GD/WAT Topic: Agnipath Scheme- Merits and Demerits

Before delving into the pros and cons of the Agnipath Scheme, we need to understand a few of the key nuances of the topic. Agnipath is basically a scheme to fast-track short-term recruitments to the armed forces, especially at the Indian Army. By Aritro Dasgupta

The Agnipath Scheme has been one of the most hotly debated topics in recent memory. It has also evoked strong political reaction from across the spectrum. As such, this topic is much better suited to being tested at the WAT (Written Ability Test) round, rather than for a GD (Group Discussion). A WAT will enable to candidates to put forth their points cohesively, without being interrupted. It will also avoid any unnecessary personal barrage a student may need to face in this heated topic. Any student who attempts a WAT, needs to be able to deliver points from both sides of the picture, but take a somewhat pointed view towards any one of them.

Before delving into the pros and cons of the Agnipath Scheme, we need to understand a few of the key nuances of the topic. Agnipath is basically a scheme to fast-track short-term recruitments to the armed forces, especially at the Indian Army. This scheme may eventually transfer to the top tier, but for now the new recruits will be posted at the more entry-level positions. These new recruits will join at a very young age beginning, at around seventeen, with an upper limit, set at around twenty-one. They will be part of the force for a period of four-to-five years, before being either upgraded or permanent status or being moved on.

A lot of the details are a bit sketchy right now, as the Government of India (GoI) is finalizing some of the finer details. By the time some of the students read this article, there may be some changes, which is why I am sharing broad details. The announcement of the Agnipath Scheme, though no doubt well-intentioned, led to severe protests across the country. There were mass protests, which led to a halt in everyday activities in many states. Political groups also got involved and there were some stray incidents of violence or damaging of public property, that were also reported.

There were fears among certain quarters on how these initial protests could heat up further and lead to a long drawn out series of protests as we witnessed during the Farmer Protests. However, that has not happened so far. People have waited patiently and are waiting for the final draft before implementation begins. Some key tweaks such as raising the number of years in Agnipath service, has also helped quieten the rage. Many of the younger people are also looking forward to serving as Agniveers in the future, due to the obvious prestige that is gained in donning the colours of the famed Indian Army. This brief period of service is also known as a Tour of Duty, and similar schemes are implemented in several countries.

Agnipath Scheme- Merits and Demerits

Let us now understand some of the merits and demerits of this case:

Agnipath Scheme Merits

Following are some of the key merits of implementing the Agnipath Scheme, as it stands today:

Modern warfare, as witnessed in the recent Russia-Ukraine and Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes, has moved on from being troop-heavy, to being machinery-centric. This scheme will enable a leaner structure for the Indian Army to operate, with more funds available for investing on equipment and machinery.
In the long-run, the pension costs will come down, as desired from the very heavy costs right now.
The average age of the army can also be brought down from the current thirty-two, which is on the higher side.
While indirectly there has been speculation on how this scheme will curtail several permanent posts, there is little in terms of outright declaration. Thus, as of now, the scheme merely provides fresh employment opportunities.
Thanks to the corresponding changes in the National Education Policy (NEP), those who are unable to transfer their Agniveer status to full-time, will be able to complete their graduation and acquire their degrees, once they are released from this service.
Some of these ex-Agniveers could be posted with the state police forces or the para-military forces.
If the proposal of finalizing the term to five years instead of four gets the final nod, as is likely, then it will ensure that all outgoing Agniveers, receive their fair share of a Gratuity.
While some experts have suggested that full-trained, but jobless ex-Agniveers could pose a threat to civil society, no such evidence has been found among other short-term recruits.
Agnipath will eventually pave the way for a phasing out of community or caste-centric regiment and battalion names, enabling increased national integration.

Agnipath Scheme Demerits

Now let’s assess some of the demerits:

While it is true that recent wars have suggested that large manpower strengths do not guarantee swift victory on the battlefield, and so forces should be leaner with more machinery, that logic can also be applied to every other profession. Thanks to machinery, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, several jobs can be cut from across the sectors, but this does not bode well for the employment levels in any country, let alone a highly populated one like India.
The pension costs should not be seen as a burden to the country, but as a debt to the thousands and millions who have kept our nation safe, from all kinds of adversities.
A lot of the permanent posts at the sepoy levels are likely to be cut, once this is introduced. It could also lead to a class level being further fortified, between permanent recruits, and those on a shorter term.
Since only a fourth of the Agniveers will make it to the permanent posts, there could be a sense of cut-throat competition within the groups, as they would all jostle for impressing their superiors.
The sense of unity that a battalion builds over time will be severely curtailed due to the low number of years and the ensuing competition within the ranks.
The lack of caste-based groups might sound good on paper, but several of these community-centric regiments have been highly decorated in the Indian Army’s history, and the sense of cohesion that is built in them, may not be replicated in more ‘neutral’ sounding regiment names.
There is no guarantee of ex-Agniveers being absorbed by the paramilitary or police forces, since employment is anyway elusive for these most sought-after positions. Many may end up doing odd jobs.
A jobless fully-trained youngster could certainly pose a threat to civil society. The other cases of short-term recruitments are not directly related, as in those, the terms ended at a much more mature age, plus with pensions usually guaranteed.

The WAT candidate will thus need to choose a side and write conclusively on the same. He/ she may adopt a neutral tone, and cite both negative and positive points, but will eventually need to narrow down towards one side.

About the Author:

Aritro Dasgupta is a Teacher, Trainer and Content Writer. He has taught at several leading colleges and coaching institutes in both India and the UAE. Several of his students have finished in the top 10 of various national level exams such as CLAT, AILET and DUJAT. He is also a prolific content writer, having written for several leading publications in India, while currently, also working for one in the USA.

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