Government scheme 'Agnipath' chance for youth to serve in Army: Lt Gen SS Mahal

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Shimla, June 15

The Agnipath scheme will give an opportunity to the youth to serve in the Indian Army for four years. Recruitment will be based on merit, said Lt Gen SS Mahal, Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command (ARTRAC), here today.

Lt Gen Mahal, while addressing mediapersons, said no recruitment was made in the past two years due to Covid. The new recruitment policy was a historic transformation as the average age in the Army would reduce from 32 to 26 years.

The age limit of the applicants is 17.5 years to 21 years and they should be X or XII passed. The Army would be more fit, modern and technology-driven with the mentally robust youth, who could easily adapt to new technologies. They would get all allowances that Army jawans were entitled to.

The package in the first year would be Rs 4.76 lakh which will go up to Rs 6.92 lakh in the fourth year and the Agniveer would get Rs 11.71 lakh after the completion of four years, which would help them pursuing higher studies or become entrepreneurs.

After four years, they could apply for regular service and 25 per cent of them would be absorbed in the Army. While the remaining 75 per cent would come back as disciplined soldiers and contribute to nation-building, he stated.

The scheme would strengthen the Army and also make the youth more employable, said Lt Gen Mahal. The first recruitment rally would start in 90 days and a written test would be taken before the physical and medical examination, he added.