The Narendra Modi government’s Agnipath sch, eme for recruitment of soldiers in the ArmyNavy

The Narendra Modi government’s Agnipath sch, eme for recruitment of soldiers in the ArmyNavy and the Air Force largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis has been hailed as a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process.

Under the scheme, youth between the ages of 17-and-a-half and 23 will be inducted into the three services. After completion of the four-year tenure, the scheme provides for retaining 25% of the recruits for regular service. The government has said the new model will not only bring in new capabilities to the armed forces but will also open up avenues for the youth in the private sector.

The Agnipath scheme has also received backing from unexpected quarters, with Congress leader Manish Tewari terming it a “much-needed reform in the right direction”.

“This is a reform which is much-needed and is a reform in the right direction,” Tewari said. “I do empathise with youth who have concerns over Agnipath recruitment process. Reality is India needs a younger armed force with lighter human footprint savvy on technology, equipped with state of art weaponry,” he said. He, however, added in a tweet that the armed forces shouldn’t be an “employment guarantee programme”.