About the Scheme

• The Union Cabinet in 2022 approved the Agnipath scheme which allows patriotic and motivated youth (17.5 years to 21 years old) to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. 
• The youth (male/female) selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. 
• Agniveers would form a distinct rank in the armed forces, different from any other existing rank.

Benefits

• On completion of the engagement period of four years, Agniveers will be paid a one time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package, comprising 30 percent monthly contributions from their salaries, a matching contribution from the government, and interest earned.
• In addition, Agniveers will get skill certificates, awards of credits so that they can study further, and a financial package to support future endeavours after their short-term military service.
• There will, however, be no pension or gratuity benefits for these recruits. 

Objectives

• The scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces.
  • The average age in the forces is 32 years today, which will go down to 26 in six to seven years.
• The best among Agniveers, up to 25 percent in each batch, will be selected for regular cadre to serve for another 15 years, based on transparent and merit-based assessment.

Why in News?

• A significant milestone was achieved as 1389 Agniveers, including 214 women Agniveers, of the Indian Navy, along with 331 Coast Guard Naviks, passed out from the portals of INS Chilka.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2044074