Indian ministers hail new military recruitment scheme amid protests

Protests were held soon after the Agnipath scheme was announced, in which youth can enrol to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. Agnipath will bring in men and women between the ages of 17 and 21 for a four-year tenure, with only a quarter retained for longer periods.

Several aspirants have raised reservations over the new process. They say that it can potentially affect the future of serving personnel.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday vouched for the Central government’s decision to approve the ‘Agnipath’ scheme and said that it gives a golden opportunity to the youth to join the defence system and serve the country.

Rajnath Singh said to ANI, “The Agnipath scheme by the Central government gives a golden opportunity to the youth of the country to join the defence system and serve the country. ‘I am Agniveer’ creates a unique identity for them.”

Those that enter the Agnipath programme will be known as 'Agniveers'.

“Due to a snag in the recruitment process in the army for two years, many youths did not get the opportunity to join the army. This is a fact. That is why, keeping in mind the future of the youth and showing sensitivity towards them, with the approval of the Prime Minister, the government has decided that this time the age limit for the recruitment of Agniveers should be increased from 21 to 23 years,” he added.

“This one-time relaxation has been given by the government. This will automatically increase the eligibility of many young people to become Agniveers. The recruitment process is going to start in a few days. I appeal to all the youth to prepare for joining the army and take full advantage of it,” he said.

On Wednesday also, aspirants staged protests at Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Buxar districts over the scheme, disrupting road and rail traffic movement.