New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): Terming the Agnipath scheme as a major human resource reform aimed at creating a younger, fitter, more energetic and future-ready force, outgoing Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi has said that if future assessments indicate that the higher retention of the Agniveers can help the defence forces, appropriate refinements can be considered in the scheme.
Under the Agnipath scheme of recruitment, the Indian Army inducts soldiers for four years after which 25 per cent of them are retained in service while the rest 75 per cent are released for taking up other jobs. A number of posts in state and central police forces have been reserved for the Agniveers.
“Any decision about the provisions of the scheme should be guided by operational requirements and field experience rather than predetermined numbers. If future assessments indicate that higher retention would serve the defence forces, particularly in specialised or technology-intensive domains, appropriate refinements can always be considered,” Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi told ANI.
Noting that the Agniveers were helping in the positive transformation of the force, Gen Dwivedi said: “The character of warfare is changing rapidly and today’s soldier must be physically robust, mentally agile and technologically adept. Drones, surveillance systems, communication networks, electronic warfare and AI-enabled battlefield tools are becoming increasingly important, and young soldiers adapt quickly to such technologies.”
He said that it is important to recognise that the scheme is still evolving as the first batch has not yet completed its full-service cycle and therefore any final assessment would be premature.
“We are continuously analysing training outcomes, unit integration, operational performance and feedback from commanders across the Army,” he said.
On the main achievements during his two-year tenure as Army chief, Gen Dwivedi said the foremost would be Operation Sindoor, as it validated the joint, integrated and future-ready warfighting capability of the Indian Army.
“It was not the success of any individual; rather, it reflected the collective strength of India’s national security architecture. Many of the transformational initiatives that we had pursued over the years; technology absorption, jointness, Atmanirbharta, secure communications, multi-domain operations and precision engagement were demonstrated in practice during the operation,”he said.
Gen Dwivedi said the Operation Sindoor reaffirmed that India possesses both the capability and the resolve to respond decisively to terrorism at its source, while maintaining strategic restraint and a clear moral compass. (ANI)