Agnipath Scheme, approved by the Government of India, recruits soldiers for a four-year period, called Agniveers, into the three services of the armed forces. However, the lack of public consultation and debate has been criticised. The scheme was implemented in September 2022.
On 14 May 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the experimental programme known as “Agneepath” to give it even more traction. With the Agnipath/Agniveer scheme, young Indians wishing to join the armed forces can do so regardless of whether it is the Indian Army, Indian Navy, or Indian Air Force. All applicants are eligible to apply for the Agneepath Army Bharti Scheme. 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers are recruited annually for a four-year commitment through Agnipath.
Agnipath/Agniveer Scheme
For the recruitment of Indian youth into the Indian Armed Forces, the government of India has announced the Agnipath scheme. A high pay scale is provided through this scheme to encourage the younger population to join the military. Students selected for the Agnipath scheme will be named Agnives. They will serve in the Indian Armed Forces for four following years. 46000 Agni veers are being recruited by the government this year. On average, around 25000 Agniveers will be recruited around the first half of December, and the remaining Agnipath Scheme 2024 will be recruited in February 2024. We have outlined all the details, including eligibility criteria, salary package, education qualification & physical fitness, with the latest updates in this article.
Agnipath Yojana Updates
- This scheme will bypass the long tenures, pensions, and other benefits. Opposition parties about the consequences of the new scheme have expressed criticism and concern. Parliament has been requested to discuss the scheme.
- In India, on 16 June 2022, army aspirants demanded its rollback and damaged public property in several states.
- 12 trains were set on fire on 17 June, disrupting 300 trains. There were 214 cancelled trains, 12 diverted trains, and 90 trains that were terminated outside their destinations. There was one death. The protests were sparked by a mandatory army entrance test. Many parts of public property were destroyed, and railroad services were disrupted during the protests.
What is the Agniveer Scheme?
Recruits are named Agniveers and serve for four years, including six months of training followed by 3.5 years of deployment. Agniveers are enrolled in the Indian Navy under the Navy Act 1957 for four years. They would be a distinct rank within the Armed Forces from any other existing rank. After four years, Agniveers will return to society as disciplined, dynamic, motivated, and skilled workers capable of obtaining employment in other sectors and contributing further to our nation’s construction. The Indian Navy is not required to retain Agniveers beyond the four-year engagement period. The skills acquired by each Agniveer will be documented in a certificate to be included in their resumes.
Agniveer Scheme Objectives
- The Armed Forces need to maintain a youthful profile so that they are always combat-ready and capable of taking on greater risks.
- It is intended to instil in the young people a sense of courage, dedication, and collaboration that is characteristic of the armed forces.
- To impart skills and attributes such as drive, discipline, dynamism, and work ethics to young people so that they may continue to be valuable to the organisation.
- To provide a chance for young people who may be interested in serving briefly in uniform a chance to do so.
- To attract young talent from the population so that contemporary technologies can be exploited, adapted, and employed efficiently while utilising national technical institutions.
Eligibility for Agnipath/Agniveer Scheme
- In the year 2022-23, the upper age limit has been revised, and it will now be 21-23 years of age
- As per the individual categories or trades of the Agniveer applicants, they must meet medical requirements
- It is always advisable to check the official website for updates and implementation criteria.
Agneepath Scheme Qualification
| Position | Education Criteria | Age Range |
| Soldier General Duty | SSLC/Matric with a cumulative grade point average of 45%. Higher education is not required. | 17.5 – 21 Years |
| Soldier Technical | Passed Physics, Chemistry, Math, and English portions of the 10+2/Intermediate exam in Science. Eight is the new age for higher education. | 17.5 – 21 Years |
| Soldier Clerk / Storekeeper Technical | 10+2/Intermediate exam passed in any field (Arts, Commerce, Science) with a minimum of 40% in each subject and 50% overall. Age considerations in higher qualification | 17.5 – 21 Years |
| Soldier Nursing Assistant | Passed the 10+2/Intermediate science test with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English with a minimum of 50% overall and a minimum of 40% in each subject. Eight is the new age for higher education | 17.5 – 21 Years |
| Soldier Tradesman |
General Duties: Non-Matric<br>Specified Duties: Non-Matric |
17.5 – 21 Years |
Agnipath Scheme UPSC
As a matter of current affairs, the Agnipath / Agniveer Scheme has been a topic of news coverage.UPSC Syllabus questions frequently reflect current events. Both UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains rely heavily on the Agnipath Scheme. The UPSC Mains syllabus includes GS Paper 3: Various Security Forces and Agencies and Their Mandates.
Agnipath Scheme Details
Agniveers will receive a good pay package and exit retirement package after four years of service. Agniveers will receive a decent pay and exit retirement package as determined by that decision.
Note: This opportunity is only available to personnel below officer ranks who have yet to enter the force as commissioned officers.
As stated by Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary of Military Affairs, the average age of the military is currently 32 years of age and is expected to decrease to 26 years in the future. It is anticipated that this will occur within six to seven years. For the armed forces to become young, tech-savvy, and modern, youth must be harnessed into future-ready soldiers.” He mentioned that after four years of service with the army, his resume and biodata of engineers will be unique, and he will stand out in the crowd with his attitude, skills and time.
Agnipath Scheme Job Profile
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Agnipath Scheme Job Profile |
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| S.No. | Post | Job Profile |
| 1. | Agniveer Tradesmen (All Arms) 8th Pass | The candidates opting for the Tradesman role belong to the multi-tasking group and are required to work as per their profile. |
| 2. | Agniveer Tradesmen (All Arms) 10th Pass | |
| 3. | Agniveer Clerk/ Store Keeper Technical (All Arms) | These candidates are responsible for maintaining the inventories of the items available in the Army Canteen |
| 4. | Agniveer Tech (Aviation & Ammunition Examiner) | In these roles, the candidates are entrusted with technical equipment and need to make sure they are working fine. |
| 5. | Agniveer (Tech) | |
| 6. | Agniveer (General Duty) (All Arms) | The candidates are a part of the active army group and have to work together with them against the enemy. |
Agniveer Scheme Salary
- As part of their service remuneration, Agniveers receive an Agniveer Package and a Seva Nidhi Package.
- As part of the Seva Nidhi Package, part of Agniveer’s salary will be put toward a corpus fund, with equal government contributions.
- Agniveers are paid ₹30,000 a month, with some deductions and increments.
- In the first year, the in-hand salary would be ₹21,000, or 70% of the individually designed package.
- An additional 30% of the Agniveer’s monthly income will go to the Corpus Fund after 4 years of service.
- The Agniveers’ monthly payments would increase to ₹40,000 in the fourth year, with Rs 28,000 as their in-hand salary.
Agniveer Scheme Benefits
- The Centre hinted at its asceticism by reserving 10% vacancies in its paramilitary and defence ministry for Agneepath retirees despite widespread protests against the scheme. In addition, it shared an interactive chart explaining Agniveers’ future.
- For retirement or education, Agneepath retirees will receive ₹12 lakhs.
- Securing business loans will be made more accessible by the government for entrepreneurs.
- The government will arrange bridging courses for those who wish to study further.
- If they choose such a career, they will also get priority in CAPF, Assam Rifles, and police recruitment
- Retired Agniveers will also receive priority in IT, Security, and Engineering.
Comparison With Regular Soldiers
| Category | Regular Soldiers | Agniveers |
| Pension | Eligible for pensions | No pension except for 25% transitioning to regular service |
| Battle Casualty Compensation | Generous lifetime pension for families | Non-contributory insurance sum of ₹48 lahks for families |
| Gratuity and Insurance | 15-day gratuity/year of service, Rs 50 lakh insurance | Not provided |
| Salary | Starts at approx. ₹40,000 (incl. MSP & dearness allowance) | Starts at ₹30,000 |
| Disability Compensation | Pensions, ex gratia payments, impairment relief | Ex gratia payment, remaining pay, benefits from the Seva Nidhi scheme |
Key Features of the Agniveer Scheme
- This is a pan-Indian system of recruitment based on marriage. Anyone from anywhere in India may apply for this position.
- The position is tenured for four years.
- Agniveers have the opportunity to serve in the armed forces.
- An attractive monthly salary and a handsome Seva Nidhi package are offered.
- The opportunity to apply for permanent enrollment is 100%.
- Agneepath-based enrollment model.
- A central, transparent, rigorous selection system was used to select 25% of Agniveers based on married organisational requirements.
This scheme, as announced by the Ministry of Defence, will provide youth with an annual package of ₹4.76 lakhs in the first year. In their fourth year of service, the annual package will be increased to ₹6.9 lakhs.
A service fund of rupees ₹11.7 lakhs will be given to the youth after four years of service. This money is tax-free. In addition to this, other risk and hardship allowances will also be available. As a whole, this package is a good opportunity for youth to serve in the army for four years.
Indian Army Agniveer Recruitment 2024 Post Names
Indian Army Agniveer Post Names |
| Agniveer General Duty (GD) All Arms |
| Agniveer (Technical) (All Arms) |
| Agniveer (Technical) (Aviation & Ammunition Examiner) (All Arms) |
| Agniveer Clerk/Store Keeper (Technical) (All Arms) |
| Agniveer Tradesman (8th & 10th Pass) (All Arms) |
What Are the Advantages of the Agnipath/Agniveer Scheme?
- A transformational reform of the military’s recruitment policy.
- A chance for candidates between 17.5 and 23 years of age to serve in the military.
- After four years, 25% of the staff will remain in the organisation, providing permanent employment.
- Those who are not selected will receive hands-on experience and financial support of Rs. 12 lakhs
- In the first year, approximately 46,000 soldiers can be recruited into the Army, Navy, and Air Force
- Youth can contribute to nation-building and enhance their skills and qualifications
- Youth with military ethos available in civil society who are well-disciplined and skilled
- Providing adequate re-employment opportunities for those returning to society who might serve as role models for youth is important.
What Are the Drawbacks of the Agnipath Scheme?
- In the Agniveer Scheme, the candidates will be employed for only four years
- After the training period, only 25% of the candidates will be promoted to permanent positions, and the remaining 75% will have to leave the position
- Candidates appointed under the Agneepath Scheme 2022 will not receive a pension
- It is expected that the Agniveers will receive 11 lakhs only in lump sum from the Seva Nidhi Scheme after four years, but some of the amounts will be deducted from the recruit’s monthly salary
- The selected candidates will be recruited for the non-commissioned ranks only, such as Sepoy, Naik, and Lance Naik
- This recruitment is only for candidates between 17.5-23 years of age
- Despite the four years of service, the candidates will again be unemployed. Unlike other government jobs, there will be no additional or basic benefits provided to the candidate.
How Does the Agnipath Scheme Change India’s Defence Recruitment Plans?
The ‘Agniveers’ — or recruits — will receive a monthly salary of ₹30,000 to ₹40,000, and 70 per cent of them who demobilise after four years will receive a ‘Seva Nidhi’ exit package worth ₹11.71 lakhs, half of which will come from their contributions.
Agniveer Scheme: Seva Nidhi Package
| Agniveer Seva Nidhi Package | |||||
| Year | First Year | Second Year | Third Year | Fourth Year | Total |
| Contribution to Agniveer Corpus Fund (30%) | ₹9,000 | ₹ 9,900 | ₹10,950 | ₹12,000 | ₹5.02 Lakh |
| Contribution to Corpus Fund by GoI | ₹9,000 | ₹9,900 | ₹10,950 | ₹12,000 | ₹5.02 Lakh |
Agniveer Army Rally 2024
On the official website, aspirants can find the complete schedule of the recruitment rally. Applicants will be selected for Agniveer Posts through a recruitment rally, a medical examination, and a written examination, but the date of the written examination has not yet been announced.
Agniveer/Agnipath Scheme Benefits After Retirement
Even though the movement is intense, the ‘Agniveer’ has been assured of employment by the Centre as well as various state governments after retirement.
- The Union government announced on Thursday that 10 per cent of positions in the Home and Defence ministries would be reserved for ‘Agniveers’.
- Rajnath announced on Saturday that 10% of jobs in the Indian Coast Guard would be reserved for Agniveers following a meeting with Army Chief General Manoj Pandey, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chowdhary. The same is true of 16 government-owned companies within the Ministry of Defence.
- Assam Rifles and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will reserve 10 per cent of seats for Agniveers, according to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Agniveers will be exempt from the age limit of the scheme for joining CAPFS and Assam Rifles for three additional years, which has been extended to five years for the first batch.
- Agniveers will be included in six service branches, including the merchant navy, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
- As promised, efforts will be made to engage technically capable aviation personnel for a variety of uses by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- NIOS has announced that it will provide special courses for Agniveers associated with the project to obtain Class 10th and 12th pass certificates.
- According to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, the idea is to enlist retired Agniveers in all state-owned enterprises.
- A three-year special technical education course will be introduced at the undergraduate level by the Union Ministry of Education.
- It should be noted that in addition to various ministries of the central government, the state governments of the BJP have also made various promises. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that Agniveers will be given priority in a variety of related activities, including police work.
- Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced that Agniveers will receive priority in the hiring process.
- According to the Madhya Pradesh government, the state police will consider recruiting Agnives after they have served in the army.
- According to Himanta Biswa Sarma, those who spend four years in the scheme will be given priority in the recruitment process for the state police.
- Karnataka’s government has made the same commitment.
- Anand Mahindra’s announcement on Monday, the deserving and trained youth (Agnives) are welcome to join the Mahindra Group in addition to the BJP-led government.
- The industrialist Harsh Goenka made almost the same promise. On Monday, he tweeted, “The RPG Group also welcomes the opportunity to recruit Agniveers. I hope that other corporate bodies will take the same oath and ensure the future of our youth.
Agnipath Scheme In National Interest: Delhi High Court Rejects Petitions
The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the Agnipath scheme and seeking resumption and enrolment as per the previous recruitment scheme in Indian defence services. An Agnipath scheme, which was launched on 14 June 2022, provides guidelines for rec
Conclusion
Legal experts at Vakilsearch can help you better understand what is Agnipath/Agniveer Scheme in India. So, by getting in touch with them, it will be easier for you to learn more about the scheme in detail.
