Operation Sindoor was conducted in retaliation after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The performance of the Agniveers has been judged during the operation. It was found to be “excellent”.
All three wings of the Indian army are reassessing the “Agniveer scheme”, launched in 2022. The scheme involved recruiting soldiers in the Indian army. It recruited Airmen in the Indian Air force. Sailors were recruited in the Indian Navy.
The focus of the ‘Agniveer scheme’ is to increase the number of young soldiers. These soldiers are technically trained for the armed forces. The scheme aims to keep the average age of the forces low. This ensures a young and dynamic military for the country.
According to the reports, armed forces and the department of military affairs have discussed the Agniveer scheme. They also talked about potential changes that can be brought. However, no major decision has been taken yet.
Also read: 3,000 Agniveers Play Key Role in Operation Sindoor, Prove Combat Readiness
Agniveers Precise Performance During Operation Sindoor
During the Operation Sindoor, Agniveers carried out their responsibilities with great precision. They did this without any errors, as mentioned by Indian Armed forces. This is reason for continued discussion of their retention in the Armed forces.
Currently, only 25% of Agniveers are retained after their 4-year term. The first batch of Agniveers will complete their tenure by the end of 2026. Changes to the scheme could be implemented by then.
More Agniveers to be Retained
At present, discussions are ongoing regarding the percentage of Agniveers to be retained. Reports suggest that in the infantry, about 70–75% of Agniveers might be retained. In specialized units like Air Defense, Signals, and Engineers Corps, up to 80% may be retained. For special forces, there is a possibility that 100% of Agniveers could be retained. However, the forces are also cautious. They want to ensure that increasing the retention rate doesn’t significantly raise the average age of soldiers. These percentages are still under internal discussion. Before any final proposal is sent to the government, it will be further deliberated in the Army Commanders Conference.
The decision is still uncertain regarding whether the Indian Navy and Air Force will propose an increase. They may propose an increase in their respective retention rates. However, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh stated in 2024 that the Indian Air Force had a very positive response to Agniveers. “We were asked whether we could retain more than 25% Agniveers, and we agreed.” remarked by Air chief.
Navy sources mentioned a potential change. Once the first batch completes their 4-year term, the Navy may consider increasing the retention percentage. This increase would apply to sailors under this scheme.
Same benefits Full Commissioned Armed Personnel
Army Chief General Upinder Dwivedi mentioned that the discussion on the policies of Agniveer discharge is under way. He emphasised providing Agniveers with the same benefits and casualty compensation as regular soldiers. Emphasis was laid on recruiting technically trained individuals. There is an ongoing discussion on raising the upper age limit for Agniveers from 21 to 23 years.
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