00:00In a big announcement made this week by the Chief of Defence Staff, there's been a big change in the
00:05Agniveer scheme as the government has extended the tenure by two years.
00:33The move is expected to benefit around 18,000 Agniveers who were due to leave the armed forces by December
00:402026 after completing their initial four-year term.
00:44So based on review and performance, there's a chance for an extension.
00:48Before we go into the changes in detail, let me first break down the basics for you.
00:53The Agnipat scheme was introduced in June 2022 as a new recruitment model for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
01:01It allows young people to serve in the armed forces for an initial period of four years.
01:05Those recruited under the scheme are known as Agniveers.
01:09Under the original recruitment framework, candidates aged between 17.5 and 21 years were eligible to apply.
01:17The original scheme was designed around three principles.
01:20To recruit young people into the armed forces, give them four years of military training and experience,
01:27retain a smaller proportion as regular military personnel and release the rest into civilian life.
01:32The selected candidates undergo military training they inducted into their respective services.
01:37They work as Agniveers, receiving a salary, applicable allowances as well as military experience for four years.
01:44Now under the original framework, up to 25% of each batch could be selected for permanent enrollment depending on
01:52performance and organizational requirements.
01:54The remaining 75%, well they would leave military service and receive what was called the Seva Nidhi package.
02:02It's this 75% clause that triggered a lot of debate.
02:05What happens to the 75% who do not get permanent jobs was the question and the most controversial part
02:12of the scheme.
02:13Let's say someone joins the army at 18.
02:16At 22, under the original arrangement, this person would have completed four years of service.
02:20If not selected for regular enrollment and falls under that 75%, they would leave the army.
02:26They would then need to find employment or pursue further education.
02:30Sure, they'd have four years of military service and experience, military discipline, physical training,
02:36a Seva Nidhi payment, relevant skill certificates, potential access to certain recruitment and reservation opportunities.
02:44But they would not automatically have a permanent government job.
02:48They would not have a military pension, no guaranteed civilian job either.
02:53And the same long-term service benefits as regular soldiers.
02:58They don't get that.
02:59This raises an important question.
03:00What happens to thousands of trained young people when they return to civilian life at 22 to 25 years of
03:07age?
03:08The government had tried repeatedly to address this question through employment opportunities, through reservations.
03:14But now, they've changed exactly that point of contention.
03:18Under the revised arrangement, 75% of Agniveers who are not selected for regular enrollment
03:24will be offered an additional two years of service.
03:27After six years, all Agniveers will be made permanent.
03:32There are also two other announced changes.
03:36One, that a written examination will take place before the physical test.
03:39And Agniveers will receive certificates recognizing skills gained during military service.
03:44So, this is a big change made by the government.
03:47And let's face it, it completely changes the definition of what the Agnipat scheme started off as.
03:53That's completely changed now.
