It criticized the National Democratic Alliance by its own allies on the appointment of Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. In retaliation, the centre has accepted the defeat and assurances have been made to overcome the "shortcomings" and diverse changes in the Agnipath scheme of short-term recruitment strategy for Armed Forces.
The BJP-led NDA government has constituted a committee of secretaries from at least 10 ministries, according to reports, in order to review and make the scheme more attractive with increased benefits for the young recruits.
This panel of secretaries has been asked to provide recommendations to make the short-term recruitment program under the Agnipath scheme more attractive. The scheme came to be on the central canvas during the election campaign with the opposition parties promising its repealing if they were voted into power.
The committee will make a detailed presentation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on return from the G7 Summit in Italy, probably around June 17 or 18, stated sources.
On its part, the committee is expected to recommend changes in the hiring process and may also recommend more financial benefits for Agniveers who will be selected for four years. The Indian Army is already undertaking an internal evaluation and is expected to give its report to government shortly.
The 'Insider' told that the Army may recommend increasing the duration of training of the Agniveer recruits to more than the stipulated period and their retention rate in Armed Forces to 60-70% instead of 25% as proposed.
The Prime Minister's Office would finally decide on such proposals after taking views from all concerned and studying recommendations by the committee.
The Agnipath scheme review is part of the 100-day agenda of the Modi government, and changes to the program are therefore just round the corner.
The Agnipath scheme was launched in June of 2022. It was aimed at reducing the Armed Forces pension liabilities, and it was also to develop a leaner but fit military. However, there was massive opposition to this plan in many areas, with states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan seeing the highest agitation on the streets during its launch.
The BJP allies – JD and LJP Ram Vilas Paswan – had expressed their reservations before the government formation on appointments of Agniveers and sought a review in the scheme.
Under the existing scheme, the youth are inducted into all three branches of the Armed Forces, Army, Navy, and Air Force, for four years. A quarter of these recruits get an opportunity to continue for another 15 years under the permanent commission.
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