Introduction to the Agnipath Scheme, 2022
Agnipath (or the Agnipath Scheme for service in the Indian Army) is the latest scheme by the Government of India to recruit soldiers, only before the rank of officers (commissioned officers) in the armed forces of India.
Main Features of the Agnipath Scheme, 2022
The main features of this scheme are:
- Eligibility: People from the age group of 17.5 to 21 years shall be eligible to apply.
- ‘Agniveer(s)’ shall be a distinct rank in the Indian Army—different from any other existing rank.
- All recruits shall be enrolled for a period of four years under the Army Act of 1950.[i]
- These agniveers shall be ineligible for any kind of pension and/or gratuity owing to this recruitment.
- However, post the four-year term of service, they shall be paid a ‘Seva Nidhi’ package.
- It is intended to facilitate their return to society.
- Duties assigned to these agniveers shall be as per organizational interests.
- Conditions of service (leave, pay, etc.) for the four years shall be governed by specific instructions issued by the Government of India, from time to time.
- After the completion of four years, these recruits shall be provided an opportunity to apply to the regular cadre, after completing their engagement period.
- Only 25% from each batch of these recruits shall be considered for the regular cadre in the armed forces. This selection shall be based on their performance during the engagement period, along with other objective criteria.
- Those selected in the regular cadre will be employed for 15 further years.
Criticism of the Agnipath Scheme, 2022
After the announcement of the scheme,
protests began against the scheme throughout India. Some major criticisms of the scheme are listed below:
- Agniveers who are not selected for regular cadre shall struggle to find employment.[ii]
- It will be difficult for trained soldiers to suddenly assimilate in civil society.
- The salary is critiqued as meagre and the Seva Nidhi package is deemed inappropriate, as opposed to a certain pensionary scheme.
- Soldiers on contract raise issues of permanence and dedication.
- It is also seen as a budgetary move, instead of being based on the efficiency of the Indian Armed Forces.
[i] As a result of enrolment under the Act, all candidates/recruits shall be subject to the Army Act, 1950.