The three Service Chiefs will announce the new system of recruitment at a press conference once the Union Cabinet clears the policy, reliable sources said
The government is all set to announce the new system of recruitment in the three Services- Indian Army, IAF and Indian Navy called Agnipath Scheme on Tuesday.
The three Service Chiefs will announce the new system of recruitment at a press conference once the Union Cabinet clears the policy, reliable sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the meeting of the Union Cabinet at 9 AM. If all goes well, the three Service Chiefs will announce the policy thereafter.
A key review meeting in this regard took place last week in which a final presentation was made by the officials of the Department of Military Affairs to the government.
As per the proposed changes in the recruitment policy, jawans will first be recruited for a period of four years after which they will be released and nearly 25 per cent of them will be absorbed in the forces to serve a full term of another 15 years.
However, those who served for four years will not be entitled to get retirement benefits or pension, sources said.
UNI has learnt that as per the new provisions, the 75 per cent jawans demobilised after four years of service would be provided a one time financial assistance of Rs 11.71 Lakhs named Seva Nidhi Package. Each Agniveer (soldier) will contribute 30% of monthly package to the individual’s Agniveer Corpus Fund. Seva Nidhi Package shall comprise contribution by Agniveer, interest and matching contribution from the government. Option for Bank Loans for Agniveers of ₹18.2 Lakhs over 3 Years and more against Seva Nidhi will also be provided.
The 25 per cent soldiers recruited for a full term will be entitled to get all the applicable benefits in the service period including risk and hardship allowance, disability benefits etc., and other benefits post their retirement as before.
Recruitment of soldiers in the Indian Army has been suspended for two years.
As per the statistics provided by the government in Parliament during the Budget Session, 53,431 candidates were enrolled for recruitment in the Indian Army in 2018-19. Similarly, 5,885 and 6,862 candidates were enrolled respectively in the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
In 2019-20, Indian Army enrolled 80,572 candidates, the Indian Navy 6,068 and the Indian Air Force enrolled 7,222 candidates for recruitment. Replying to queries, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said that the process was restricted for the Indian Army in 2020-21 and 2021-22 due to spread of COVID since Army recruitments require large gatherings of the candidates. He said that COVID cases have substantially reduced but not eradicated in the country, as a result the process of recruitment was slowed down.
PM directs 10 lakh government jobs in next one and a half years
In another major move, the PMO said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday instructed 10 lakh employment by Government of India in the next one and a half years. Prime Minister also asked the drive be held in “mission mode.”
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed the status of Human Resources in all departments and ministries and instructed that recruitment of 10 lakh people be done by the Government in mission mode in next 1.5 years,” the PMO said in a tweet.
The Prime Minister’s decision came in the midst of several opposition leaders criticising government’s policy on generation of employment. Large number of posts are lying vacant in ministries and department across various government sectors.
