1 Lakh Agniveers Integrated into Indian Army Under Agnipath Scheme, Says Lt Gen Ponnappa

jutant General of Indian Army, Lieutenant General Channira Bansi Ponnappa shared an important update on Agnipath scheme on Sunday. Initiated in June 2022, Agnipath Scheme has so far trained approximately 1 lakh Agniveers. first batch was recruited and enrolled between December 2022 and January 2023, including around 200 women.

Ponnappa highlighted effective deployment of se Agniveers. Approximately 70,000 have been dispatched to various units and are performing mirably. "y are completely integrated and assimilated into units," he said, emphasizing ir role in operational and professional duties. 

Concerns from Veterans on Training and Morale 

Recently, some army veterans expressed concerns regarding Agnipath scheme. y fear that current four-year service period might not provide sufficient training. ditionally, re are worries about potential impact on morale due to having two categories of jawans: regular and short-term recruits. 

Under scheme, recruits serve for four years, after which 25% are retained, while 75% transition to civilian life. To mitigate se concerns, government has announced a 10% reservation for Agniveers in central paramilitary forces. However, a section of veterans, including former Navy Chief miral Arun Prakash, believe scheme needs justments. 

However, Lieutenant General Ponnappa emphasized that Agniveers are fully integrated into ir units. "y wear same uniform and perform same duty," he said. scheme aims to rejuvenate Indian Army by recruiting young individuals for short-term service. 

Agnipath scheme has sparked a debate on optimal length of military service. Balancing training needs with operational effectiveness is crucial. Monitoring performance and integration of Agniveers will be key to dressing any challenges and ensuring scheme's long-term success.