Amid the ongoing protests against Centre’s Agnipath scheme, Union Defence Ministry on Tuesday held a press conference and listed out three major benefits of the new military recruitment scheme. While speaking to reports, Lt Gen Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs said that the Agnipath scheme balances three things, first youthful profile of the armed forces, technical savvy and adaptable people joining the Army, third makes the individual future-ready.
Protests have erupted in several states against the scheme ever since it was announced by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Central government on June 14.
Further in his address, Puri stated that there is no change in the recruitment process and the regimental process will remain the same. Reacting to the events of violence by youth in various parts of the country, Puri said, “We will take an undertaking and aspirants have to submit pledge that they were not involved in any arson or vandalism.”
“This is a matter of the security of our nation. Someone spread the rumour that old-timers of the Army will be sent to the Agniveer scheme. This is proven to be a fake information,” he said.
The Defence official also pointed out that no other country in the world has the demographic dividend as that of India. “50 per cent of our youth is under the age group of 25 years. Army should make the most of it. We have to be reflective of this demographic dividend,” Puri added.
The Agnipath scheme for the armed forces provides for the recruitment of youth between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 21 only four years, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. The others would retire without gratuity and pension benefits. Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022..