Army conducts own survey on scheme for Agniveers, may recommend tweaks

Ever since its launch, it has generated much debate, especially in political circles. The Opposition Congress has pledged to end the scheme and return to the earlier military recruitment process. Just weeks ago, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the government is open to change in the Agnipath scheme if required, and the future of youths joining as Agniveers will not be impacted.

According to officials, the Army survey has sought comments from all stakeholders including Agniveers, the recruiting and training staff at different regimental centres of the Army and unit and sub-unit commanders under whom the Agniveers operate.

Officials said the responses to specific questions for each group will be consolidated and put together by the end of this month for further assessment.

The responses, officials said, will be to a questionnaire with around 10 questions.

For instance, recruiters will have to provide inputs on the primary reasons why Agniveers will join the Army and how keen they are to join the force. Also, they have to respond to questions on their general awareness levels, quality of the applicants and how applicants from urban and rural areas of the country have responded to the entrance examination being made online.

Recruiters will also have to respond to questions on the overall impact on Army recruitment after implementation of the scheme.

The training staff at regimental centres of the Army will have to provide inputs on the the physical standards of the Agniveers in comparison to soldiers recruited earlier, their uptake and assimilation of training and general educational standards, responses to various facets of training, impact of competition for permanent absorption in the Army on their overall behaviour and the bonding levels they have with each other.

The survey will also take into account inputs from various unit and sub-unit commanders on whether the Agniveers are an asset or a liability in military operations and other human resource issues which they are facing with their induction.

They will also be required to provide feedback on the comparative performance of Agniveers as against the soldiers recruited before the launch of the Agnipath scheme, impact of competition among them, and the positive/negative qualities observed in Agniveers.

Based on these details, it is likely that the Army will suggest possible tweaks in the scheme in terms of engagement of the Agniveers, a sustainable percentage of retention of Agniveers in the long run, among others.

The survey will also seek inputs from Agniveers on why they chose to join the Army, the other jobs, competitions or recruitment they attempted before joining as Agniveers and if they think they should all be absorbed permanently into the force.

They will also be providing inputs on their preferred choice of career or other options they will have after four years, and if they will choose to stay back and serve in the Army or look for job opportunities elsewhere, including in paramilitary forces.

The survey will seek to know from them if they will motivate friends and family members to join as Agniveers.