Lecture Notes: Agnipath Scheme and Agniveers

Introduction to Agnipath Scheme

• Purpose: Launch of short-term soldier induction program
• Comparison: Creation of two types of soldiers
  • Regular soldiers with pension and martyr status
  • Agniveers without pensions and limited benefits

Key Points Raised in Parliament

• Concerns about different treatment of Agniveers vs. regular soldiers
• Deployment after only 6 months of training
• Limited compensation for Agniveers
• Allegations of cost-cutting at the expense of national security

Incident of Agniveer Ajay Kumar

• Killed on 18th January 2024 on the LOC in J&K
• Family claims no compensation from the government, only insurance money
• Political debate between Rahul Gandhi and Rajnath Singh regarding compensation status
  • Gandhi alleges no compensation received
  • Singh claims 1 crore rupees given
  • Ajay Kumar’s father disputes Singh’s claim

Political and Public Reactions

• Agnipath becoming a political issue
• Protests in states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh

Background and Implementation of Agnipath

• Former Army Chief General Naravane’s Proposal: Tour of Duty
  • Naravane proposed the idea, which was expanded by the government
• Scope and Changes: Introduction of PBOR (Personnel Below Officer Rank)
  • Previously 17 years of service, pension, and various benefits
  • Now 4 years of service with limited post-service benefits

Financial Context

• Army budget heavily impacted by pension costs (23% in 2023-2024)
• Comparison with China’s spending on military modernization

Details of Agnipath Scheme

• Recruitment: 4-year tenure with 75% to be dismissed and 25% retained
• Salary and Benefits: Average salary of 40,000 INR/month, 12 lakhs as Seva Nidhi
  • Skill certificate offered for state police and central armed police forces

Criticism and Concerns

• Lack of pension and additional benefits for Agniveers
• Comparisons to other abrupt government policies (GST, demonetization)
• Issues raised by retired military officials and public safety concerns
  • Lack of sufficient training time (6-8 months vs. 2-3 years previously)
  • Problems for Navy and Air Force due to complex weapon systems
  • Competition among Agniveers reducing regimental camaraderie

Military and Societal Impact

• Surveys: Indicate lack of cohesion and trust among Agniveers
• Potential Risks: Militarization of society, ex-Agniveers turning to unlawful activities or mercenary work

Government and Expert Opinions

• Rajnath Singh’s statements on consultations before implementation
• General Naravane's critique on the lack of thorough consultation
• Suggestions for scheme improvements:
  • Increase retention rate to 60-70%
  • Longer service tenure (7 years) for proper training and benefits

Conclusion

• Government’s claim of modernization disputed
• Need for holistic economic growth to adequately fund defense
• Consultative approach recommended for policy implementation to avoid adverse effects on national security.