Chief of Defence Staff: Agnipath A Major Reform Aimed At Maintaining Youthful Profile Of Military

The ‘Agnipath’ Scheme has been a focal point of controversy since its announcement. Addressing misinformation surrounding the scheme has been crucial, and CDS Gen Chauhan frequently takes on this task. On June 2, at INS Chilka, a premier training facility of the Indian Navy in Odisha, the CDS emphasized the importance of the scheme. According to Gen Chauhan, the 'Agnipath' scheme is essential for maintaining a youthful profile within the three services. During the event, Gen Chauhan encouraged the Agniveers to concentrate on their training to become technologically proficient sea warriors. He also took a short tour of the facility to gain insights into the Agniveer training in the Navy. The Centre introduced the Agnipath recruitment scheme in 2022 for the short-term induction of personnel. The scheme aims to reduce the age profile of the three services by recruiting youths aged 17.5 to 21 for a tenure of four years, with 25% of them being retained for an additional 15 years.