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Introduction
The Indian Armed Forces are considering significant changes to the Agnipath scheme for military recruitment. These changes aim to address feedback from recent surveys conducted by the three services and focus on improving the retention percentage and training duration for Agniveers.
While these proposals are not yet formal recommendations to the government, they are currently under discussion within the Armed Forces.
Proposed Agnipath Scheme Changes
Increasing Retention Rates:
Current Retention Rate: 25%
Proposed Retention Rates:
60-70% for regular troops
Up to 75% for technical and specialist soldiers, including Special Forces
Objective: To enhance cohesiveness and reduce the competitive atmosphere among Agniveers, fostering trust and collaboration.
Feedback from Services:
The feedback from the Army indicates a lack of cohesiveness and camaraderie among Agniveers, with a tendency to compete rather than collaborate.
Increasing the retention percentage is aimed at addressing this issue, ensuring that soldiers develop good camaraderie and regimental spirit to fight together.
Retention in Other Services:
Discussions are also underway to retain at least 50% of Agniveers in other services.
Goal: To increase bonding and willingness to support each other rather than compete.
Training Duration and Service Period
Training Period Extension:
Pre-Agnipath Training Duration: 37-42 weeks
Current Training Duration for Agniveers: 24 weeks
Proposed Training Duration: Revert to 37-42 weeks
Reason: The reduced training period has adversely impacted the overall training quality of Agniveers.
Service Period Extension:
Current Service Period: 4 years
Proposed Service Period: Increase to around 7 years
Benefits:
Grant gratuity and ex-servicemen (ESM) status to Agniveers.
Make Agniveers eligible for benefits applicable to ESM.
Count the entire period of 7 years of service as part of pensionable service for those getting permanently retained.
Lateral Absorption and Technical Personnel
Lateral Absorption:
Suggestions include lateral absorption of graduates as technical personnel.
Issue: Technology-intensive services need more senior technical personnel, and Agnipath may not meet the required numbers by 2035.
Protecting Seniority:
Suggestions include protecting the seniority of Agniveers absorbed into the Central Armed Police Forces, rather than starting from scratch.
Defence Civilians:
Certain graduate Agniveers could eventually form a pool of defence civilians.
Feedback and Observations
Physical Standards and Training Focus:
The feedback from different Army commands shows that Agniveers meet the required physical standards and are willing to study, having a higher technical threshold.
Observation: The focus of Agniveers remains on retention tests instead of overall training.
Applicant Demographics:
There has been an increase in applications from urban areas.
Background of the Agnipath Scheme
Introduction of Agnipath Scheme:
Announced in June 2022 after a two-year gap in military recruitment due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Objective: To recruit soldiers, airmen, and sailors for a period of four years.
Post-Tenure Options:
At the end of the four-year tenure, up to 25% of Agniveers can apply voluntarily to join the services on a regular basis, subject to merit and organizational requirements.
Pension Disparity:
The biggest difference between regular soldiers and Agniveers is that regular soldiers draw a pension after retirement.
Agniveers who are not in the 25% absorbed after four years are not entitled to any pensionary benefit.
Conclusion
The proposed Agnipath Scheme Changes are aimed at enhancing the overall efficacy and morale within the Armed Forces.
These changes, while still under discussion and not yet formal recommendations, focus on increasing retention rates, extending training periods, and improving the overall service conditions for Agniveers.
If implemented, these changes could significantly impact the future structure and effectiveness of the Indian Armed Forces.