The Indian government announced the Agnipath Scheme[1] on 14 June 2022. It proposed that the soldiers for the Indian Armed Forces be recruited for a period of four years, including the training period, at the end of which up to 25% of them will be retained on a permanent basis based on their performance. These new recruits are called Agniveers. A furore followed the announcement, largely from some retired military officers, and there were also some protests. The reasons for opposing the scheme ranged from insufficient tenure[2] to build a regimental ethos[3] to the Agniveers not being able to absorb the battle skills needed in modern warfare, and concerns that those trained in the use of arms could resort to violence after re-entering civilian life. Some believe[4] the government used the scheme to save money from the revenue budget[5]. Despite all these concerns, the scheme was implemented.
Three years later, how has the scheme fared? How does it compare with similar schemes in other countries?
The adverse reactions have mellowed, and the first batch of Agniveers will be discharged in 2027. The reaction from the Regimental Centre[6] Commandants has been positive so far. They say the Agniveers are enthusiastic and keen to learn, put their best foot forward and are better qualified due to an improved selection process. Interaction with the commanders to whose battalions the Agniveers belong share this view. They say that since the Agniveers must compete to be retained in service beyond four years, they show more initiative than permanent soldiers who have no incentive to do so. However, their regimental ethos and battlefield skills have yet to be tested as there has been no major operational requirement for them so far. The Agniveers themselves have been positive, saying that for the kind of education qualification that they have (10th or 12th class graduates), a discharge after four years of service with Rs 15 Lakhs[7] in their bank account opens multiple opportunities for them.
The downsides? Complaints that the permanent soldiers are given the more important tasks while the Agniveers are left with the mundane. In technical arms and services divisions, there is scepticism that the tenure is not adequate to train them properly.
This short-term engagement of soldiers is prevalent in other countries’ armed forces too. The difference is this: some countries resort to conscription[8] for the scheme, whereas in India, it is purely voluntary. The term of engagement varies with each country. For example, China has a term of two years, whereas Taiwan increased it to one year from four months after the aggressive moves of the PLA Navy[9] and PLA AF[10] against it.
The criticism about the tenure of Agniveers being short is not borne out by other countries. Taiwan’s scheme is only for one year[11]. In Russia, the conscription period was only for a year[12] prior to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Countries like Austria, Denmark, Greece and Turkey also have short-tenure conscription. With France and the UK now threatening to go to war with Russia, both have been planning similar schemes. A Gallup International 2024 poll shows that just a third of the population from the G7 countries are willing to take up arms for their country. [13]
The complaint that the Indian Government is saving money is not substantiated as the Rs. 15 lakhs or Seva Nidhi is to be paid out in lumpsum to those soldiers who are not retained after four years. Most soldiers are still employed on the old terms of engagement, serving for 17 years; pensions alone take up 23.6% of the defence budget. It will be a long time before any money is saved on the revenue account.
The criticism of the regimental spirit not being imbibed has not been tested yet, and the lack of experience may be somewhat true only for technical arms. However, that technical burden can be decreased only by outsourcing some of the maintenance of some equipment to the Original Equipment Manufacturers in peacetime[14] locations.
One factor that indicates the success of the Agnipath scheme is the number of applicants desirous of joining the armed forces. In 2024, 12.8 lakh applications were received for 40,000 vacancies in the Indian army. This is a 10% increase over the previous year.[15]
| Year | Vacancies | Applicants | Remarks | |||||
| Army | Navy | Airforce | Army | Navy | Airforce | Total | ||
| 2022 | 40000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3500000 | 1000000 | 700000 | 5200000 | For four years there was no recruitment due to Covid. Hence the large numbers. |
| 2023 | 40000 | 3000 | 3000 | 1130000 | 300000 | 750000 | 1235000 | |
| 2024 | 40000 | 3000 | 3000 | 1280000 | 350000 | 800000 | 1395000 | |
Source: Gateway House: Compiled from various sources
The table shows how popular the Agnipath scheme is amongst the youth of India. If required, the retention rate of Agniveers may be reconsidered upwards[16] from 25% as currently fixed. The scheme gives flexibility to India’s longstanding procedure of recruitment in the armed forces. It also gives the forces a younger profile, youth imbued with patriotism, and a boost to MSME entrepreneurship, assuming the Agniveers head to the start-up street after their four years of service.
Lt Gen S L Narasimhan is the Adjunct Distinguished Fellow for China and National Security Studies at Gateway House.
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References:
[1] “Agnipath Booklet.” Government of India, 2022. https://static.mygov.in/static/s3fs-public/mygov_165537923351307401.pdf.
[2] Agniveers are the soldiers recruited under the Agnipath Scheme.
[3] Regimental ethos is the Espirit de Corps that is imbibed by a soldier with regard to his regiment.
[5] Revenue expenditure is the money spent on maintaining the weapons and equipment, salaries and pensions.
[6] Regimental Centres are the training establishments that train the recruited civilians to become soldiers.
[7] They get a Seva Nidhi (Service Fund) of approximately Rs 11,00, 000 and savings from their salary for four years.
[8] In many countries it is known as National Service.
[9] China’s Navy is called Peoples Liberation Army Navy. Hence PLA Navy.
[10] China’s Airforce is called Peoples Liberation army Airforce. Hence PLA AF.
[11] Dotson, John. “Taiwan Initiates Its New One-Year Military Conscription Program.” Global Taiwan Institute, February 7, 2024. https://globaltaiwan.org/2024/02/taiwan-initiates-its-new-one-year-military-conscription-program. Taiwan’s conscription was only for four months. It was increased to one year due to aggressive behaviour by Chinese in the Taiwan Strait.
[12] “Vladimir Putin Calls up 160,000 Russians for Military Service.” euronews, March 31, 2025. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/31/vladimir-putin-signs-decree-calling-up-160000-russians-for-military-service.
[13] “Fewer People Are Willing to Fight for Their Country Compared to Ten Years Ago.” Gallup international, March 25, 2024. https://www.gallup-international.com/survey-results-and-news/survey-result/fewer-people-are-willing-to-fight-for-their-country-compared-to-ten-years-ago.
[14] Indian army units alternate between peace and field locations meaning thereby, away from the border and along the border respectively.
[15] Deshpande, Smruti. “12.8 Lakh Hopefuls for 40,000 Positions – Army’s Agniveer Applicants up Nearly 10% from Last Year.” The Print, April 19, 2024. https://theprint.in/defence/agniveer-applicants-in-army-up-nearly-10-compared-to-last-year/2046980/.
[16] ibid.