Agnipath scheme (Agnipath Yojana) explained;

The centre government of India seems wanting to play on the front foot with the protesters and has said that the demands won't be considered at all, and that the new Agneepath scheme won't be rolled back.

Amidst ongoing protests against the Agnipath recruitment scheme, the Ministry of Defence organised a tri-services press briefing on Sunday.

According to news reports, the ministry has said Agnipath aspirants must pledge they did not take part in violence or arson.

Agnipath Scheme (Agnīpath Yojanā) is a scheme introduced by central government of India on 14th of June 2022, for recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into the three services of the armed forces.

The scheme will guarantee a four-year term to selected aspirants, to serve the Indian army.

After retirement from the service, they will have the opportunity to apply to continue in the armed forces and 25 percent of the Agniveers are to be selected for the permanent cadre.

The scheme will be the only route for recruitment into the military. Personnel recruitment under this system are to be called AgniVeer.

The scheme is scheduled to be implemented from September 2022.

This scheme will bypass many things including long tenures, pension and other benefits which were there in old system.

Opposition parties in India have criticized and have stood with the army aspirants against the scheme altogether, while demanding that it should be taken back and should be discussed in the Parliament.

• The army aspirants who are protesting against the new scheme by central government demand its total rollback and reinforcement of old scheme.

On 16 June 2022, violent protests erupted in several states in India where the army aspirants angry with the new scheme called for its rollback and damaged public property. By 17 June, 12 trains were set on fire, and the movement of 300 trains were affected. 214 trains were cancelled, 11 trains were diverted and 90 were terminated short of their destination.

Violent protests are going on in the country states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, etc.

Government officials are defending the new scheme and calling it in betterment of the aspirants.

The army chief, has also defended the scheme and deemed it better for young aspirants who want to serve as army soldiers.

Government officials are saying that the scheme will make young aspirants more capable and independent or atmanirbhar after four years of duty.

By 17 June, 12 trains were set on fire, and the movement of 300 trains were affected. 214 trains were cancelled, 11 trains were diverted and 90 were terminated short of their destination.

Prior to the introduction of the Agnipath scheme, soldiers were recruited into the armed forces on a 15 year tenure with lifelong pension.

The Agneepath scheme was first pushed with both male and female aspirants of age group 17.5 to 21 years, but after widespread protests against the scheme, the Central Government raised the upper limit from 21 to 23, but only for recruitment in the year 2022.

Personnel who retire after 4 years of service will not be eligible for pension

The main causes of concern were the short length of service, no pension provisions for those released early, and the 17.5 to 21-year age restriction because of which many of the current aspirants were rendered ineligible to serve in the Indian armed forces.

Congress party called the scheme neither in the interest of the country nor its security, and has asked for a rollback of the scheme.

Haryana leader of opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated "It has far-reaching consequences and these have not been fully considered while preparing this scheme.

Soon after the announcement of the scheme, violent protests erupted in several states in India where the army aspirants angry with the new scheme called for its rollback and damaged public property including buses and trains

More than 350 trains were cancelled across India as the violence continued in several states

Student organization like Students Federation of India (SFI) also took massive rallies and protests in several parts of country against the anti youth scheme. There were protests in Delhi, UP, Haryana, Rajasthan and other parts of the country. SFI alongwith Democratic Youth Federation of India have called for a protests at Jantar mantar on 19th June.

10 per cent jobs in the coast guard and state-run defence firms will be reserved for Agniveers by the Defence Ministry.

10 per cent vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces or CAPFs and Assam Rifles will be reserved for Agniveers by the Home Ministry.

Three years in age limit relaxation for recruitments in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers.

Employment opportunities in merchant navy for Agniveers from Indian Navy, six service avenues for induction by the Shipping Ministry.

Earlier, the age limit for the Agnipath scheme was raised from 21 to 23 as a one-time relaxation in view of the two-year break in recruitment because of Covid. Several state governments have said they will give preference to Agniveers in police recruitment. The National Institute of Open Schooling to launch customized courses for 10th-pass Agniveers and help them obtain 12th-pass certificate.

These above announcements were reported by NDTV.

Above Article include sources from wikipedia.