Agnipath Scheme: Forging a New Path

Agnipath Scheme: Forging a New Path

Agnipath Scheme

#GS II #Government Policies and Interventions

Topic Government Policies and Interventions:

Context:

  • On Monday, the Delhi High Court upheld the constitutionality of the Agnipath programme for recruiting members of the armed forces. Many petitions that questioned the introduction of the system were rejected by the court on the grounds that it had been done so in the national interest.
  • Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad’s division bench maintained that the Agnipath programme is a carefully considered policy choice by the Indian government after reviewing the documents.

About:

  • It enables committed and patriotic young people to enlist and serve in the military for four years.
  • This theory proposes that the new recruit will be known as Agniveer. A little window of time will be available for young people to enlist in the military.
  • In accordance with the new plan, the majority of the 45,000 to 50,000 new recruits who will join the military will leave after only four years.
  • Only 25% of the cohort will be hired back into their respective services after four years, for a total of 15 years.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Only personnel with lower officer positions are eligible (those who do not join the forces as commissioned officers).
  • The top levels in the army are held by commission officers.
  • The rank is only held by commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces. They usually take part in the president’s commissions, which are mandated by law to safeguard the nation.
  • Candidates must be between the ages of 17.5 and 23.

Objectives:

  • It attempts to give young people the chance to join the military by offering them the “Josh” and “Jazba.”
  • As a result, it is predicted that the Indian Armed Forces’ average age will decrease by 4 to 5 years.
  • According to the proposal, the average age of the armed forces, which is currently 32 years old, will drop to 26 years old within six to seven years.

Benefits:

  • The Agniveers would receive a one-time “Seva Nidhi” payout after completing their four years of service, which would also include any interest that had accrued.
  • They would also receive a Rs 48 lakh, four-year life insurance policy.
  • In the event of death, the return will be more than Rs 1 crore and will include salary for any time that was not spent.
  • Soldiers who leave the military after four years of service will receive government assistance for rehabilitation. Students will complete bridge courses and receive skill certificates.

Source The Hindu