Will the government change the Agneepath model of army recruitment? Top official told clearly

New Delhi: After giving the gift of Unified Pension Scheme to the government employees, will the Modi government make a big change in the Agneepath scheme? This question is running in everyone’s mind these days. At the same time, the political temperature regarding the Agneepath scheme has also been high for some time. Meanwhile, a top official has shared a big information about the Agneepath scheme. There is not going to be any change in the Agneepath recruitment model. According to the officials, if any changes are made in this scheme, then the purpose of implementing it will not be successful. Hindustan Times newspaper has quoted an official as saying that if there is any change in the Agneepath scheme, then it can threaten the security interests of India. Agneepath scheme can become an election issue in the assembly elections of Haryana, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand. This recruitment model of the army has been in discussion since the beginning. Under this, youth are recruited in the army for a few years. This scheme was introduced two years ago with the aim of keeping the armed forces young and ready for war. A top government official said on the condition of anonymity, “This plan is part of our strategy to counter China. The army needs youth to fight in the inaccessible mountains of the disputed border.”

What is the connection with the clash in Galwan Valley?

Citing the example of the clash in Galwan Valley in 2020, the officer said that this incident proved how difficult it is to take on the enemy in high altitude areas. At that time, there was a fight between Indian and Chinese soldiers with stones, sticks and sharp wires. The officer said that the average age of our infantry soldiers is 29, but they need to be close to 21. Actually, under the Agneepath scheme, only young men and women aged 17 to 21 years are eligible to join the army. There is a provision to retain 25% of the soldiers selected under Agneepath in regular service for the next 15 years.

What is Agnipath Scheme?

The Indian government launched the ‘Agnipath Yojana’ to make its army young and agile. Under this scheme, youth are recruited in the army for four years, after which 25% of them go into permanent service. The main objective of this scheme is to reduce the average age of the army and keep it ready to face challenges like China.