After two years without recruiting into the armed forces, Narendra Modi’s government has radically changed the way the army, navy and air force hire soldiers. Under the Agnipath scheme, recruits will be inducted for a four-year term, at the end of which 25% will be retained for regular service.
The plan, unveiled earlier this week, was hailed as an important step in making the armed forces younger and fitter. It has also been heralded as a win-win for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) as the recruits, called Agniveers, who fail regular duty can switch to paramilitary forces which in turn will save on training costs.
However, the scheme has yet to be unanimously adopted by military aspirants and veterans, with the sticking points being the eligibility age limit for enlistment and the lack of a traditional pension.
The government decided to tackle the age issue on a one-time basis after Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand witnessed protests against the new scheme. On Thursday, the upper limit for recruiting under Agnipath only for the year 2022 was raised from 21 to 23 years. The lower limit remains 17.5 years.
However, concerns about lack of pension remain despite the scheme including a one-off non-contributory severance payment called Seva Nidhi which is Rs 11 lakh after four years, and there is uncertainty as to whether Agnipath will be an additional recruiting model or replace it. existing recruitment system in the armed forces.
“There is no clarity among the majority of aspirants about whether or not to keep the older model of recruitment. This, coupled with the years of waiting for the recruitment, is causing frustration among aspirants,” said Shubham Singh Charak, a researcher in National Security Studies at the Central University of Jammu.
The decision not to roll out a pilot also worries aspirants. Many, including veterans, who oppose Agnipath, believe that Agniveers could form a reserve pool to be called up during the war of natural disasters.
“Under the new hiring scheme, there is not only a lack of job security, but also a lack of pension and additional benefits. For someone who is ready to fight and die for the motherland, the sense of security that his family will be taken care of means a huge deal, especially for those who come from rural areas,” said Charak, who at one point moment also wanted to join the armed forces.
There are also concerns about whether the Agniveers would be able to find a job in civilian life after the four-year term in office. The government has said recruits not selected for tenure in the armed forces will receive 50% credit towards a bachelor’s degree and job assistance. However, veterans believe that it is currently unusual for retired officers who have not earned a degree to get a job with the company. But Air Force and Navy recruits, who are hired after graduation, get jobs after completing their employment, they say.
Some aspirants, long preparing to enter the armed forces, see merit in the new recruiting program. Harsh Singh, an Air Force aspiring and second-year BCA student from Mathura, has been preparing for the IAF recruitment exam for two years now. Unlike many of his friends, Harsh doesn’t protest the Agnipath plan, seeing it as “just adding another level to the recruiting process”.
“If we are selected, we will receive credits for a new bachelor’s program and a quota to find a job afterwards. I am convinced that I would be in the top 25 percent of artists and selected for a permanent position. After all, it has been my dream to wear the uniform. That dream is fulfilled whether or not I am hired as a regular member. Even if I’m not shortlisted, I can pursue my love of coding,” he said.
Sriram Srirangam, founder and director of SRIRAM’s IAS, has been training youth for government exams, the most popular civil service exams, for decades. He says those who fail to remain in the armed forces would make ideal IAS candidates.
“After four years in the armed forces, we will have a large group of young people who are mentally alert, physically strong and technically savvy. The young people coming out of this system will be very well prepared for all the prestigious avenues including the IIM, the IAS, the armed police, etc. They can pick up the basics of the Constitution, law, economy, foreign policy, etc. That could be the basis for bureaucracy. They will be the most competitive lottery for the best government positions including IAS and IPS,” said Srirangam.
Himanshu Gautam, co-founder of Safalta, a platform that prepares rural youth for competitive exams, including defense, says the government will save money on retirement that can be used to invest in advanced defense technology.
“Agnipath will help select nimble people who will readily and voluntarily intervene to serve the nation. I think it’s important that we see it as a stepping stone into the military,” he said.
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