What’s in the news?

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has recommended that considering the plight of family members and Next of Kin (NoK) of Agniveers killed in the line of duty, their family members should receive the same benefits that are provided to the kinfolk of a regular soldier.
• The Committee also noted that there is no assured employment or skill development programme exclusively designed for Agniveer, except for some percentage of reservation of jobs in Central Armed Police Forces. 
• Agniveers are not entitled to pension and emoluments on completion of four years of service but a lump sum package. 
  • As per the terms of engagement of Agniveers, in case of demise as a battle casualty, the emoluments that the NoK receive include ₹48 Lakh non-contributory insurance, ex-gratia of ₹44 Lakh, and Seva Nidhi contributed by the Agniveer (30%), with equal matching contribution by the government and interest there on. In addition, the NoK will also receive pay for the balance tenure from date of death, till completion of four years (more than ₹13 Lakh); as per balance residual tenure, contribution of ₹8 Lakh from Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund.
• On June 14, 2022, the government announced the Agnipath scheme for recruitment of soldiers into the armed forces for four years doing away with the earlier process and the age bracket for new recruits was fixed at 17 ½ to 21 years of age. 
• In the first intake, the Army inducted 40,000 Agniveers in two batches the first batch by first half of December and remaining in the second batch inducted by first half of February 2023. 
• Following training in the Regimental centres, the first batch have joined Service in the last few months.
• Agniveers on completion of four years will get an opportunity to join regular cadre and up to 25% would be selected through another recruitment process. All recruitment in the forces for soldiers, sailors, and airmen will now be through Agnipath scheme.

The Committee also looked at the lack of uniformity in the States and Union Territories regarding ex-gratia monetary benefits and compensation to those killed in the line of duty which has also been raised in earlier reports.