A day after the Center announced a new defense recruitment scheme, Agneepath, protests erupted in Bihar, later turned violent and spread to more states. Even though fiscal savings and military reforms may be key objectives, the new scheme is being seen as a way to make our forces younger, fitter and more technologically savvy. The protesters are frustrated that they will miss out on a long-term defense job opportunity that could entitle them to a pension (Agneepath will offer a four-year contract, with only up to 25% moving into long-term employment with defence) forces). Time will tell whether the Agneepath reform holds up or not, but there is no denying that India’s armed forces are in dire need of modernisation. However, it is easier said than done given the fiscal and political constraints. Mint explains:
protest hotspot
At the center of the protest are young defense candidates from other states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. These four states comprise about 38% Indian soldiers, hence the anger. High unemployment and a moratorium on defense recruitment during the pandemic have fueled the anger of the youth who are at the forefront of the ongoing protests.
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reducing target?
To begin with, the center plans to recruit 46,000 “Agnivars”, which will increase to 50,000-60,000 annually over the next four to five years, and 90,000-125,000 later. If Agneepath becomes the go-to plan for defense recruitment at non-officer level, it could replace 15% of the current crop of soldiers, sailors and airmen in the next 4-5 years, mint calculations show. The current pool usually serves for 10-15 years. As three-quarters of Agniveers retire every four years, the scheme could reduce the average age of the force while being cost-efficient for the government
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looking for improvement
Senior army officers say that this scheme will reduce the average age from 32 to 26 years in the next 6-7 years. But can a youth force necessarily be overpowered when it comes to security threats? Any well-meaning reform should most likely show just how threatened Indian defense is. India is the third largest defense spender, but spending is less than a tenth that of the US and about a quarter of that of China. Salaries and pensions take 55% of this, with less than a quarter left for modernisation. Agneepath can help cover that expense by boosting India’s security. But that road is long. Even though the Indian Army is the largest in the world, it is weaker than China and the US in terms of equipment such as naval ships and fighter jets. China is making its military leaner and investing more in technology in its modernization effort. India, on the other hand, has increased the size of its troops in recent years despite a slight increase. Even though Agneepath makes our army younger and more fit at a lower cost, acquisition and purchase of modern weapons and equipment will have to catch on. A lean, young force cannot, without technical support, alone improve our war preparedness.
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