Government of India Launched Agnipath Scheme For the Indian Youth

On June 14, 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Security authorized the historic 'Agnipath' initiative, allowing Indian youth to serve in the Indian Armed Forces for the first time. According to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, efforts would be undertaken under

The 'Agnipath' initiative to give the Armed Forces a more youthful look. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force announced a major change in how personnel will be recruited across the three services under the new Agnipath system, which will take effect immediately.

Soldiers in the program will be known as Agniveers and will serve for four years. The Defence Department of India is planning and implementing the Agnipath recruitment scheme. The Defence Ministry has started a pan-India recruitment strategy with the goal of attracting more young people and reducing the armed forces' expenditure and age profile.

Why Agnipath Scheme (Yojana) Introduced by the Government of India?

The AGNIPATH Scheme was created to give the Armed Forces a more youthful look. It will allow young people who wish to wear the uniform to do so by attracting young talent from the community who are better knowledgeable about the latest technological developments and returning skilled, disciplined, and dedicated manpower to society. In terms of the Armed Forces, it will boost the Armed Forces' youthful profile and provide a new lease on 'Josh' and 'Jazba,' while also bringing about a revolutionary change towards a more tech-savvy Armed Forces, which is truly the need of the hour.

The execution of this strategy is expected to reduce the average age profile of the Indian Armed Forces by approximately 4-5 years. The injection of highly motivated youth with a stronger grasp of self-discipline, diligence, and focus who are appropriately skilled and can contribute to other areas would be extremely beneficial to the country.

The benefits of brief military service to the nation, society, and the nation's youth are immeasurable. Patriotism, collaboration, physical fitness, engrained allegiance to the country, and the availability of trained professionals to strengthen national security in times of foreign threats, internal threats, and natural disasters are all examples.

This is a key defense policy change that the government has implemented to bring in a new era in the three Services' Human Resource policies. The policy, which takes effect immediately, will regulate enrolment in the three programs going forward.

Who can Join Agnipath Scheme?

• Age Requirement:Applicants must be between the ages of 17.5 and 21.
• Selection Process:A centralized, transparent, and rigorous procedure is used for selection. A centralized, transparent screening process based on merit and documented service excellence. Agniveer can also enlist in the regular cadre as a volunteer.

What are the Benefits of Agnipath Scheme?

Agniveers will receive a monthly package that is tailored to their needs, as well as Risk and Hardship allowances that are appropriate for each of the three services.

Agniveers will receive a one-time 'Seva Nidhi' package upon completion of the four-year engagement period, which will include their contribution, plus accrued interest, and

A matching contribution from the government equal to the accumulated amount of their contribution, plus interest, as shown below:
 

Year	Customised Package (Monthly)	In-Hand (70%)	Contribution to Agniveer Corpus Fund (30%)	Contribution to corpus fund by GoI
	All figures in Rs (Monthly Contribution)
1st Year	30000	21000	9000	9000
2 nd Year	33000	23100	9900	9900
3 rd Year	36500	25580	10950	10950
4 th Year	40000	28000	12000	12000
Total contributions in Agniveer Corpus Fund after four years			Rs 5.02 Lakh	Rs 5.02 Lakh
Exit After 4 Year	Rs 11.71 Lakh as Seva Nidhi Package (Including, interest accumulated on the above amount as per the applicable interest rates would also be paid)

• Income Tax will not apply to the 'Seva Nidhi.' Gratuity and pension benefits will not be available.
• For the term of their service in the Indian Armed Forces, Agniveers would be supplied with a non-contributory Life Insurance Coverage of Rs 48 lakhs.
• Various military skills and experience, discipline, physical fitness, leadership traits, courage, and patriotism will all be imparted to the Agniveers during their time of duty to the country.
• The Agniveers will be injected into civil society after their four-year tenure, where they can make a significant contribution to the nation-building effort.
• Each Agniveer's accomplishments will be documented in a certificate that will be included in his personal portfolio.
• Agniveers will be mature and self-disciplined upon completion of the four-year program in the prime of their youth, with the realization of becoming a better version of himself/herself both professionally and personally.
• After Agniveer's tenure, the channels and chances for their advancement in the civil world will undoubtedly be a huge bonus for nation-building.
• Furthermore, the Seva Nidhi of around Rs 11.71 lakhs would enable the Agniveer to follow his or her future ambitions without financial
• Individuals selected for enlistment in the Armed Forces as regular cadre would be required to serve for a minimum of another 15 years and would be subject to the existing terms and conditions of service for Junior Commissioned Officers/Other Ranks in the Indian Army and their equivalents in the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, as well as Non-Combatant enrolled in the Indian Air Force, as amended from time to time.
• By ensuring a precise balance between youthful and experienced troops in the Armed Forces, the strategy will result in a significantly more youthful and technically capable warfighting force.

What are the Advantages of Agnipath Scheme?

Agnipath Scheme (Yojana) offers the following advantages:

• A revolutionary change in the Armed Forces' recruitment policy.
• A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young people to serve their country and help build the nation.
• Young and vibrant is the profile of the Armed Forces.
• The Agniveers have a great financial package.
• Agniveers will have the opportunity to train at top universities and improve their skills and certificates.
• In civil life, there is a shortage of well-behaved and skilled young people who have a military mindset.
• Adequate re-employment prospects for those who are re-entering society and may become role models for the kids.

What are the Terms and Conditions of Service of Agnipath Scheme (Yojana)?

• The Agniveers shall be registered in the Forces under various Service Acts for a term of four years under the AGNIPATH plan.
• They would establish a new rank in the Armed Forces, distinct from any other ranks currently in use.
• Agniveers will be provided the opportunity to apply for permanent enrolment in the Armed Forces after completing four years of service, based on organizational requirements and policies established by the Armed Forces from time to time.
• These applications will be reviewed centrally based on objective factors such as performance during their four-year engagement period, and up to 25% of any specific batch of Agniveers will be enlisted in the Armed Forces' regular cadre. Separately, detailed guidelines will be released.
• For all three services, enrolment will be done through an online centralised system, with specialized rallies and campus interviews from recognized technical colleges such as Industrial Training Institutes and the National Skills Qualifications Framework, among others.
• Enrolment will be on an 'All India All Class' basis, with eligible ages ranging from 17.5 to 21. Agniveers shall meet the medical requirements for enlistment in the armed forces, as they apply to their particular categories/trades.
• For enrolment in various categories, Agniveers' educational qualifications will continue as they are now.

Government of India Launched Agnipath   Defense Minister Rajnath Singh   Indian Armed Forces   Human Resource policies  Agnipath Scheme launched   Agnipath Yojana   Agnipath   Why Agnipath Scheme Introduced   Who can Join Agnipath Scheme   Benefits of Agnipath Scheme   Advantages of Agnipath Scheme   Terms and Conditions of Service of Agnipath Scheme