AGNIPATH SCHEME: IAF TO BEGIN RECRUITMENT ON JUNE 24

(The Quiver): The selection process by the Indian Air Force for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme will start from June 24, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Friday amid violent protests in several states against the new military enrolment model. The Chief of Air Staff told PTI that raising the upper age limit to 23 for induction under the Agnipath scheme for the year 2022 would permit a larger section of youths to enrol under the new model of recruitment.”

The government has recently come out with the ‘Agnipath’ scheme for enrolment in the armed forces. The age bracket for the scheme is 17-and-half-years to 21 years. I am pleased to inform you that the upper age limit for the first induction has been increased to 23 years,” Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari said. “This change would permit a larger section of the youth to enrol Agniveer. The selection process for the Air Force will start from Jun 24,” he said.

Several parts of the country witnessed widespread protests over the newly-announced scheme that provides for a short-term tenure of four years while 25 per cent of the recruits will be retained for regular service of around 15 years. A number of opposition parties and a significant number of military experts have also slammed the scheme saying it will adversely impact the functioning of the armed forces.

The government on Thursday night increased the upper age limit for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme to 23 years from 21 for the year 2022. Unveiling the scheme on Tuesday, the government said youths between the ages of 17 and-a-half and 21 years would be inducted for a four-year tenure while 25 per cent of them will be subsequently inducted for regular service. The youths to be recruited under the new scheme would be called ‘Agniveer’.