What is the Agnipath Scheme?
Agnipath is a new scheme introduced by the Government of India on
June 14, 2022, for the recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned
officers in Indian Army, Indian Air
Forces and India Navy. Agnipath Scheme will be the entry for the recruitment
in the military. Personnel recruited under Agnipath scheme
is to be called Agniveers. All
Agniveers will be hired for the period of four years initially. Out of them, 25%
of the Agniveers will be offered further tenures in the Indian Armed Forces on
successful completion of their tenure. Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000 Agniveers
will be recruited annually for a short period, and most of them will leave
the service after four years. Of the total annual recruits, only 25 per cent will
be allowed to continue for another 15 years under permanent commission and other 75% will get reservation in
different state and center government jobs like police, CAPF, Assam rifles and
armed forces.
Agnipath Scheme is a recruitment process
announced by the Government of India under which youths between the age
group of 17-and-a-half to 21 years would get an opportunity to work in Indian
armed forces (Army, Air Forces and Navy). It will be a four-year
commitment and after completion of four years 25 per cent of the recruits
will be retained for regular service. On
completion of the four-year period, Agniveers will go to the society as a
disciplined, dynamic, motivated, and skilled workforce for employment in other
sectors to pursue their career in the job of their choice.
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| Pic: GoI |
Qualification for Agniveers
The education qualification for Agniveers in each department is as follows:
1. Soldier General Duty: SSLC/Matric with 45% marks in aggregate and 33% in each subject.
2. Soldier Technical: 10+2/Intermediate exam passed in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Maths and English with 50% marks in aggregate and 40% in each subject.
3. Soldier Clerk / Store Keeper Technical: 10+2/Intermediate exam passed in any stream (Arts, Commerce, Science) with 50% marks in aggregate and min 40% in each subject.
4. Soldier Nursing Assistant:
10+2/Intermediate exam passed in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with min 50% mark sin aggregate and min 40% in each subject.
5. Soldier Trades man:
(i) Tradesmen with 10th pass
(ii) Tradesmen with 8th pass
Age Limit for Agniveers
The candidates who are under the age group of 17.5 years to 21 years (17.5 to 23 years for year of 2022) are eligible to become an Agniveer in Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy the Agnipath Scheme.
Salary for Agniveers
The salary for Agniveers in the 1st year will be around INR. 4.76 lakh per annum which increases to INR 6.92 lakh per annum for the final year. The Seva Nidhi package will be exempt from Income Tax.
Agnipath Scheme: Perks & Allowances for Agniveers
Apart from the Salary package, Agniveers will also get some perks & allowances.
1. Ration, dress, and travel allowance.
2. Seva Nidhi package will be completely income tax-free.
3. Agniveers will also get a non-contributory life insurance cover of INR 48 lakh for their services in the Indian Armed Forces.
4. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), announced to facilitate 12th pass certificate for 10th pass Agniveers. This certificate will be recognized for both employment and higher education purposes in the whole country.
5. Ministry of Education has decided to
launch a special three year skill-based bachelor's degree programme for
Agniveers. Army, Navy and Air Force will sign MoU with IGNOU for implementation
of the scheme. “Under this programme that has been designed by IGNOU, 50 per
cent of the credits required for a graduate degree will come from the skill
training — both technical and non-technical and the remaining 50 per cent will
come from a basket of courses that cover a wide variety of subjects like
languages, economics, history, political science, public administration,
sociology, mathematics, education, commerce, tourism, vocational studies,
agriculture and jyotish, environmental studies and communication skills in
English,” Ministry of Education.
6. It is decided that banks will support Agniveers providing suitable credit facilities for skill up gradation, education for setting up businesses and to take up self-employment.
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| Pic: DrishtiIAS |
Opportunity for Agniveers in different Department after completion of four years services
10% Reservation in CAPF and Assam Rifles: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it has
decided to reserve 10 per cent vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam
Rifles for Agniveers with upper age relaxation.
Several state governments have announced that after serving in the armed forces for 4 years, Agniveers will be
given preference in filling of vacancies in state police forces.
Industrialists, including Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka and Biocon Ltd Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw came out in support of the Agnipath scheme, saying it has large potential for employment of youth in the corporate sector.
Anand Mahindra announced to recruit trained, disciplined and capable Agniveers. "Saddened by the violence around the Agnipath program. When the scheme was mooted last year I stated and I repeat-the discipline and skills Agniveers gain will make them eminently employable. The Mahindra group welcomes the opportunity to recruit such trained, capable young people," he said in a tweet.
Harsh Goenka said, "The RPG group too welcomes the opportunity to employ the Agniveers. I do hope other corporates will also join us to take this pledge and assure our youths of a future."
Mazumdar Shaw tweeted, "I firmly believe hat Agniveers will have a distinct advantage in recruitment in the industrial job market."
Tata sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said, "Agnipath is not just a great opportunity for the outh to serve the nation's defense forces but it will also make available a ery disciplined and trained youth for the industry, including the Tata Group."
Chandrasekaran added, "We at the Tata group recognize he potential of the Agniveers and welcome the opportunity this represents."
Welspun Chairman BK Goenka said "Agnipath scheme is a golden opportunity for the industry to engage highly skilled, disciplined, and talented personnel in their organizations. They will be able to deliver quality output. The Agniveers will find suitable openings at different levels in Welspun". Goenka said Agniveers will find suitable openings at different levels in Welspun, a group with interests in line pipes, home textiles, infrastructure and steel, among others.
Protest against Agnipath Scheme
After unveiling Agnipath scheme, number of protests have been cities in country against the new defense recruiting scheme: Agnipath, raising job security and post-service benefits as two major concerns.
The aspirants, who want to become the part of armed forces, are not in the favor of this scheme and they have been protesting in different parts of the country. Railway and road traffic in Bihar was disrupted and trains were set on fire by the protesters. Many trains have been cancelled by railways. In Rajasthan, aspirants led by a political party, protests. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have also reported violence in protests. In Telangana, secunderabad railway station was vandalized by protestors.
Why are youth protesting against the Agnipath scheme?
Job security and pension are two major issues being cited by protesters. Prior to Agnipath scheme, troops joins for a 17-year period, which could be extended for some personnel. After retirement personnel gets lifelong pension. Under the new scheme of recruitment, personnel would be limited to work for four years. It is also being criticized for failing to provide permanent jobs and healthcare benefits after they retire from service. Government said that scheme seeks to bring down the average age of personnel and reduce the burden of pension. So that, this amount can be spend for the advancement of military.
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