Jaibans Singh
The Agnipath Scheme was launched by the Armed Forces of India in June, 2022. It constituted a departure from the previous practices followed by the Indian Armed Forces for recruitment of the Other Rank (non-commissioned) category. In simpler words, it laid out a new policy for the recruitment of enlisted soldiers in the army. The officer cadre remains untouched by this scheme.
The new scheme elicited the expected stringent response from the opposition. Agitation was witnessed in various parts of the Nation. In some instances, it degenerated into violence. The government, however, remained firm and the scheme was implemented. A few batches of Agniveers have already been selected and trained and are serving in their units.
The Agnipath scheme remained a major talking point for the opposition during the parliamentary polls held recently. It did not elicit enough response to induce a change in the government. The Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was, thus, formed for a historic third time.
Some crucial members of the NDA, especially the Janata Dal United (JDU) had not supported the scheme during its inception and were looking for a review of the same. This propelled the opposition into attacking the scheme at the outset by putting up a demand to scrap it even ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha. This was a political move designed to break the ranks of the NDA. The plan failed and the NDA government remains strong.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the scheme for the first time since its inception in his address at the Drass War Memorial, Kargil, on 26 July, 2024. While making it clear that the Agniveer scheme was the brainchild of Indian Armed Forces, the prime minister supported it by saying that it would rejuvenate the Armed Forces and make them fit for war by providing a young and motivated set of soldiers.
“The Agnipath scheme will increase the strength of the country and the capable youth will also come forward to serve the motherland. Announcements have also been made to give priority to Agniveers in the private sector and paramilitary forces,” he said in his speech. PM Modi rubbished the allegations of the opposition that the scheme had been rolled out to save on pensions. He alleged that the opposition was misguiding youth about the Agnipath scheme.
It is now very clear that the government has no intention to scrap the Agnipath scheme. However, modifications and course correction will take place as the scheme evolves over time. Internal surveys are already going on and reports are being prepared.
All recruitment in the Indian Armed Forces is now being carried out under the Agnipath scheme. Enrolment is on ‘All India All Class’ basis. The Agniveers are contracted to serve for four years which includes a training period of six months. They start with a monthly salary of Rs 30,000/- which will go up to Rs 40,000/- in the fourth year. The four years served as Agniveers would not count towards pensionable service. One-third of the wage will go into the Agniveer Corpus Fund, with an equal contribution by the government. At the end of four years, an accumulated amount of Rs 11.71 lakh would be paid to each Agniveer who is released from the contract.
In addition, a non-contributory life insurance cover of Rs 48 lakh is being provided for the duration of the engagement. The Union Education Ministry has launched a special bachelor’s degree programme for Agniveers through the medium of distance education from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
After four years, 25 percent of Agniveers will be retained and the balance will be released. Those released will get support from the government and other civilian establishments for their settlement, if they so desire. Individuals selected for permanent service would be required to serve for a further engagement period of a minimum of 15 years.
The intake, in the enlisted segment of the Indian Armed Forces is invariably from the rural/semi urban regions of the country. The youth from these areas, on completion of their secondary education, are normally staring at an uncertain future due to the low financial levels of their families. Some drop out and do odd jobs while others seek admission in local colleges for graduation. As Agniveers they will get an opportunity to earn while also studying and also add to their skill set. This is a huge facility.
The positives that the services will accrue from the scheme include reduction of the average age profile of the soldiers by four to five years. They also look at a vibrant technologically savvy intake year on year. The services will get an option, after four years, to shed such personnel who are not suited for the job; only the best will remain. Similarly, the Agniveer will also get an opportunity to decide whether they wish to continue or not. It is a win-win situation for all.
Most of the arguments floated against the Agnipath scheme are based on conjecture. The argument of reduction in pension bill, for example, does not factor in the fact that such a change will be visible only after 20 years when the first batch of regular soldiers recruited as Agniveers retire. So many changes can happen by then. Similarly, the arguments of a reduction in morale and motivation and gaps in training were speculations.
The requirement of a major restructuring has been felt within the forces, especially the army, for a long time, much before the NDA 1.0 government was formed. This is due to the introduction of path breaking technology which has greatly reduced the requirement of manpower. For example, earlier Tanks functioned with a crew of four; the modern tanks function with a crew of three, hence, every Armoured Regiment is surplus of about forty-five personnel. Similarly, right sizing is required in other arms and services also.
The policy formulation for change was detailed and comprehensive. It considered all current historical and traditional aspects while also studying the recruitment pattern in other militaries across the world. They found that most militaries, other than India and Pakistan, have shed the outdated pattern of maintaining a large manpower base and adopted methodologies akin the Agnipath scheme.
In the US, for example, an enlisted soldier has different contract obligations to choose from. He goes through basic training before serving a combination of active duty and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) depending on your specific contract. The period of active service is somewhat akin to the Agniveer scheme. After service there are many benefits, the biggest is pursuance of college education for free with financial support from the GI Bill. Surely, the Agnipath scheme will also evolve to such a level with time.
A few Agniveer batches have been successfully inducted in the services. The recruitment process witnessed more than a million plus applicants for about 40 thousand vacancies in the Army. This negates the perception that the scheme has no takers in the country.
Many veterans, including this columnist, have interacted with serving officers informally to get feedback on the applicability of the scheme. An overwhelming positive feedback is being received. On joining their units post the training period, Agniveers are found to be above average in basic parameters like drill, physical fitness, weapons handling and technical skills. They also maintain good turnout, discipline and high morale.
The serving officers feel that the Agniveers are better prepared for military service and more competitive considering the rigorous selection process and the limited retention clause. Being technologically savvy and better educated than the recruits of olden times, they are more adaptable and fast learners. On the job training carries on in the regiment. Being under training within the unit, their availability for work is more than the earlier recruits who could be put to sundry duties.
Speculations regarding training deficiencies, low morale and harbouring a sense of insecurity, therefore, stand negated. The other parameters like retention and post release adjustments will be clarified once the first few batches reach that level.
The matter of resettlement of Agniveers post the four-year stint with the forces will be dealt with a whole-of-government approach in concert private industry. The Directorate General of Resettlement and the Army Welfare Placement Organisation of the Armed Forces will also pitch in. The banks have been advised to provide guarantees of Rs 18 lakhs for small business loans, to add to the severance package. There will be considerable absorption in state police and national paramilitary forces for which the respective directorates have given assurances. Overall, there is immense scope to absorb a well-trained, disciplined and experienced young force as the Agniveers will be.
The Agniveers are competing for retention within the services but are not overly worried about the future since they know that even if they are released they will be in a much better position to work out an alternate career than their counterparts in the civil stream.
Surely, the services will carry out detailed assessments and give recommendations for course corrections to the government. Already there is talk of enhanced retention in consideration of the retirement rate of the services. The efficacy of increasing the retention period is also being assessed, the decision will be taken after considering the post release settlement of the Agniveers who will need to be in a particular age group to apply for jobs outside. There is no reason to believe that the government will not look at the same with an open mind and a positive attitude. The first four years of the Agnipath scheme should, therefore, be treated purely as a validation period.
Notwithstanding the plethora of media debates and the political rhetoric that the scheme is generating, it is quite obvious that the services are more than satisfied with the same. There seems to be no threat to the security of the nation as some would like to project.
There are arguments and counter arguments for every proposal. No recruitment process in this world is perfect; that followed by the services earlier was far from perfect and outdated too. There are also intangibles that will crystallise only as the scheme evolves. The new method is in the test-bed and will be validated and refined along the way.
The services are in the hands of very capable leaders who have the interest of the organisation foremost in the minds as they have been taught since their training. It would be best to allow the professionals to do their job without unnecessary interference.
It can be said with a great degree of confidence that the Agnipath scheme, if applied with sensitivity, has the potential of emerging as a force multiplier in laying a strong foundation of Nation building. It would be best to welcome the scheme and facilitate its application in a positive environment and with an open mind.
