Bhubaneswar/ New Delhi, Aug 10: The Agniveer scheme is in the news these days after Rahul Gandhi and his coalition partner Akhilesh Yadav levelled allegations against the Narendra Modi government. Gandhi and Yadav say the programme is allegedly jeopardising the future of the country's youth.

According to Rahul Gandhi and his coalition partner Akhilesh Yadav, the initiative is one of the most serious "injustices" inflicted on soldiers in India. Moreover, he believes that the Agniveer scheme spreads discrimination among soldiers in the Indian armed forces and hence, it should be scrapped.

However, Gandhi and Yadav should not forget that the Agniveer scheme was launched by the government when several committees constituted for the issue recommended that there was an urgent need to reform the Indian Army.

For instance, various expert committees, including the Arun Singh Committee (1989), the Kargil Review Committee (2000), the Standing Committee on Defence (2006), and the Shekatkar Committee (2017), had proposed lowering the average age of serving defence personnel.

Interestingly, the first committee to propose these changes in the Army was formed under the leadership of Rahul's father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

That is why when Rahul Gandhi creates a ruckus in the Lok Sabha over the Agniveer scheme, his words seem petty and propaganda-filled.

It is to be noted that the Agniveer scheme has been carefully designed to address an important problem faced by the Indian Armed Forces: the ageing of personnel.

The average age of soldiers in the Indian Army was higher than that of many other global armed forces, which could harm their operational efficiency in the future.

The Agniveer scheme aims to induct young, dynamic soldiers, thereby reducing the average age and infusing agility, flexibility and technical dexterity in the soldiers.

"This initiative is in line with global best practices where nations continuously evolve their military recruitment strategies to meet contemporary security challenges," said Lt Gen Vinod Khandare, Principal Advisor to the country's Ministry of Defence (MoD). "

He noted that more than 70 countries, including advanced economies like the US and Switzerland, practice some form of compulsory military service to maintain a young and capable military.

Through the Agniveer scheme, India is trying to strike a balance between modernising the armed forces and its democratic values with its voluntary recruitment tradition.

Additionally, the Agniveers are trained in advanced combat techniques and leadership, making them versatile armed forces capable of dealing with conventional and modern threats.

This comprehensive training not only strengthens the national defence but also equips the Agniveers with skills that enhance their employability in civilian life and contribute to national development.

The scheme aims to reduce the average age of the Indian Armed Forces from 32 to 26 years, thereby increasing the operational effectiveness of the Army.

Young soldiers are more adaptable to new technologies and can engage in high-intensity operations with greater stamina and flexibility.

The rigorous training that the Agniveers undergo involves leadership development, technical skills and advanced warfare techniques, ensuring that they are prepared for a wide range of security challenges.

In short, the Agniveer scheme is important for the younger generation in India as it provides them with a unique opportunity to serve their country while gaining invaluable skills and experience.

The Agniveer scheme, also known as the Agnipath scheme, was announced by the Indian government in June 2022. This scheme aimed to modernise and streamline the recruitment process in the Indian armed forces by introducing a short-term service model.

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