Agnipath Scheme

The Passing Out Parade of the third batch of Agniveers who are recruited under the Agnipath scheme for serving in the Armed forces was held.

About the Scheme:

• Launched in 2022, the Agnipath Scheme is a revolutionary step by the Ministry of Defence aimed at restructuring the recruitment policy for the Indian Armed Forces.
• Agniveers: The scheme targets young individuals aged 17.5 to 21 years, offering them an opportunity to serve in the Armed Forces for a term of 4 years.
  • This initiative specifically focuses on enlisting personnel below officer ranks, commonly referred to as non-commissioned officers.
• Post their service under the Agnipath Scheme, up to 25% of each batch of Agniveers will be selected to continue serving in the Armed Forces for an extended period of 15 years, thereby entering the regular cadre.

Objectives:

• The scheme is designed to enable patriotic youth to contribute to national defence by serving in the Armed Forces.
• One of the primary goals is to reduce the average age of service personnel from 32 to 26 years within a span of 6 to 7 years, aiming at rejuvenating the forces with younger, more agile recruits.

Benefits for Agniveers:

• ‘Seva Nidhi’ Package: Agniveers will be granted a one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package amounting to Rs 11.71 lakhs after completing their 4-year service, which includes interest accumulated during their tenure.
• Life Insurance: During their service period, Agniveers are covered by a life insurance policy worth Rs 48 lakh.
• Death Compensation: In the unfortunate event of death during service, the compensation exceeds Rs 1 crore, including the salary for the unserved tenure, ensuring financial security for the families of the deceased Agniveers.
• Post-service Support: The scheme also promises support for rehabilitation and transitioning to civilian life post-service, aiding in the Agniveers’ reintegration into civilian life.

Concerns Related to Agniveers:

• Employment Post-Service: With the service period capped at four years and only a 25% chance of continuation in regular cadre, there is a significant concern regarding the employment prospects for Agniveers once their contract ends.
• No Pension Benefits: The scheme does not offer pension benefits, which raises concerns regarding the financial stability of Agniveers post their short tenure in the Armed Forces.
• Underutilized Training: The exit of trained Agniveers after their 4-year service could potentially lead to a depletion of experienced personnel within the Armed Forces.

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