A Historic, Revenue-Saving Recruitment Policy
The Union Cabinet took a historic decision approving an attractive recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces for which a scheme has been introduced with the name Agnipath. The youth, in the age group of 17.5 years to 23 years (revised upper age limit) will be selected under the Agnipath and called Agniveers. With the announcement of this Agnipath Scheme, a window of opportunity has been opened for the youths to serve their nation for a period of four years.
Broad Objectives
The broad objectives of the Agnipath Scheme are:
• To enhance the youthful profile of the Armed Forces so that they are at their fighting best at all times with increased risk-taking ability.
• To imbibe the Armed Forces ethos, courage, commitment, and teamwork in the youth.
• To provide abilities and qualities such as discipline, motivation, dynamism, and work skills so that youth remains as an asset.
• To provide an opportunity to the youth who may be keen to serve the Nation in uniform for a short period of time.
• To attract youth talent among the society to effectively exploit, adapt, and use emerging modern technologies with enhanced technical thresholds of intake while leveraging Technical institutions of the country.
The Scheme
The Key Features are:
• Opportunity to serve the nation as Agniveers through enrolment in the Forces.
• Pan-India merit based recruitment.
• Four years tenure.
• Attractive monthly emoluments and handsome ‘Seva Nidhi’ package.
• Opportunity to apply for enrolment in permanent cadre.
Based on merit and organisational requirement, up to 25% Agniveers selected through central, transparent, rigorous system after four years. The other 75 per cent will be released with benefits.
Agnipath scheme has a recruitment process for individuals below the rank of officer, with the goal of deploying fitter, younger troops on the front lines, many of whom will be on four-year contracts.
The Armed Forces will be recruiting 46,000 Agniveers in 2022 through Agnipath scheme. On completion of the four-year period, Aginveers 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. During their four years in service, the recruits will be trained by the armed forces in the skills required.
Women will also be inducted into the armed forces under the new scheme. Officials, however, added that the recruitment of women under the scheme will depend on the needs of the respective services.
Conditions of Service
Eligibility. Age limit for applicants is 17.5 to 23 years.
Recruitment. Candidates will be enrolled under the respective Service Act for a service duration of four years including training period.
Selection. Selection will be done through a centralised, transparent and rigorous system. On enrolment in regular cadre, pay fixed as regular soldier. Pension as per extant regulations.
Screening Assessment. Centralised transparent screening, based on merit and demonstrated performance during service. Agniveers can apply on volunteer basis to enroll in the regular cadre.
Financial Package
Composite Annual Package. Firs year package – approx Rs 4.76 lakhs. Upgradation up to approx Rs 6.92 lakhs in the fourth year.
Allowances. Risk and hardship, ration, dress, travel allowances as applicable.
Seva Nidhi.
On completion of four years tenure all candidates will be entitled to ‘Seva Nidhi’.
• 30 per cent of monthly emoluments to be contributed by individuals.
• Equal amount matched and contributed by the Government.
• Corpus of approx Rs 11.71 lakhs after four years exempted from Income Tax.
Death Compensation.
• Non-contributory life insurance cover of Rs 48 lakhs.
• Additional ex-gratia of Rs 44 lakhs for death attributable to service.
• Pay for unserved portion up to four years including ‘Seva Nidhi’ component.
Disability Compensation. Compensation based on percentage of disability laid down by medical authorities. One time ex-gratia of Rs 44/ 25/ 15 lakhs for 100%/ 75%/ 50% disability, respectively.
Incentives and Job Reservation
Incentives. The ministries of home affairs and defence announced concessions and incentives that will assist Agniveers in their further employment. PSUs under housing and petroleum ministries were working on hiring ‘Agniveers’ after their service in the armed forces. Shipping ministry announced 6 attractive service opportunities for Agniveers from Indian Navy for a smooth transition into Merchant Navy.
Reservation. The government has announced a 10% reservation for ‘Agniveers’ in central police forces & Assam Rifles with upper age relaxation. Defence Ministry also came up with a 10% quota in the Coast Guard, defence civilian posts and 16 defence PSUs, which include major ones like Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Electronics, as well as four shipyards and 41 ordnance factories.
