2024-07-31 12:06:46
New Delhi: In Lok Sabha, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Narendra Modi government over the Agniveer scheme. Rahul accused the Modi government of trapping the army soldiers in the Agniveer Chakravyuh. There is not a single rupee in the pension for Agniveers in this year’s budget. When it comes to giving money to the soldiers, not a single rupee has been given for the pension of the soldiers. Earlier, PM Modi, who reached Kargil on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, had targeted Rahul and said that he is opposing the Agnipath scheme, which aims to make our soldiers young and prepare them for war. They are saying that the Agniveer scheme has been started by Narendra Modi to save pensions. The PM said that the thinking of such people creates confusion. He said that someone please tell me whether the people who will be recruited today in Modi’s regime will have to be given pension today itself? The talk of giving them pension will come after 30 years, Modi will be 105 years old at that time and Modi will be abused for that today. What argument are you giving? Let us know what is the system in other countries regarding the Agniveer scheme. How important is the Agneepath scheme, what is the meaning of the opposition’s concerns?
Agniveer i.e. fire warrior did not receive commission
Agniveer is a scheme for recruitment of military personnel below officer rank such as soldiers, airmen and sailors who are not commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces. They are recruited for 4 years, after which up to 25% of them (called Agniveers) can join the services with permanent commission (another 15 years) as per qualification and organisational requirements. At present, recruitment is being done in the Army, Air Force and Navy, except in the medical and technical fields.
PM Modi gave a clear message to the opposition on Agniveer, Rahul’s demand remained unfulfilled
1 crore to the family of the person who lost his life on duty
Candidates between the ages of 17.5 years and 23 years are eligible to apply. Girls below this age limit are open for admission in Agneepath, while there is no such reservation for women under this scheme. In case of death on duty, the family gets a combined compensation of Rs 1 crore, which includes both the Seva Nidhi package and the soldier’s salary. At the same time, in case of disability, the Agniveer can get compensation up to Rs 44 lakh depending on the severity. This amount is provided only if the disability is caused due to military service.
On one hand there is protest, on the other hand there is concession… From which states did the good news come for Agniveers, see the complete list
Pension is not available, this facility is given only to those who get permanent commission
Like traditional soldiers, Agniveers are not given regular pension after 4 years of service. On this issue, the ruling and opposition parties are face to face. Only 25% of the people selected for permanent commission will be eligible for pension. Let us understand from the graphic given below what is the average age of the army of which country.
What benefits will Agniveers get in the military forces and paramilitary forces?
As per a recent Home Ministry decision, former Agniveers will get 10 per cent reservation, age relaxation and PET (physical efficiency test) exemption in several forces. The first batch of Agniveers will get five years age relaxation. The second batch of Agniveers will get three years age relaxation. The forces in which relaxation and reservation will be available include Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Service Selection Board (SSB) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles.
Reservation for Agniveers in more than 11 states including UP-MP
Reservation or preference has been announced for Agniveers in 11 BJP-ruled states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Some other states have already made similar announcements. Agniveers will be given Rs 11.71 lakh as a package after retirement, which will be income tax free.
Why was this scheme brought, what is its purpose
This scheme has been prepared to keep the armed forces young and reduce the number of permanent soldiers in the army, which will significantly reduce the government’s pension expenditure on the defense forces. As PM Modi himself has said, the Agneepath scheme is also an example of the necessary reforms done by the army. Agneepath scheme will not only increase the strength of the country but will also give us capable youth. Some people are doing politics in this reform of the army for their personal benefit.
What are the questions of the opposition on the Agnipath scheme which was started in 2022
The government launched the ‘Agnipath Recruitment Scheme’ in 2022 with the aim of keeping youth of average age group in all three wings of the army. This scheme provides for the recruitment of youth aged 17.5 to 21 years as Agniveer for a period of four years. There is a provision to retain 25 percent of them for the next 15 years. Many opposition parties including Congress are targeting the government regarding this scheme. Opposition parties are raising questions as to what will happen to the remaining 75 percent Agniveers after the four-year term ends. Congress says that Agniveer does not get any pension, no gratuity, no pension to the family, no education allowance for the education of children.
The rule of Tour of Duty is applicable in more than 30 countries of the world
The rule of Tour of Duty is applicable in some form or the other in more than 30 countries of the world. It can be from a few months to a few years. At the same time, there are at least 10 countries where both men and women have to serve in the army compulsorily. These countries include countries like China, Israel, Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, Morocco, North Korea, Cape Verde, Jordan, Eritrea. In Russia, a hybrid model i.e. both types of systems are applicable. Here, apart from compulsory service, soldiers are recruited on contract.
What is the rule of Tour of Duty, which has been adopted by many countries
The concept of joining the army for a fixed time period is called ‘Tour of Duty’. The rule of Tour of Duty is not new. During the Second World War, when the pilots of the British Air Force were under stress, the concept of Tour of Duty was introduced in the Air Force. Under this, the joining pilot was asked to fly the plane for 200 hours for 2 years. The concept of Tour of Duty is also adopted in corporate houses. Such a culture prevails in many corporate offices of America. Under Tour of Duty, retired people are kept on the job for a fixed period.
Do firefighters get pension in America?
The US Army is the third largest army in the world after China and India. Depending on the needs of the US Army, voluntary duty service can be done from 6 to 9 months to a full year. This is for all citizens. America has 13.5 lakh active army. Like Agniveer in the country, men between 18 and 25 years can register in the Selective Service System, so that they can be included in military service if the opportunity arises. They are recruited in the army for 4 years. After this, they are kept in a reserve duty period of 4 years. After this, soldiers can also opt for full service. After 20 years of service, they become eligible for pension.
24 months of compulsory military service is also necessary in China
In China, people between the ages of 18-22 are required to do selective compulsory military service. The minimum duration of service should be 24 months. Only people from Hong Kong and Macau are exempted from this compulsory military service.
Longest mandatory service in Kim’s country
North Korea has the longest compulsory military service provision. Here men have to serve in the army for 11 years and women for seven years. Sweden abolished compulsory military service after 100 years in 2010. In 2017, a vote was taken to start it again. After this decision, it was decided to call 4000 men and women for compulsory military service from January 2018. By 2025, 8 thousand men and women will be taken for compulsory military service. Apart from this, military service is compulsory for all men above 20 years of age in Turkey. They have to serve in the army for between 6 to 15 months.