Army considering deploying Agniveers in Rashtriya Rifles units in Jammu Kashmir

The Indian Army is exploring the possibility of deploying Agniveers, who complete four years of service, in Rashtriya Rifles (RR) units, which are specialists in anti-terror operations in Jammu Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

Until now, Agniveers had been excluded from extra-regimental postings, although they are serving in regular infantry units deployed along the Line of Control and in internal areas of Jammu Kashmir. This proposed move could include the 25% of Agniveers who have been selected for permanent service based on merit, as well as those who have been offered an additional two-year tenure and the opportunity to join as regular soldiers under the revised Agnipath scheme.

Providing information on the matter, an officer stated that Agniveers are performing anti-terror duties in regular infantry units. However, they were not posted to RR battalions because the composition of these units made it difficult to effectively evaluate Agniveers. Rashtriya Rifles units include soldiers from various battalions of specific regiments (such as Jat or Rajput), as well as soldiers from the Armoured Corps and Artillery.

According to another officer, deploying Agniveers in RR units could have created an inequality in their evaluation, as some might be serving in their parent units while others would be in RR battalions. So far, the Army has been able to meet the requirements of RR units without deploying Agniveers there. However, as the first batch is now completing four years of service and the revised scheme has come into effect, the posting policy is being reviewed. Officials further added that rules regarding marriage and leave are also being reviewed.

These changes to the Agnipath scheme were approved by the Cabinet and announced on 4 November by Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani. This revised scheme will apply only to the 3,00,000 Agniveers currently in service. There is a possibility of further changes for soldiers recruited after 31 December. All current Agniveers can become permanent subject to specific eligibility criteria and individual consent after an additional two-year service period.

This amendment in Agnipath comes at a time when the three services were set to release 75% of the Agniveers from the first batch after four years, and retain only 25% under the previous provisions for 15 years. Approximately 18,300 Agniveers were to be released between mid-November and 31 December, which is three-fourths of the 24,400 soldiers recruited into the Army, Air Force, and Navy. The three services have contacted the Agniveers of the first batch to explain the available options, benefits of continuous service, and conditions for permanent enlistment. The aim of this process is to help them make an informed decision, especially since no job quota is available in civil employment. Job quotas announced for Agniveers by Central Armed Police Forces, state governments, and defence public sector undertakings have been cancelled because they can now opt for full-term military service.

The latest batch of Agniveers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force will leave their training centres and join service between 13 November and 31 December.

The Agnipath scheme was a scheme for the recruitment of soldiers in India's three armed forces. Under this scheme, soldiers were recruited for a short term of four years.