ollowing widespread criticism, the Indian Army has undertaken a review of the Agnipath scheme and proposed changes to ensure 'operational efficiency', source based reports say.
The Indian Army has reportedly advised the government to increase the proportion of Agniveers transitioning to regular service after four years from the current 25 percent to 60-70 percent.
Concerns from NDA allies JDU and LJP (Ram Vilas) after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections prompted a reevaluation of the Agnipath scheme. The Indian Army has conducted this review to facilitate the seamless integration of Agniveers and uphold operational efficiency.
Sources within the defence and security sectors have told Financial Express that the Agnipath scheme's utility is under scrutiny by the armed forces and the defence ministry. Suggestions from the Indian Army include extending the service period from four years to 7-8 years.
Additionally, they propose raising the entry age for Agniveers in technical roles to 23 years. Furthermore, suggestions include providing ex-gratia payments for disabilities sustained during training and assigning exit management to a professional agency. Moreover, families of Agniveers who perish in combat would receive a subsistence allowance.
Originally, the Agnipath scheme aimed to mitigate the pension burden and bolster youth recruitment in the armed forces. However, concerns have arisen regarding the lack of training and expertise among newly enlisted soldiers.
Sources suggest that halting recruitment from the Agnipath scheme would lead to a significant shortfall in non-commissioned personnel for the Indian Army, which could take over a decade to rectify.
Thus, enhancing the Agnipath scheme is imperative to expedite soldier recruitment and furnish comprehensive training. This would facilitate in making a young force without compromising operational capabilities while reducing the pension outlay.
A source was quoted in a report saying: "The lack of experience can be addressed with minor modifications. Personnel recruited under the previous scheme typically retired at 35 years, while those promoted to Subedar Major retired at 52, possessing extensive experience and training in operational skills." Through extending service periods and augmenting inclusion percentages, the Army aims to ensure that Agniveers attain adequate experience and training.