Agniveer: Kargil Committee Had Recommended For Younger Agile Force

New Delhi: Ever since the Defence Ministry introduced the Agnipath scheme for armed forces recruitment, it has become a bone of contention between the Opposition and the ruling Narendra Modi-led government. Recently, the debate escalated into a heated exchange between Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Although opposition parties persist in their criticism, the fact remains that the idea of Agniveers was initially proposed in the Kargil Review Committee report two decades ago.  

On the silver jubilee (25th anniversary) of Kargil Vijay Diwas, South Block sources informed Republic World that the Agnipath Scheme was launched in response to insights gained from the 1999 Kargil War, highlighting the need for a younger and more agile military force. This initiative aligns with the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee, which was established to review the events leading up to the Kargil War and propose improvements for national defence.

The committee had reportedly proposed improvements for national defence and made several key recommendations. Among them was the need to lower the average age of soldiers to ensure the army remained consistently young and fit. The committee also advocated for an integrated manpower policy across the Armed Forces, paramilitary forces, and Central police forces, according to reports.

Agniveer Scheme: What is it?

Launched in 2022, the Agnipath Scheme is a recruitment initiative for the Indian Armed Forces where selected candidates serve for four years. After this period, depending on organizational needs and Armed Forces policies, they may apply for permanent enlistment. Up to 25% of these candidates will be chosen for regular cadre positions in the Armed Forces.

Who Are Agniveers?

Agniveers are candidates selected under the Agnipath Scheme, which allows patriotic and motivated youth aged 17.5 to 21 to serve in the Armed Forces for four years.

The government stated that this scheme aims to rejuvenate the Armed Forces with youthful energy and enthusiasm, while also driving a shift towards a more technologically advanced military, which is essential in today’s context.

'We Work For 'Rashtraneeti', Not 'Rajneeti': PM Modi on Agnipath Scheme

Meanwhile, speaking at the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas in Dras, Ladakh, PM Modi accused the opposition of politicizing a sensitive national security issue.

"I don't know what has happened to the thinking of some people. They are spreading the misconception that the government has come up with this scheme to save pension money... For today's recruits, the question of pension will arise after 30 years... We have respected this decision taken by the Army because we work for 'rashtraneeti', not 'rajneeti'...", said PM Modi. 

He added,"The history of those who are misleading the youth of the country shows that they do not care about the soldiers. These are the same people who lied about One Rank One Pension. It is our government which implemented One Rank One Pension, gave more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore to ex-servicemen. These are the same people who did not build a war memorial...These are the same people who did not provide adequate bulletproof jackets to our soldiers deployed on the border..."

Reacting to PM Modi's speech, Air Marshal SP Singh (retired) told ANI, "PM Modi clarified it very well... Give the (Agnipath) scheme a chance... And like the PM said, it is the decision of the armed forces. It is a scheme endorsed by the government, and the country is accepting it.... It is a very good scheme..."