Agniveers put on the identical uniform and carry out the identical duties, underlined a prime Military officer, including in some areas they’re a shade higher, countering the opposition cost that the Centre has created two lessons of troopers.

Launched in 2022, Agnipath scheme offers for short-term induction of personnel into the armed forces with an goal to deliver down the age profile of the three providers. These recruited underneath the scheme are known as Agniveers. The short-term service plan (17.5-21 years) within the armed forces had triggered violent protests in a number of elements of the nation.

“I have to say that they are enterprise all of the actions, operational and different skilled duties, similar to any of the opposite sepoys or the recruits on the bottom within the unit. And so they have been utterly built-in and assimilated into the items. They put on the identical uniform. They carry out the identical duties and they’re performing extraordinarily nicely on the bottom. And the suggestions – from the items, the commanding officers, and in addition themselves – is that that is going nicely. They’re performing nicely,” Lieutenant Basic Channira Bansi Ponnappa, outgoing Adjutant Basic within the Military, advised information company ANI.

#WATCH | On the present standing of Agnipath scheme, the variety of Agniveers being employed, Lieutenant Basic Channira Bansi Ponnappa- Adjutant Basic of the Indian Military, says, “Since June 2022, the scheme was launched after which we had the primary batch that was recruited and… pic.twitter.com/okwXzpqycF

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2024

“And we do see that they’re in truth in some areas, shade higher, 10% virtually higher within the bodily exams. And they’re virtually 20% larger of their teachers. Most likely this pertains to their centered strategy,” the officer added.

In an interview to NDTV earlier than the polls, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underscored that “one of many elements behind beginning this scheme is to deliver extra younger individuals into the armed forces”.

“I would similar to to spotlight a number of areas through which we now have been in a position to result in change and people relate to the Agnipath scheme, which has been a transformational, reform within the general manpower, recruitment and within the, coverage per se, which have an effect on a considerable a part of our Indian military, the opposite ranks. It’s primarily meant to create a youthful, future prepared power, with primarily a functionality to deal with all the longer term challenges associated to expertise and the trendy processes that may come up,” Lieutenant Basic Channira Bansi Ponnappa mentioned.

“Since June 2022, the scheme was launched after which we had the primary batch that was recruited and enrolled, in December 2022-January 2023. Roughly, 1 lakh Agniveers have been enrolled within the Military. This additionally contains round 200 ladies, roughly 70,000 have already been dispatched to the items and are performing extraordinarily nicely within the battalions. This contains round 100 ladies police additionally. Round 50,000 vacancies have been launched, on this yr 2024-25,” mentioned the officer.

The Congress, the principal opposition get together, has argued that the scheme will depart Agniveers unemployed on the age of 25. It additionally mentioned that it have an effect on cohesion within the forces as short-term recruits serve alongside troopers eligible for safe pensions and extra beneficiant allowances.

The Centre maintains {that a} good monetary bundle to Agniveers on the finish of their four-year service will give them a superb head begin, apart from the distinctive expertise of working within the forces.

Varied central authorities businesses and departments have already introduced plans to recruit former Agniveers.