INTRODUCTION TO AGNIPATH SCHEME
Government of India has introduced Agnipath scheme on 14th June 2022. It was launched to meet the requirement of Indian armed forces and thereby to provide employement to Indian youth who are severly struggling to get job. Basically Government of India introduced Agnipath scheme to empower Indian armed force. Government of India introduced the scheme for the recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into three services of armed forces i.e Army, Airforce and Navy. Agnipath is a basically a Pan India merit based recruitment scheme for enrolling soldiers ,airmen and sailors.Consequently the scheme provides an opportunity for youth to serve in the regular cadre of armed force.
AGNIVEERS:-
Under Agnipath scheme Indian Armed force provide an opportunity to Indian youngesters to serve in armed force, and We call those youngsters “AGNIVEERS”.
1. To Provide youthful profile to Indian armed force.
2. To strengthen Indian Armed Force and consequently to strengthen Indian security.
3.To provide employement to unemployed Indian youths.
4.Also to increase the manpower of Indian Armed Force.
From 2019 onwards, Indian armed force didn’t recruit personnel because of COVID and so many other administrative reasons. Meanwhile almost 50000 to 60000 soldiers continued to retire from their service every year. Obviously these factors led to shortage of personnel and ultimately started affecting operational activities of the armed force. Hence to fill the manpower gap in Indian armed force, Govt. of India planned to introduce this scheme. Ministry of Defence used to recruit soldiers into the armed forces on a 15+year tenure with lifelong pension, before the introduction of the scheme.
DEMERITS OF THE SCHEME
The scheme will bypass many things including long tenure, pension and other benefits which were there in old system. Opposition parties have criticized this scheme and charged Indian Government that current govt. is only playing with the emotions of Indian youth.After all this scheme has also disappointed the youths aspiring to join Indian armed force. Mainly the cause of concern are the short length of service, no pension provision for those released early, as well as the 17.5 to 21 years age restriction. Moreover no information about the scheme was given prior to its announcement.
RECRUITMENT THROUGH AGNIPATH SCHEME
Ministry of Defence will enroll candidates under the respective service act for a service duration of 4 years only. Centralised transparent screening assessment based on merit and 100% candidate can apply on volunteer basis.The candidates can apply ONLINE ONLY on the official website www.joinindiannavy.gov.in.
Ministry of Defence will give 30000/- to 40000/- per month to Agniveers. The package will start with 4.76 Lakhs which will increase to 6.92 lakhs in 4 years.
ENTITLEMENTS AND OTHER BENEFITS IN AGNIPATH SCHEME:-
-Agnipath scheme entitle Agniveers for awards, medals & insurance covers like regular cadre of soldiers, airmens and sailors.
-Death compensation
-Non contributary life insurance cover of Rs 48 Lakhs.
-Risk/hardship allowance and Income tax exempt are other benefits.
-For all Agniveers who achieve martyrdom, this scheme will give full payment of unserved service years.Also the scheme will lead to improved battle preparedness through selection of the best with rigorous and transparent selection process.
Though there are some challenges to implement the scheme and demerits like 4 years service, no pension , this scheme can be seen as an effort to increase the manpower in Indian Armed Force and ultimately to strengthen the Armed Force in long run.This scheme will also provide employement to Indian Youth.In spite of all the demerits and problems raised by opposition party, Agnipath scheme will definetly emerge as successful and fruitful scheme for Indian Armed force and as a whole for the country.
