Defence Ministry mulls retaining more Agniveers

The Department of Military Affairs, which falls under the Ministry of Defence and is headed by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, is now examining a proposal to tweak the Agnipath scheme on three key points — providing financial support to family in case of death, lifelong medical treatment in case of disability and an increase in the number of those being retained after the four-year tenure ends.

Sources said a decision was expected soon as the first lot of Agniveers – the name of soldiers recruited under the scheme – would complete their four-year tenure in October next year.

The armed forces have made a pitch for increasing the retention percentage of soldiers. The Agnipath scheme entails the recruitment of youth in the armed forces for four years. After the period, 25 per cent of the recruits would be retained as full-time soldiers, while others will be relieved of the service.

The three services want that ceiling of retaining 25 per cent soldiers be increased. Sources said the suggestion of the forces is to retain 50 per cent of the recruits in all arms and 60 per cent in case of technical arms.

The move comes as all the three forces are rapidly absorbing technology and need more trained hands to operate UAVs, scan surveillance footage and read radars signals to launch air defence mechanisms like in Operation Sindoor.

Also, in case of an Agniveer dying in the line of duty, his family be given a “subsistence allowance” for life, is part of the proposal. Since those recruited under the scheme cannot marry, the proposal does not mention the wife as a beneficiary.

Under the proposal, Agniveers who get disabled in line of duty are to be made entitled for benefits like regular soldiers who get free medical facilities for life and disability allowance.

In December 2023, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence chaired by BJP MP Jual Oram recommended that families of Agniveers, who die in line of duty be provided the same benefits as given to the families of regular soldiers.

The present rules do not have the provision of pension for the family of Agniveers dying in the line of duty.