Hours after announcing its support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Janata Dal (United) expressed the need to reconsider the Agnipath scheme for inducting soldiers into the Indian Armed Forces.

In a significant development, hours after announcing its support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Janata Dal (United) expressed the need to reconsider the Agnipath scheme for inducting soldiers into the Indian Armed Forces. This move by JD(U) highlights ongoing concerns about the scheme’s impact on military recruitment and the welfare of soldiers.

A Call for Reassessment

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi emphasized the necessity for a fresh review of the Agnipath scheme. “There is a need to have a fresh rethink on the Agnipath scheme,” Tyagi stated in a news channel interview. He noted that since its announcement in June 2022, the scheme has caused dissatisfaction among soldiers and their families, as reflected in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

On Wednesday, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar attended an NDA meeting in the National Capital, where the party reaffirmed its support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Despite this backing, the party voiced concerns about the Agnipath scheme, which had been a contentious issue during the election campaign, with the Congress party even promising to abolish it if elected.

Parliamentary Recommendations

In December 2023, In December last year, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, chaired by BJP MP Jual Oram, recommended that families of Agniveers—recruits under the scheme—who die in the line of duty should receive the same benefits as families of regular soldiers. The current rules do not provide pension benefits for the families of Agniveers, unlike the families of regular soldiers who receive lifetime pensions.

The report also highlighted the absence of assured employment or skill development programs for Agniveers, aside from limited job reservations in Central Armed Police Forces.

The Agnipath Scheme: An Overview

The Agnipath scheme recruits youth into the Armed Forces for four years. After this period, 25 percent of the recruits are retained as full-time soldiers, while the rest are released with a one-time financial package. For those retained, the initial four-year period does not count towards pension calculations or other financial benefits.

The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) is actively reviewing feedback on the Agniveers’ performance to adjust the scheme as needed for the Army, Air Force, and Navy. Personnel department heads from all three services are involved in this ongoing assessment.

Concerns and Proposals for Change

The Army is particularly concerned about the declining number of recruits, projecting a significant shortfall by the end of this decade unless immediate steps are taken. The continuous deployment of personnel in Eastern Ladakh since May 2020’s skirmishes has exacerbated this issue.

Operational challenges due to personnel shortages have already been reported. In July 2023, it was first noted that the induction of Agniveers had led to concerns within the armed forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated in March that the government was “open for change” in the scheme.

Proposals under consideration include increasing the percentage of Agniveers retained to 50 percent and raising the maximum recruitment age from 21 to 23 years to expand the eligible candidate pool, particularly for technical roles in aviation, engineering, and electronics. Without these changes, there could be a significant dearth of personnel, affecting the army’s functional and operational capabilities.

Lt Gen Anil Puri, the then Additional Secretary of the DMA, predicted that the intake of Agniveers would rise to 1.25 lakh soon, up from the current 46,000. By 2026, approximately 1.75 lakh youths are expected to be recruited under the scheme.

The Political Impact

The Agnipath scheme has become a major issue in the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The INDIA Bloc has promised to scrap the scheme if elected. Feedback from serving personnel, regularly gathered by the DMA, indicates dissatisfaction with the current structure and implementation of the scheme.

The decline in soldier strength, projected to peak by the decade’s end, is a significant concern. Measures to address this shortfall are crucial to maintaining the sanctioned strength of personnel, which could otherwise take another decade to achieve.

Election Results and Voter Sentiment

The Agnipath scheme has also influenced election outcomes, causing significant losses for the BJP in areas known for high military recruitment. During the election campaign, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders criticized the scheme, portraying Agniveers as second-rate soldiers and promising to abolish the scheme if elected.

Election results showed a close contest between the BJP’s NDA and the Congress-led Indi-Alliance, particularly in postal ballots cast by soldiers and paramilitary forces. This indicates widespread discontent among military personnel regarding the scheme.

Opposition Promises and Future Prospects

Rahul Gandhi pledged to discard the Agnipath scheme if his party came to power, arguing that it discriminates against soldiers by denying some of them the same benefits as others. The opposition successfully turned the scheme into a major electoral issue, especially in states with high military recruitment like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh did not heavily emphasize the Agnipath scheme in their election campaigns, signalling a defensive stance on the issue. Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff’s visits to regimental centers and positive remarks about Agniveers did little to sway public opinion.

Historical Context and Broader Implications

Former Army Chief MM Naravane had previously raised concerns about the Agnipath scheme, adding to the opposition’s narrative. Introduced in 2022 to keep the army youthful and combat-ready, the scheme aimed to create a large pool of trained soldiers available for immediate deployment during wartime.

However, in a country with high unemployment, the scheme faced backlash from rural youth who viewed the military as a key employment source. The election results and postal-ballot outcomes revealed that current soldiers also harboured reservations about the scheme.

Conclusion

The Agnipath scheme, designed to modernize and streamline the Indian Armed Forces, has faced significant criticism and challenges. With political promises to abolish the scheme and ongoing feedback from military personnel, the future of the Agnipath scheme remains uncertain. As the government and military leadership consider adjustments, the primary goal will be to balance operational effectiveness with the welfare and satisfaction of soldiers.