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News: Recently, the government of India introduced a new recruitment scheme for the armed forces, Agnipath.
| Must read: Agnipath Scheme: Need, Benefits and Challenges – Explained, pointwise |
What are the advantages of Agnipath Scheme?
From the 10th year onwards, Agnipath will yield 31,250 soldiers each year (25 per cent of 125,000) for extended service tenures.
The Agniveers will form a distinct rank in the military, different from any other existing ranks. The rank and file would be younger, fitter, more mentally robust and more technologically savvy, with the average age dropping from the current 32 years to a youthful 27.
To ease his transition into civilian life, the defence ministry will give each Agniveer a “Seva Nidhi” package at the end of the four-year engagement, amounting to a tax-free Rs 11-12 lakh.
| Must read: How can Agnipath be made more attractive? Recommendations from 2 former army leaders |
What are the challenges associated with the Agnipath scheme?
The Agnipath Yojana should not be implemented at the cost of a unit’s combat effectiveness.
India, which is operationally committed around the year on two-and-a-half fronts — China, Pakistan and in Jammu & Kashmir — treating soldiers equally has always been a basic principle of combat leadership. The way human relationships will play out between the Agniveers and the existing full-time soldiers will create some challenges.
Every country that has implemented major military personnel and manpower reforms has done so with great deliberation and awareness of the high cost of failure. The scheme is announced even without a small-scale pilot project to validate the key assumptions and beliefs.
| Read more: Education Ministry to recognize in-service training received by Agniveers as credits for graduation |
Source: The post is based on the article “One recruit, one salary” published in “Business Standard” on 1st July 2022.
