New Delhi [India], June 14 (ANI): Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has taken a historic decision by approving the transformative scheme of ‘Agnipath’ wherein Indian youth would be granted an opportunity to get inducted into the Armed services. “The Cabinet Committee on Security has taken a historic decision today to approve the transformative scheme of ‘Agnipath’. Under this, Indian youth would be granted an opportunity to get inducted into the Armed services. Under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, efforts are to create a youthful profile of the Armed forces,” Singh said while addressing a press conference in the national capital today.
The Union Minister said, “It would help to train them for new technologies and also improve their health levels. This scheme will increase employment opportunities with new skills in different sectors.” The Defence Minister said that the entire nation, especially our youth, treats the armed forces with respect. “Every child aspires to wear an army uniform at some point in their lifetime,” he said.
Asking the youth to have a “youthful profile”, he said, “Youthful profile will also have the advantage that they can be easily trained for new technologies, and their health and fitness level will also be better.” “Efforts are being made under the Agnipath scheme, that the profile of Indian Armed Forces should be as youthful as the profile of wider Indian population. This will also lead to the availability of a higher-skilled workforce to the economy which will be helpful in productivity gain and overall GDP growth. The employment opportunities will increase with the ‘Agnipath’ scheme. Skills and experience acquired during Agniveer’s service will assure employment in various fields,” he said.
This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked the government departments to recruit 10 lakh people in the next 1.5 years in a “mission mode.” PM Modi directed various departments to undertake the recruitment in organisations after the review of the status of the human resources in all government departments and ministries.
Informing about the directions from PM Modi, the PMO office took to Twitter and wrote, “PM Narendra Modi reviewed the status of Human Resources in all departments and ministries and instructed that recruitment of 10 lakh people be done by the Government in a mission mode in the next 1.5 years.” (ANI)
Department of Military Affairs calls for harnessing potential of youth by making them ‘Agniveers’
Department of Military Affairs on Tuesday appreciated the government’s decision to approve the Agnipath scheme under which the youngsters will be provided with an opportunity to serve in the regular cadre of the Armed Forces. Addressing a press conference today in this regard, Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs said, “We will provide an opportunity to the youth to serve the nation for a short and long duration, as agniveers. We are giving youth a chance for both long and short-duration military service.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today highlighted that the Agniveers will form a distinct rank in the three services, and will also wear a distinct insignia as part of their uniform. Lieutenant General Anil Puri further said, “Today average age is around 32 years, in time to come it will further come down to 26 years. This will happen in 6-7 years. In order to transform armed forces into youthful, tech-savvy, modern, there’s a need to harness the youth potential and make him a future-ready soldier”.
“Agniveer would be a part of this future-ready soldier. Agniveer would be India’s young protector. After being with us for 4 years, an agniveer’s resume and biodata will be very unique. He will stand out in the crowd with his attitude, skills and time he would have spent with us,” Lieutenant General Anil Puri said.
Indian Navy calls ‘Agnipath’ scheme a visionary move that will bring multi-dimensional transformations to Armed forces
Hailing Agnipath scheme under which the youngsters will get an opportunity to serve in the regular cadre of the Armed Forces, the Indian Navy on Tuesday said that Agnipath is a visionary move that will bring multi-dimensional transformations to the Navy.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital today, Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said, “As far as the Navy is concerned, ‘Agniveers’ will provide a steady and continuous infusion of unbridled vitality, enthusiasm and new-age abilities of youth. Women too will be included in the Agniveer scheme of the Indian Navy. I believe that Agnipath is a visionary move that will bring multi-dimensional transformations to the Navy.”
“Agnipath scheme is a new idea of the new era. An idea that is made in India and made for India. An idea that will have positive impact on the human resources management of armed forces,” he said. Indian Navy top official said, “This idea will bring balance between the youth aspirations and future requirements of armed forces. This idea that will make the profile of armed forces more youthful, as per Kargil Committee Report.”
“The Agnipath scheme will have a positive impact on the Armed Forces. This idea has the capacity to change society. We can’t afford to continue on the known path,” Chief of Naval Staff said.
Agnipath scheme to prepare Army for future challenges: General Manoj Pande
Agnipath scheme aims to make the Army a future-ready fighting force capable of meeting multiple challenges across the full spectrum of conflict, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande said on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with three services chiefs General Manoj Pande (Army), Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Admiral R Hari Kumar (Navy), addressed a joint press conference today at National Media Centre in New Delhi.
Here, the government unveiled a new scheme called “Agnipath” for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, largely on a short-term contractual basis, with an aim to cut the ballooning salary and pensions bill.
Speaking at the press conference today, the Indian Army chief said, “Agnipath scheme aims to make the Army a future-ready fighting force capable of meeting multiple challenges across the full spectrum of conflict and it will increase the technical threshold of the Army by recruiting ‘Agniveers’ through ITIs and other tech-institutes.”
The Army chief highlighted that ‘Agniveers’ will be assimilated and integrated into Army in every way. “We will institute a fair, transparent and scientific method in screening initial intake of four years and apply similar yardsticks to select those who will get enrolled… ‘Agniveers’ will be assimilated and integrated into Army in every way,” he said.
“There won’t be any compromise on the skillset of Agniveers. We will deploy Agniveers on borders,” Chief Of Army Staff General Manoj Pande said. The Army chief said further, “Agnipath scheme aims to bring a paradigm shift in recruitment in armed forces. Agnipath scheme will help ensure optimum balance between youth and experience in Army.”
