Centre plans Agnipath scheme tweaks, more Agniveers may be retained: Sources
The Centre is planning to tweak the Agnipath recruitment scheme and may increase the retention percentage of Agniveers in the forces as well as make changes to the emoluments and entitlements. These modifications aim to improve the overall structure and benefits of the scheme, which has come under opposition criticism and faced protests from Army aspirants.
According to senior officials in the Defence Ministry, there are ongoing deliberations on increasing the retention percentage of Agniveers, allowing a greater number of them to continue in full-time service beyond their initial four-year term.
Currently, only 25 per cent of Agniveers are retained after their initial service period - a number deemed insufficient by military experts.
"One fourth is too low a number to be retained to maintain the desired combat strength on the ground," said a top Defence source. "The Army has recommended that the percentage of Agniveers retained should increase to around 50% at the end of the four years," the source further said.
The Army has already submitted recommendations regarding these potential changes to the government, following internal feedback and surveys conducted within various units and formations.
Top Defence officials said while the process might take time, necessary revisions would be made to enhance the Agnipath scheme.
WHAT IS THE AGNIPATH SCHEME?
The scheme was unveiled by the Centre in 2022 in an attempt to make the armed forces lean and reduce the defence pension bill. As per the scheme, personnel, known as Agniveers, are recruited to the Army, Navy and the Air Force on a short-term contract of four years. Of the total annual recruits, only 25% are allowed to continue under a permanent commission.
However, the Agnipath scheme faced nationwide protests, with Army aspirants flagging that those leaving the service after 4 years would stare at an uncertain future. The opposition, led by the Congress, has demanded a rollback of the scheme, while the NDA allies have sought its review.
Moreover, internal reports of the BJP suggested that the party suffered a setback in the recent Lok Sabha polls in regions that contribute the most number of defence employees.
