Agnipath scheme: Centre’s concession, aspirants’ agitation in 10 major points; Read inside

New Delhi: Following the government’s announcement about the Agnipath scheme for recruiting soldiers across the three services, protests emerged in several cities just after two days against the new defence recruitment path raising issues like job security and post-service benefits as their major concerns.

Take a look at 10 major points you need to know about the scheme:

• On Sunday morning, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met the three Services chiefs amid the ongoing ‘Agnipath’ defence recruitment scheme. The meeting focused to ensure a quick rollout of the Agnipath scheme and discuss ways to control the protesters.
• The protest was witnessed in several states with being intensified in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Bihar. Moreover, in Delhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party members held a ‘Satyagrah’ protest against the scheme.
• The opposition pressed for immediate withdrawal of the recruitment scheme. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav stated that the Centre should clear the doubts related to the scheme. Also, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that it should be withdrawn to avoid the repetition of something like the farm laws episode.
• To calm down the agitators, the Home and Defence ministries promised new 10% quotas each in jobs for ‘Agnipath’ recruits after the completion of their four-year tenure in the armed forces. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the PSUs under his housing and petroleum ministries are working to include plans for Agniveers.
• The Centre notified that other departments are also working in BJP-ruled states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam as they announced various measures to encourage the youth to apply under the Agnipath scheme and assured them reservations.
• Besides, the Home Ministry decided to give three years relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles.
• After the announcement of the scheme, the government stated that it decided to increase the upper age limit for the Agniveers from 21 years to 23 years for the recruitment cycle of 2022.

• On Saturday, more than 350 trains were cancelled as the armed forces aspirants were agitated by the new programme and conducted deadly protests in several states. The railways have suffered massive losses during the protest over the last four days.
• Agnipath scheme has also faced criticism for armed forces veterans who stated that the four-year tenure will affect the fighting spirit in the ranks and make them risk-averse.
• The scheme shows that people between the age of 17.5 years and 21 years will be included in the service for four years. During these periods, they will be paid monthly salaries of Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 including allowances.