by the medical authority during the line of duty, riots, violence, attacks by terrorists, or enemy during peacekeeping operation they will get paid for the non-served period with a one-time package of 44 lakh for 100% disability caused during the duty and One time Seva Nidhi Package consists of their contribution plus acquired interest and a matching contribution from the government equal to the whole amount. The Seva Nidhi will be exempted from Income tax and there no dispensation to gravity and pensionary benefits. The Agniveer will get a non-contributory life Insurance cover of Rs. 48 lakhs for the time duration of their engagement period with the Indian armed forces.
Eligibility Criteria For Agniveers
General Duty (All Arms) – Need a class 10th matric with 45% marks in aggregate and 33% marks in each subject. For boards following the grading system of D Grades in the individual subject and 45% in aggregate is needed. Also, a valid driver’s license is mandatory.
Technical (All Arms) – 10+ 2 / intermediate exam pass in science with physics, chemistry, maths, and English with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate and 40% in each subject required. ITI course of a minimum of one year in the required field with NSQF level 4 or above is needed.
Clerk/storekeeper technical (All Arms) – pass in any stream with 60% marks in aggregate and a minimum of 50% in each subject. 50% in English and maths/ accounts/ Book keeping in class xii is mandatory.
Tradesmen- simple 10th pass, no such aggregate percentage required only 33% needed for each subject.
Tradesmen- simple 8th pass, no such aggregate percentage required only 33% needed for each subject.
Documents Required
The original documents uploaded by the candidates during the online filing of the application require original certificates, mark sheets, Domicile certificates, and NCC certificates. Aadhar card is mandatory for recruitment in the Indian Navy and will be checked at all stages of recruitment.
Join Indian Army has officially started the recruitment process of Agniveers from July 2022. The defence Ministry has notified the registration for the Indian Agniveer recruitment process 2022 from July 1st 2022. Indian Air force first started the Vayu Agniveer recruitment process on 24th June 2022 had received more than 3lakh applications till now.
Army Selection Process
- Physical measurements/ efficiency test
- Written exam
- Document verification
- Medical examination
- Merit list
Tattoo
- Permanent body tattoos are only permitted on the inner face of forearms, on any other part of the body is not acceptable and candidates will be barred from recruitment.
Lessen The Manpower
- The government of India shows that India is high on various parameters concerning the armed forces but it ranks low on human development. Defence needs to give some priority change. A revolutionary in military affairs has to be more technology-intensive. Military hardware is much costlier to purchase and maintain. Operational needs with manpower requirements while keeping in mind the fact that today’s recruit tomorrow’s pensioner, to lessen this Indian government came up with a new scheme of Agnipath to lessen the expenses spends every year on the soldiers and to spend more capital on modernization of technology in Army.
Non-Commissioned Ranks After Recruitment
- Agnipath scheme is not for officers’ ranks this is only for the non-commissioned ranks such as sepoy, Naik, and Lance Naik will be affected by this scheme.
The Supreme Court Heard The Plea On The Agnipath Scheme
- A vacation bench of the Supreme court agreed to the subject of approval of the Chief Justice of India, a plea challenging the center’s Agnipath recruitment scheme for the armed forces, the first plea was by the Airmen candidates who urged that because of the recruitment process delay, they will not suffer under the Agnipath scheme., Secondly, the plea is to examine the scheme and its impacts on National security and the army, lastly, three public interest litigation have been filled in the apex court against the scheme.
Advantages Of The Scheme
It is the single biggest human resources management transformation in the Indian Military.
A unique opportunity for the youth to serve the country and contribute to Nation building.
They will get hands-on experience in serving the country.
Availability of well-disciplined and skilled youth with military ethics in civil society.
Agniveers will be the assets to the country and big corporates will welcome them after the completion of the journey.
Disadvantages Of The Scheme
Under this scheme, employment is only for four years.
There is no pension scheme for the soldiers.
Only 25% of the appointed soldiers will be re-inducted under this scheme.
Protests Against The Scheme
- Thousands of youngsters who are staging protests against the scheme were aroused in parts of Bihar, UP, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. For the last 2years due to the Covid situation the recruitment in the Indian Army, was delayed and the people who were of 21 years old in 2020 feel that the Agnipath scheme is a missed opportunity for them, people want better government clarification who are having doubt about the job security under the scheme.
Relation With U.S.A And Russia In The Defence Scheme
Under this scheme, wars will be tech-savvy in the future. We need youth who are technologically strong.
The United States has the world’s third largest army, by law, all American citizens from 18- 25 years are required to register for selective services in the armed forces, and recruits are enrolled for four years same as the Agnipath scheme announced in India.
In Russia, a hybrid model of conscription and contracting is followed.
Conscripts serve a one-year term before being placed on reserve, similar to our Agnipath scheme. Many countries have shown positive results after the completion of the scheme application.
Defence Budget
- The military budget or defence budget of India is the portion of the overall budget of the union budget of India that is allocated for the funding of the Indian armed forces. The defence budget of 5,25,166 crore for 2022-23 included 1,19,696 crores for defence pension, the allocation for revenue expenditure was 2,33,000 crores. It includes the expenses spent on payment of salaries and maintenance. Pay and pension gobble up a large chunk of the defence budget to bring down the expenditure on military salaries and pensions and need funds to modernise the armed forces and give India a learner and younger fighting force. This year 25% of the total defence budget is spent on pension bills while that was the case the pension and salaries have grown over the years. The government has allocated 1.07lakh crore in Army pay and allowance this year. It paid over 88,800 crores in salaries in 2020-21. later money which is saved can be used for modernisation if the government save money from pensions and salaries.
Top 13 Information About Agnipath Scheme
Agniveers have the chance to receive training from the greatest universities and improve their abilities and credentials.
In the coming years, the recruitment for Agniveers in the armed forces will be around three times more than the current recruitment.
Regimental bonding will not be affected, no change will occur in the regimental system.
Indian Navy started the registration for the Agnipath recruitment scheme on 1 July. It has been reported that around 10,000 females have registered for the process within days of opening the portal after the announcement of the Agnipath scheme it is also announced to give women of our country to give a vast opportunity in the Navy.
Indian Navy has allowed women to be recruited as sailors in the force who would also be deployed on warships as per operational requirements.
The Navy is asking for arrangements at INS Chilka the premier basic training establishment for sailors of the Indian Navy on November 21, for women training only.
It is the short-term enlistment system that exists in most countries that tested out the scheme, and it turns out to be best for the youth soldiers of the country.
Most of the armies in the world depend on the youth.
Under this scheme, there will be a mix of youngsters and experienced supervisory ranks.
Youngsters who have worn the uniform for four years will remain committed to the country for the rest of their lives so it won’t be a problem if they live in civil society after getting army training.
The proposal of Agnipath has been framed by the department of Military officers staffed by Military officers. It is a creation of the government recognized the advantages of the scheme and welcomed it, so many army officials, and ex-servicemen also welcomed the scheme.
There is a shift towards more tech Savvy armed forces which is indeed the need of the hour.
Agniveer will be imparted with various military skills, experience, physical fitness, leadership, qualities, courage, and patriotism.
Sangjukta Sur
Writer
13angle
