Lt Gen HJS Sachdev (retd)

Launched with much great fanfare, the Agnipath Scheme, has two major aims: to reduce the age profile of the armed forces, and to curtail the rising pension component, utilizing the savings for modernization.

The second component is not being accepted by the political class openly. This hesitation was visible during the press conference when the defence minister quashed the query of a journalist on the subject. Anyhow, there is no room for ambiguity and opaqueness when it’s a question of national security. The major takeaways of the scheme are as follows:

• The recruitment of Agniveers will be between the age of 17-1/2 to 21 (later changed to 23 for the first year). Presently, the recruitment age is from 18 to 21. The total vacancies released were 45,000, with a proviso that the same will be increased in subsequent enrolment.
• The Agniveers will serve for four years. Thereafter only 25 per cent will be retained.
• During their tenure they will be entitled to a fixed monthly amount varying from Rs 30,000 in the first year to 45,000 in the fourth year. The present pay in the first year is approximately Rs 38,500 (includes Basic + DA + MSP). However, the take home will be Rs 21,000 (after forced savings of 30 per cent) in the first year and similar provision for later years. Similar amount (30 per cent) will be contributed by the government towards the savings and at the end of the tenure the outgoing Agniveers will be handed over an amount of Rs 11 lakh. The 25 per cent retained for regular service will not get anything apart from their forced savings.
• Agniveers will be insured at government expense for Rs 48 lakh.
• During their tenure, the Agniveers will be given 12^th class pass certificates for their rehabilitation. A suitable quota will be reserved for them in CAPFs, DPSUs and other central and state governments jobs. Corporate Sector has also welcomed the move and expressed willingness, in fact in some cases, eagerness to take the Agniveers under their fold.

The Agnipath scheme is a major change in the recruitment pattern in the armed forces. It is likely to bring in combat effectiveness, human resource management and psychological displacement especially in the initial years. To focus on key issues, I have reduced the scope of analysis to army and infantry as it is the most affected. The Indian Air Force and the Navy being platform-based and relatively small in numbers are the least affected.

But before any analysis, it is imperative that we understand the current status, structure (of a combat unit) and system in vogue. The current authorized strength of the army has been taken as 12.5 lakh with an average yearly outgo of approximately 60,000 and corresponding intake of the same number. For the last three years no recruitment has taken place due to the pandemic. Hence, the current strength is in deficit by 1,80,000 (approximately 14 per cent). It has also been conveyed to the military that this deficit is unlikely to be filled thereby reducing army’s strength to 10.70 lakh.

The recruitment age before Agnipath was 18 to 21 years, nearly matching the newly announced scheme. However, under Agnipath, the soldier will actually become a regular after four years and serve as per the conditions thereafter; implying that his retirement age will be four years more in the rank he retires, as compared to today.

The strength of an infantry unit is 763. After the 3^rd Cadre Review, this includes 60