The Central Government announced a new policy named ‘Agnipath’ on June 14, 2022.

The Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) will recruit young people between the ages of 17.5 and 21 as Agniveers (with a one-time relaxation this year to age 23) under this new plan. After four years (including a six-month training period) the Armed Forces will discharge all Agniveers, but will allow up to 25% of Agniveers to apply for regular service in the Armed Forces for a further 15 years. The Agniveers who are released into the job market will be given a Seva Nidhi financial package.

Eligibility: • Must be between the ages of 17.5 and 21 (23 years for this round). • Minimum qualifying grade of 10 with a cumulative GPA of at least 45% is required.

Salary: • A total of¹ 21,000 will be paid monthly in the first year after a 30% deduction as contribution to the Seva Nidhi corpus; • ¹ 23,100 in the second year; • ¹ 25,580 in the third year; • The monthly pay for the fourth and final year will be ¹ 28,000.

Recruitment: • Approximately 46,000 soldiers will be recruited for the Indian Army (Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Airforce) in the first year. • Agniveers who are hired for a four-year term are obligated to stay and cannot quit. Ex Servicemen have reservations in central government jobs, yet do not benefit from them: a. According to 2021 data with the Ministry of Defence, ex-servicemen are entitled to 10% of Group C and 20% of Group D posts in the central government but the actual numbers are 1.29% and 1.66%; b. The CAPF have a 10% quota but ex-servicemen account for 0.47% in Group C, 0.87% in Group B and 2.20% in Group A posts; c. In 94 of 170 CPSUs, ex-servicemen account for 1.15% of Groups C posts and 0.3% of Group D posts while their official quota is 14.5% and 24.5% respectively. There are only 13,976 ex-servicemen out of 10,84,705 in Group C employees in 34 Central Government departments, and there are only about 8,642 ex-servicemen out of 3,25,265 Group D employees.

Protest against ‘Agnipath’ Policy: The damage to the dreams of lakhs of aspirants has sparked street protests in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Delhi, and West Bengal. Two people were killed in the violence.

‘Agnipath’ Policy loopholes: • Unit cohesion will be an issue in an environment in which Agniveers will be serving alongside soldiers who enjoy benefits such as secure pensions and more generous allowances, including three times as much leave entitlement as Agniveers; • Giving all regions and communities representation in the Armed Forces is an essential national interest and has been ensured by recruiting according to the Recruitable Male Population of each state and region. The online recruitment of Agniveers will make it difficult to ensure balanced representation of regions and classes. • A six-month training period is insufficient for the needs of the modern battlefield. Soldiers currently experience a minimum 2-3 years of training before being deployed to the frontlines. It is unclear whether Agniveers be motivated to give up their lives after serving in their units for a limited period and with the knowledge that most will be released back into the job market at the end of their service. • A majority of Agniveers will have to search for jobs once more after four years and will risk becoming unemployed at age 25. The government has not given sufficient thought to the risks of releasing a large body of trained military personnel into an environment of scare jobs and temptations from criminal or unsavoury quarters. • Agniveers will be a distinct rank, different from all other Armed Forces ranks. They will receive no Military Service Pay or Dearness Allowance and will be eligible for 30 days leave versus 90 days leave for regular soldiers. They will not be eligible for promotion and will be eligible for reduced disability compensation. • They will not be eligible for pensions, gratuity, Disability Pension, Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, Canteen Stores Department, Extended Insurance Scheme or even Ex-Servicemen Status. It is puzzling that the government has introduced such a disruptive scheme at a time of rising regional tensions and the continuing occupation of Indian territory by Chinese troops. It appears that the BJP government believes there is something wanting about our Armed Forces. Or perhaps political and leadership failures being laid at the door of the military to distract attention from government failures.

Statement of Congress leaders against ‘Agnipath’ Smt. Sonia Gandhi: “Congress stands firmly with the youth and promises to protect their interests by fighting to get this scheme withdrawn. Like a true patriot, we will raise your voice by following the path of truth, non-violence and peace,” she said in a statement.

Another statement Central government must scrap the Agnipath policy because it will jeopardise national security. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, criticises the Agnipath policy as being aimless and vows to engage in confrontation with the federal government to reverse it. “No one is a bigger patriot than you are; open your eyes and recognise Fake Nationalists and Fake Patriots. The entire country and the Congress party are on your side”.

Shri Rahul Gandhi: In a tweet in Hindi, the Congress leader said, “Agnipath youth rejected. Farm laws farmers rejected. Note ban economists rejected. GST traders rejected”. “The Prime Minister does not understand what the people of the country want, as he cannot hear anything except the voice of his ‘friends’,’ he added.

In another tweet, He said, “No rank, no pension, no direct recruitment for 2 years. No stable future after 4 years. No respect for the army. Listen to the voice of the unemployed youth of the country. Don’t take ‘Agni-pariksha’ of their restraint by driving them on ‘Agnipath’, Prime Minister”.

Smt. Priyanka Gandhi: AICC General Secretary Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “This scheme will kill the youth of the country, will finish Army… Please see the intent of this govt. and topple it. Bring a govt. that is true to the nation, protects country’s assets. I urge you to do peaceful protest but don’t stop”.

Shri K.C. Venugopal: Shri Venugopal requested that JualOram, the head of the Standing Committee of Parliament, bring up the subject and set up a quick conference with interested parties and defence experts to discuss the Agnipath policy. In his letter, he expressed his concern about the widespread anger among young people about temporary employment, the lack of a pension, and allowances with no healthcare coverage.

Shri Jairam Ramesh: “Like always, understanding chronology is crucial Pehle Kisan fir Jawan and next aim is Citizens’ voice,” said Shri Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary of the Congress party.

Agnipath scheme not only compromises our national security, it is also a cruel joke played on our youth by the Modi government.