The Agnipath scheme heralds a new era in the journey of India's national defence with a direct bearing on the defence forces as well as the youth of the nation which are two integral pillars of a nation-State. The scheme, announced by Union defence minister Rajnath Singh with the three service chiefs, has sparked a variety of commentary, narratives and apprehensions, highlighting a raft of pros and cons regarding the scheme.
In an ever-evolving world, change is the only constant. At the same time, resistance to change is an integral aspect of human nature, which needs to be kept in mind. Before proceeding, let's take a look at the broad outline of the scheme.
Agnipath, as per government announcements, is the new recruitment route for all hires in personnel below the officer rank (PBOR) category, commonly called PBOR, in all three services. Eligible candidates between 17.5 and 21this upper-age ceiling has been extended by two years in a one-time moratorium for 2022-will be recruited for a fixed period of four years. After four years, all Agniveers - the recruits under this scheme - will be given a choice to apply for regular engagement in their respective forces. However, only 25% Agniveers will be absorbed on regular engagement.
Questions have been raised about the utilisation of Agniveers and its impact on the operational capacity and war-waging potential of the services. Let us consider these concerns. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is a technology-centric modern air force with all combat platforms, equipment as well as weapon systems, functioning in a networked environment. IAF requires young and adaptable minds with contemporary technology know-how so that they can be trained in emerging technologies in the least possible time.
This story is from the June 18, 2022 edition of Hindustan Times.
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This story is from the June 18, 2022 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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