Over four days of the enrollment process beginning on Friday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has received 94,281 applications under the Agnipath recruiting initiative.
- For over a week, violent protests against the proposal shook numerous states, and various opposition parties have demanded its repeal.
- On June 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Agnipath initiative to enrol youngsters in the Indian armed forces, who will be known as ‘Agniveers’ after induction.
In the midst of widespread opposition demonstrations, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said on Monday that it had received 56,960 applications since the formal beginning of the Agnipath recruiting process for the armed services.
They also supplied information on the recruiting procedure, training and service information, the cash package, and other incentives provided by the plan. Registration will be closed on July 5.
Contrary to the violent protests by youngsters throughout the country, IAF recruiting under the Agnipath Yojana 2022 began on June 24 and garnered a resounding response within three days. The armed services have said unequivocally that anyone who has participated in violent protests or burning would not be accepted into the military system.
On June 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Agnipath initiative to enrol youngsters in the Indian armed forces, who will be known as ‘Agniveers’ after induction. Youths will serve a four-year term under the system, after which 75 per cent will be allowed voluntary retirement.
This sparked major riots and arson in over ten states, with protesters torching trains, torching automobiles, and causing damage to both private and public property.
The Congress maintained its statewide rallies, branding the Centre’s new “dictatorial” recruiting strategy “Agnipath.” “As a responsible political party, the Congress supports the country’s young.” We demand that Agnipath’s Tughlaqi ruling be reversed,” party spokeswoman Shaktisinh Gohil stated on Sunday.
After the proposal was presented on June 14, violent protests shook many states for over a week, and several opposition parties demanded its repeal. “As of 10:30 a.m., 94,281 Agniveer Vayu hopefuls have registered” (Monday). Registration concludes on July 5, according to Defence Ministry Spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu on Twitter.
The IAF has received 56,960 applications under the initiative as of Sunday. On June 16, the government raised the upper age limit for recruitment under the scheme to 23 years from 21 years for the year 2022 and subsequently announced a slew of appeasement measures, including a preference for Agniveers in central paramilitary forces and defence public sector undertakings upon retirement.
The armed forces, on the other hand, have made it plain that individuals who have participated in violent protests and arson against the new recruiting programme would not be enrolled.
