'Agar Zarurat Padi Toh...': Rajnath Singh Makes Big Claim On Agniveer Scheme | Times Now Summit 2024

times now summit 2024: rajnath singh makes big claim on agniveer scheme: ‘agar zarurat padi toh…’:

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that he is “open to changes in the Agniveer scheme if necessary”. “Agar zarurat padi toh zarur changes karenge,” he said. The Rajnath Singh also defended the Agniveer scheme saying that “youthfulness” is necessary in the defence forces.

“Sena mein youthfulness honi chahiye. The youth, I feel, are more enthusiastic. They are more tech savvy. We have taken proper care that their future is also secure. We will also make changes if there is a need,” he said at the Times Now Summit today.

The recruits named Agniveers serve for a tenure of four years that include training for six months followed by 3.5 years deployment. After retirement from the service, they will have the opportunity to apply to continue in the armed forces.

Speaking at the Times Now Summit 2024 on Wednesday, the Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, had called the Agniveer scheme “transformational” and said that cynicism regarding the Agniveer scheme is “misplaced”.

“It’s a transformational reform. There was misinformation regarding this scheme. Within the military, everybody has taken ownership of this scheme. There are certain changes and lessons that we are learnt on our way we have made some corrections over the time. We have also worked on skill development program and at the end of the four year they will be able to pursue whatever they want to do. Cynicism Is misplaced,” he said.

“After initial misgivings and misinformation, we are getting a very good feedback internally about the Agniveers,” he added.

The ‘Agnipath’ scheme is a transformational reform for the Armed Forces and the Nation and aims to bring paradigm changes in the Human Resource Management of the Indian Army. The youth (male/female) selected under this scheme – known as ‘Agniveers’ – serve in the Armed Forces

for a period of 4 years.

The best among to Agniveers, up to 25 percent in each batch, then get selected for regular cadre to serve for another 15 years, based on transparent and merit-based assessment.