Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 25: The Agnipath scheme, introduced in June 2022 as a “necessary reform” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has become a source of disillusionment for thousands of young men from underprivileged backgrounds who once aspired to serve in the Indian armed forces. While the scheme aims to modernize the military by recruiting short-term personnel known as Agniveers, 75% of them will be demobilized after four years without pension or gratuity, raising concerns about morale and professionalism.
The policy has faced widespread criticism from military veterans and political leaders alike. The mother of Captain Anshuman Singh, who lost his life saving fellow soldiers in a Siachen ammunition dump fire in July 2023, publicly appealed to the government to scrap the scheme. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has consistently condemned it, labeling it as a “use and throw” policy and comparing its abrupt implementation to demonetization. In Parliament, he pointed out that Agniveers do not receive the status of martyrs if killed in action and are denied long-term benefits like pensions.
On the ground, the impact of the Agnipath scheme has been deeply personal for many aspirants. Young men like Bittu Yadav from Bihar had cleared the physical tests in 2021 and were awaiting their written exams when the scheme was introduced, leading to the cancellation of their recruitment. Having crossed the age limit, Yadav saw his dream slip away and now works at a steel manufacturing unit in Jharkhand. “Joining the army was my passion... but Agnipath destroyed my career,” he lamented.
Vikas Kumar, another hopeful, had been rigorously training before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted recruitment. He would complete the required 1.6 km run within 5 minutes and 20 seconds, but by the time Agnipath was announced, he found himself disqualified due to new restrictions. “I feel my training has been wasted. I can’t retire at 26,” he said, reflecting the frustration of many who once saw the military as their path out of poverty.
Before 2020, the armed forces recruited around 61,000 personnel annually. Under Agnipath, that number has dropped to 46,000, with only a fraction securing long-term military careers. This sharp decline in job security has fueled unrest, with violent protests erupting in Bihar when the scheme was first announced. The discontent has also had political ramifications. Reports suggest that backlash against Agnipath played a role in the BJP’s reduced seat count in Bihar in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, falling from 39 seats in 2019 to 29. BJP allies like Nitish Kumar’s JDU and the LJP have since urged the Modi government to reconsider the policy.
Despite the criticism, Modi has defended the scheme, dismissing claims that it was designed to cut pension costs. He argued that the decision was based on military strategy rather than financial concerns, asserting that a younger armed force was essential for national security. “We have respected this decision taken by the armed forces because we put rashtraneeti (governance) over rajneeti (politics),” he stated at a Kargil war anniversary event in Dras.
As Bihar gears up for its Assembly elections later this year, the Agnipath scheme is likely to remain a contentious issue. With growing opposition from aspirants, veterans, and political leaders, its long-term future remains uncertain.