- Opportunities for 75% Agniveers After Exit
- Employment and Empowerment Post-Service
- Financial Security, Skill Development, and Job Market
By Maj Gen (Dr.) Ashok Kumar, VSM (Retired)
New Delhi. 12 January 2025. It was on 15 Jun 2022 when AGNIPATH scheme for the recruitment of males and females in all the three services was announced. There have been regular debates between those who support the scheme and those who oppose it. Both sides have argued in favour or against based on their analysis and this slug fest has even taken the political colours. The Government in power is continuing with the scheme and is open to the changes which may be required. It is natural that the services are critically and objectively validating the scheme and necessary course corrections will be done as needed which is the basic norm of the evolution process. On the other hand, the opposition parties have categorically stated that they will shelve the scheme if they come to power.
This article is neither looking at the national need to have this scheme nor entering in any political argument of opposing this. It is trying to look at details of employment options for 75% AGNIVEERS who are not retained as per the current policy. The information collated is not only limited to these options which have been covered in this article but there are very many others as well. These are also getting improved with each passing day with more No of state Governments, PSUs, private sectors and other organisations offering more vacancies to absorb these AGNIVEERS besides empowering them to become entrepreneurs in various fields. It is therefore important to look at their capability, skill sets and financial profile at the end of four years.
While terms and condition of service as applicable to AGNIVEERS have been formally communicated and are being regularly improved, some of these are being highlighted as under:
- The AGNIVEERS are entitled to Rs.30000/- per month salary on induction. This gets enhanced to Rs.33000/- after one year, Rs.36500/- after second year and Rs.40000/- after third year. They get the amount reduced by 30% in each month viz Rs.21000/- per month at induction, Rs. 23100/- per month at the end of first year, Rs.25580/- per month at the end of second year and Rs.28000/- per month after three years.
- SEVA NIDHI. 30% per month deducted salary is deposited in the AGNIVEERS’ SEVA NIDHI account. The Government also deposits the matching amount each month. The deposits alone reach 10.04 Lakhs in SEVA NIDHI after the end of four years. Interest is also earned on this deposit. A conservative assessment puts the value of approximate Rs.12 Lakhs available to all AGNIVEERS for their utilization as per their discretion at the end of four years.
- Provident Fund. AGNIVEERS can subscribe to the deposits in the provident fund but it is not binding. They may not deposit a single paisa should they so opt/ decide.
- Each AGNIVEER is covered for Rs.48 Lakhs. They don’t have to make any contribution towards this whereas all others have to make monthly contribution for coverage of the insured amount.
- Risk and Hardship Allowance. These are entitled at par with regular soldiers whereas these are applicable.
- Skill Upgrade. Besides the skill upgrade as part of service training, they also get the academic qualifications higher than their entry level details of which are being further evolved.
Job Opportunities after Exit
As per current policy, only 25 percent AGNIVEERS are re-inducted whereas balance 75 percent have to look at their employment options either in Government / private sector or through self employment. There has been substantial effort at all levels to provide employment to non retained AGNIVEERS. Some of the options are covered in the succeeding paragraphs.
Opportunities by Central Government Departments. There are large No of opportunities which have been offered for non retained AGNIVEERS
some of which are as under:
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). All CAPFs come under MHA who can get the trained manpower for their manning in all CAPFs. 10 percent horizontal reservation has been offered with the following additional relaxation:
- No physical test.
- Age relaxation of three years. Five years for two batches of initial two years.
- Ministry of Defence (MOD). MOD has extended 10 percent reservation to AGNIVEERS at all levels. The following additional relaxations have been given:
- No physical test.
- Age relaxation of three years. Five years for two batches of initial two years.
- Ministry of Railways. Railways have extended 10 percent reservation in RPF recruitment at Level 1 whereas 5 percent reservation has been extended from Level 2 to Level 7. Additional relaxations include:-
- No physical test.
- Age relaxation of three years. Five years for two batches of initial two years.
- Ministry of Finance (MOF). MOF has issued instructions for wide ranging financial benefits to AGNIVEERS to enable them to become entrepreneurs/adopt self employment option. Some important aspects are as under:-
- Priority of loans earlier available to women and SC/ST have been extended to AGNIVEERS.
- MUDRA loan up to 10 Lakhs.
- Stand up India loan from 10 Lakhs to 1 Cr.
- PM employment generation loan from 10 Lakhs to 20 Lakhs.
- Startup India-support as per requirement to include concept development, proto typing and trials.
- MSME loans up to 2 Cr for which all banks have been notified.
- Ministry of MSME also offers courses with highest subsidy besides five percent reservation.
- Other Ministries. Other ministries have also announced preference to AGNIVEERS but a quantified model is still awaited.
Opportunities by State Governments. 11 States have so for announced support for employing AGNIVEERS. Two states viz Haryana and Goa have come up with specific offers whereas nine other states to include UP, Rajasthan, Odisha, Assam, MP, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Gujrat have offered support but exact details are yet to come out. Details related to Haryana and Goa are as under:-
- 10 percent reservation in police, mining, forest guards, jail wardens and SPOs.
- 5 percent reservation in all Group C posts.
- 1 percent reservation in all Group B posts.
- 10percent reservation in police, forest guards, fire department and emergency services.
Other Organizations. Large No of other organizations have offered preference to AGNIVEERS to include PSUs as well as corporate houses. The details may unfold by the time the first batch is ready to exit.
The AGNIPATH scheme is undoubtedly a landmark initiative with far-reaching implications for India’s defence and employment sectors. While challenges remain, the comprehensive post-exit support system—spanning financial empowerment, skill enhancement, and reservation policies—is a testament to the government’s commitment to ensuring a secure future for AGNIVEERS. Central ministries, state governments, and private enterprises are steadily building pathways to facilitate a smooth transition into civilian life, with more opportunities expected to emerge as the scheme evolves. With objective feedback from defence forces and course corrections as needed, AGNIPATH has the potential to transform not just the recruitment process but also the socio-economic landscape of the nation. The brighter prospects for AGNIVEERS need to be effectively communicated to all stakeholders, ensuring that this bold initiative achieves its full potential.
(Maj Gen Ashok Kumar, VSM (Retd) is Director General Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), a Kargil war veteran and a defence analyst. He specialises on neighbouring countries with special focus on China. The views in the article are solely the author’s. He can be contacted at editor.adu@gmail.com).
