Agneepath Scheme: Terms and Conditions
The Agneepath scheme, announced on June 14, has a provision to recruit youth between 17-and-a-half years to 21 years only for four years, of which 25 per cent is to be retained for 15 more years. Later the government increased the upper age limit for recruitment to 23 years in 2022.
Agniveer have Separate rank:
The Indian Army on Sunday released the terms and conditions, and related details for the expected applicants who wish to join the force under the Agneepath Military Recruitment Scheme. The Army said that ‘Agniveer’ will create a separate rank in the Indian Army. Which will be different from any other existing rank and they can be posted in any regiment and unit.
Some of the terms and conditions under the Agneepath scheme are as follows:
Under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 ‘Agnivar’ shall be barred from “disclosing classified information received to any unauthorized person or source during the period of four years of service”.
Enrollment of soldiers in the regular cadre of the Indian Army will be available only to those personnel, who have completed their period of engagement as Agniveers except in the technical cadres of the medical branch.
It said that the release of an Agniveer on his request before fulfilling the conditions of engagement is not permitted. In exceptional cases, if sanctioned by the competent authority, the personnel may be released.
The recruitment of youth in the age group of 171/2 years to 21 years is only for four years, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. Later the government increased the upper age limit for recruitment to 23 years in 2022.
Army act 1950 will be liable:
The new recruits will be subject to the provisions of the Army Act 1950, and will be liable to go wherever ordered by land, sea or air. Firefighters will be given a “distinguished insignia” on their uniforms and given detailed instructions during their service period. This will be issued separately.
On completion of the tenure an amount of Rs 5.02 lakh will be matched by the Government of India and an amount of Rs 10.04 lakh and interest earned will be given to Agniveers.
In case of exit from service before the end of the period of his/her engagement on his own request. The service fund package of the individual, deposited as on that date, shall be paid along with the applicable rate of interest.
30 percent of the monthly salary of firefighters will be compulsorily deposited in a fund, and the same amount will be given by the government.
‘Agnivar’ will be eligible for 30 days leave in a year as against 90 days for those in regular service. Medical leave will be granted on the basis of medical advice.
Firefighters can apply for enrollment in the regular cadre after the completion of the period of engagement in each batch. These applications will be considered by the Army in a centralized manner on the basis of objective criteria, including performance during the period of their engagement.
More than 25 per cent of each elite batch of Agniveers will be enrolled in the regular cadre, after the completion of their period of engagement of four years.
Firefighters enrolled as regular cadre will be required to serve for a further engagement, period of 15 years and will be governed by the terms and conditions of service (of the rank of Junior Commissioned Officer/Other) in force at present.
As part of the enrollment process, each ‘Agneepath’ has to formally accept all the terms and conditions of the ‘Agneepath’ scheme.
For personnel under the age of 18, the enrollment form will need to be signed by a parent or guardian, according to the documents.
