News Analysis India

Tag: Army

  • Army issues notification for Agnipath recruitments, online registration to begin in July

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Army on Monday issued a notification for induction of soldiers under the Agnipath military recruitment scheme.

    The Army said the online registration on the force’s recruitment website is mandatory for all the job aspirants under the new model.

    It said the online registration will commence in July.

    The Army said ‘Agniveers’ would form a distinct rank in the Indian Army, which would be different from any other existing ranks.

    In a detailed note on the scheme, the Army last night said ‘Agniveers’ will be barred from disclosing classified information gained during the four-year service period to any unauthorised person or source under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

    “With the introduction of this scheme, the enrolment of soldiers in the regular cadre of the Indian Army, except technical cadres of medical branch, will be available only to that personnel who have completed their engagement period as Agniveer,” it said.

    The Army said the release of an Agniveer at their own request prior to completion of terms of engagement is not permitted.

    “However, in most exceptional cases, personnel enrolled under this scheme may be released, if sanctioned by the competent authority,” it said.

    The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, provides for the recruitment of youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.

    Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.

    Protests have erupted in several states against the Centre’s scheme.

    The personnel to be recruited under the new scheme will be known as ‘Agniveers’.

    The Army said the new recruits will be subjected to the provisions of the Army Act, 1950, and will be liable to go wherever ordered by land, sea or air.

    It said a “distinctive insignia” will be worn by the Agniveers on their uniform during their service period and that detailed instructions on it will be issued separately.

    The Army said based on organisational requirements and policies, ‘Agniveers’, on completion of their engagement period in each batch, will be offered an opportunity to apply for enrolment in the regular cadre.

    “These applications will be considered in a centralised manner by the Army based on objective criteria, including performance during their engagement period and not more than 25 per cent of each specific batch of Agniveers will be enrolled in regular cadre post completion of their four-year engagement period,” according to the document released by the Army.

    “Agniveers so enrolled as regular cadre would be required to serve for a further engagement period of 15 years and will be governed by terms and conditions of service (of Junior Commissioned Officer/ Other Ranks) currently in vogue,” it said.

    The Army said the Agniveers will not have any right to be selected after completion of their four-year tenure.

    As part of the enrolment process, each ‘Agniveer’ will be required to formally accept all terms and conditions of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme.

    For personnel below the age of 18 years, the enrolment form will be required to be signed by the parents or guardians, according to the document.

    The ‘Agniveers’ will be eligible for 30 days leave in a year as against 90 days for those in regular service.

    Medical leave will be granted based on medical advice.

    The Army said 30 per cent of the monthly salary of the Agniveers will be compulsorily deposited in a corpus and an equal amount will be contributed by the government.

  • Implementation of Agnipath scheme will not impact Army’s operational capabilities: Gen Pande

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Tuesday said that the implementation of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme will in no way impact the Army’s operational capabilities and preparedness along the borders with China and Pakistan.

    The government unveiled the “Agnipath” scheme for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Navy and the Air Force on a short-term contractual basis with an aim to cut the ballooning salary and pensions bills and enable a youthful profile of the armed forces.

    “I want to assure you that during the implementation and stabilisation of the Agnipath scheme, the Army’s operational capabilities and preparedness along the borders and the ability to deal with internal security challenges will be fully maintained,” Gen Pande said at a press conference.

    When asked whether rolling out of the new scheme would impact the Army’s combat readiness along the borders with China and Pakistan, he asserted that there will be no impact on overall military preparedness.

    The Army chief said he was confident that the change in the recruitment process will bring “new vigour and confidence” in the force and help in making it stronger and more capable and that a fair, transparent and scientific method will be put in place for screening the initial intake.

    “We will institute a fair, transparent and scientific method in screening the initial intake for four years and apply similar yardsticks to select those who will get re-enrolled,” Gen Pande said.

    Describing the scheme as one of the “most significant” initiatives, Gen Pande said it aims to make the Army a future-ready fighting force, capable of meeting multiple challenges across the full spectrum of conflict.

    “The Agnipath scheme is a transformational reform for the Army and the nation and aims to bring paradigm changes in the human resource management of the Indian Army,” he said.

    He said an enhanced youthful profile of the Army that is “reduction in average age from 32 to 26 years” will be achieved over a period of time.

    The Chief of Army Staff emphasised that the Army is proud of its heritage, history, tradition, military values and culture and they will be fully maintained. He said the new recruits will be integrated into the Army in “every way” including deploying them in operational units as well as various organs of the force.

    The Army chief said the new measure complements other ongoing initiatives to transform the Indian Army into a modern, technology driven, self-reliant and battle-worthy force. He said the scheme will attract young talents and motivate educated youth with the right skill sets to join the Army.

    “A wider recruitment base will provide equal opportunities to youth from all parts of the country, to join the Army,” he said.

    Gen Pande noted that screening and selection, based on a sound, transparent, fair and robust assessment system will ensure that the Army retains the “best of the best” for a longer service duration. “These personnel will form the core of the organisation,” he added.

    “The Agniveer, leaving after four years, will be empowered with suitable skills and financial means and carry a unique resume, that will significantly enhance his value and employability in the civil society,” he said.

    The armed forces will recruit 46,000 ‘Agniveers’ this year and the eligible age for selection will be in the range of 17.5 years to 21 years. The recruitment under the scheme is set to kick in within 90 days.

  • Govt rolls out ‘Agnipath’ scheme, unveils radical changes in military recruitment 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India unveiled a new scheme called “Agnipath” on Tuesday for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, largely on a short-term contractual basis, with an aim to cut the ballooning salary and pensions bill.

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the new scheme at a media briefing, shortly after the Cabinet Committee on Security approved it.

    “The Agnipath recruitment scheme is a transformative initiative that will provide a youthful profile to the armed forces,” Singh said.

    The revolutionary changes in the recruitment process will see the induction of the soldiers initially for a period of four years and some of them would be retained.

    “Under the Agnipath scheme, Indian youngsters will be provided an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as ‘Agniveer’,” the defence minister said.

    Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said the scheme will ensure a wider talent pool for recruitment in the armed forces.  The “Agnipath” scheme, earlier christened as “Tour of Duty”, was launched in the presence of the chiefs of the three services.

    The new scheme was announced after extensive deliberations on it over the last two years. The soldiers to be recruited under the scheme will be called “Agniveer”.

    Currently, the Army recruits young people under the short service commission for an initial tenure of 10 years, which is extendable up to 14 years.

    The scheme is aimed at slashing the salary and pension bills of the three services, which have been increasing rapidly.

    The defence budget of Rs 5,25,166 crore for 2022-23 included Rs 1,19,696 crore for defence pensions. The allocation for revenue expenditure was Rs 2,33,000 crore. The revenue expenditure includes the expenses on payment of salaries and maintenance of establishments.

  • Army chief visits forward areas in eastern Ladakh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande visited some of the most difficult and inhospitable forward locations in eastern Ladakh and reviewed India’s overall military preparedness during his three-day tour of the region amid the lingering border row with China, officials said on Saturday.

    They said the Chief of Army Staff interacted with the troops in multiple locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the high-altitude region and took stock of the ground situation.

    Gen Pande concluded his three-day visit to Ladakh on Saturday.

    The Army chief, accompanied by senior commanders, visited some of the most difficult and inhospitable forward locations in eastern Ladakh to have first-hand knowledge about the prevailing situation, the officials said.

    “General Manoj Pande #COAS visited forward areas in #Ladakh to review the operational preparedness. #COAS interacted with the troops & complimented them for their steadfastness & high morale,” the Army tweeted.

    On Thursday, senior commanders briefed Gen Pande at the Fire and Fury Corps headquarters in Leh about the overall security situation in eastern Ladakh. The Fire and Fury Corps is responsible for guarding the LAC with China in the Ladakh region.

    Gen Pande’s visit to Ladakh came days after he said China’s intention has been to keep “alive” the overall boundary question with India though it remains the “basic” issue between the two countries.

    While referring to the eastern Ladakh border row, the Army chief had said the Indian Army’s aim is to re-establish the “trust and tranquillity” between the two sides but asserted that “it cannot be a one-way affair”. He also asserted that the Indian Army’s aim was to restore the status quo ante prior to April 2020 in eastern Ladakh.

    The eastern Ladakh faceoff began on May 4-5 in 2022. India has been insisting on the restoration of the status quo ante prior to the standoff. India and China have held 15 rounds of military talks so far to resolve the eastern Ladakh row.

    As a result of the talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

    India has been consistently maintaining that peace and tranquillity along the LAC were key for the overall development of the bilateral ties. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

  • ‘Tremendous improvement’ in security situation in J&K post-August 2019, says top Army commander

    By PTI

    UDHAMPUR: Asserting that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has seen a “tremendous improvement and stabilisation” since August 2019, a top Army commander said the union territory is regaining its past glory and peace through sacrifices of the security forces and people.

    He said security forces have eliminated 180 terrorists in 2021 and arrested 495 overground workers (OGWs), thereby giving a telling blow to the terror network in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “As a result of extraordinary synergy, security forces and other organisations of the government, the situation in the hinterland of Jammu and Kashmir has seen a tremendous improvement and stabilisation since August 2019. There has been a considerable improvement in all the parameters of terrorism and violence,” General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-In-C), Northern Command, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi said in an interview to PTI here.

    Giving further details about the ground situation in J and K, Lt Gen Dwivedi said the (terror) recruitment has declined by 31 percent — from 192 in 2020 it has come down to 148 in 2021.

    “Terrorist-initiated incidents have gone down by 14 percent — from 137 in 2020 to 119 in 2021. The agitational dynamics has also declined,” he said.

    As a result of synchronised intelligence network and support from the people, security forces have eliminated 180 terrorists in 2021, of which 18 were foreign elements, the Army commander said.

    These slain terrorists belonged to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Al-Badr and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) outfits, he said.

    “In the four months of 2022, 66 terrorists have been eliminated, including 17 foreign elements,” Lt Gen Dwivedi said, adding efforts towards dismantling of the OGW network and exposing their machinations has resulted in the arrest of 495 OGWs in 2021 and 87 OGWs in the first four months of 2022.

    “A telling blow has been dealt to the terror network in J-K,” he said.

    The Army commander maintained that all “these successes” are reflections of higher standards of professionalism and jointness in all the domains and dimensions of counter-terrorist operations.

    “I see J-K regaining its past glory and sustaining the hard-earned peace through sacrifices of the security forces and awam (people),” he said.

    Lt Gen Dwivedi said the narrative in the Kashmir region has changed since August 2019.

    “And in this change, the civil administration, the security forces and the leaders in the society have all joined hands together. The intensity of operations will continue to be high till all of the residual 168 plus terrorists surrender or they are eliminated,” he said.

    The Centre had ended the special status of the Jammu and Kashmir state on August 5, 2019 and downgraded it to a union territory.

    The Army commander said that the overall situation is progressively improving due to the proactive Rashtriya Rifles-gridded deployment leading to a positive and conducive environment for accelerating the developing initiatives of the government.

    “Dividends of peace have started reaching the people and they are further getting motivated to preserve and sustain the peace,” he said.

  • Army helicopter crashes in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gurez border area

    By ANI

    SRINAGAR: An Indian Army helicopter crashed in the snow-bound area of the Gurez sector in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

    The Cheetah helicopter crashed in the Baraum area of Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir, according to a defence official. Search parties have rushed to the spot.

    “The search parties of the security forces are reaching the snow-bound area for the rescue of the chopper crew,” said the official.

    More details are awaited. 

  • BTS member Jimin shares health update, assures fans he’s ‘recovering well’ 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Days after Jimin tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent emergency surgery for acute appendicitis, the BTS member shared a health update early Thursday morning assuring fans that he is on the road to recovery.

    The 26-year-old singer-dancer told ARMY, the fan group of the South Korean music sensation BTS, that he will be discharged from the hospital soon.

    “I’m sorry for the concern. I’ll be able to leave the hospital soon! I’m recovering well,” Jimin said in a post on the fan community forum Weverse.

    “I also ate three meals of rice,” he wrote, promising fans that he will also recover “my skills” soon.

    BigHit Music, the management agency of the group, on Monday, said Jimin experienced sudden abdominal pain along with a mild sore throat on January 30 in the afternoon.

    “He visited a hospital emergency room for thorough examination, and also took a PCR test. Jimin was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and was tested positive for COVID-19. He underwent surgery following physician advice early morning on Monday, January 31,” the agency had said in the statement.

    The member, whose full name is Park Ji-min, will receive a few days of in-patient treatment for COVID-19 in conjunction with postoperative care, BigHit Music had said.

    Jimin had “no contact” with the other six members during the infectious stage, they added.

    In December 2021, fellow BTS members Suga, group leader RM, and Jin also tested positive for the virus.

    The trio recovered from COVID-19 earlier this month.

    BTS are currently on an ‘extended period of rest’ after performing at four in-person concerts in Los Angeles, US late last year.

  • Pics show Indian Army unfurling tricolour in Galwan Valley on New Year, bust PLA propaganda

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Indian Army unfurled the Tricolour in the Galwan valley, Ladakh on the occasion of New Year. As per sources in the security establishment, the Indian Army personnel had hoisted the National flag in Galwan on New Year’s eve.
    The move comes amid reports in a section of media that claimed that Chinese soldiers had displayed their flag in the region a few days ago.

    Earlier, the media reported that the Chinese government had sought to “rename” 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh in its map two days ahead of implementing new border law.

    The Indian Government on last Thursday said that it has seen reports of China attempting to rename some places in Arunachal Pradesh “in its own language” and asserted that the border state has been and will always be an integral part of India and “assigning invented names does not alter this fact”.

    In response to a media query on reports that China has renamed some places in Arunachal Pradesh in its own language, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said China had also sought to assign such names in April 2017.

    Indian Army soldiers in Galwan Valley on #NewYear(Photo credit: Sources in security establishment) pic.twitter.com/GJxK0QOW48
    — ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2022
    After the Galwan clash in 2020, several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have ended in a stalemate. Disengagement at some border points did take place but by and large, there is an impasse on complete disengagement. Disengagement at Depsang and Hot Springs remains a key sticky point.

    A huge build-up of forces on each side of Eastern Ladakh even during harsh winters indicates that conflict is far from being defused.

    India maintains that the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) had been caused by unilateral attempts of the Chinese side to alter the status quo and in violation of the bilateral agreements. It was therefore necessary that the Chinese side take appropriate steps in the remaining areas so as to restore peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western Sector.

  • Twin encounters in J&K; six militants, Army jawan killed

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Six Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, including two Pakistani nationals involved in the December 13 attack on a police bus on the outskirts of the city, were killed in twin encounters in south Kashmir that also left an Army jawan dead, officials said on Thursday.

    While three militants were killed in an overnight encounter in Anantnag, three others were killed in the gunfight which took place in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening, the officials said.

    Two jawans and a police personnel were injured during the Anantnag operation, they said.

    The encounters took place after the forces launched cordon and search operations in Nowgam Shahabad area in Anantnag district, and Mirhama area of Kulgam – both in south Kashmir – after specific inputs about the presence of militants in these areas on Wednesday evening.

    In the last about five days, security forces have carried out multiple operations across the valley resulting in 11 hardcore terrorists being neutralised, killed.

    On Wednesday night, in two separate operations, six terrorists, including two Pakistani terrorists, of JeM cadre have been neutralised in Kulgam and Anantnag, General officer Commanding of the Army’s 15 Corps, Lt Gen D P Pandey said.

    He was addressing a joint press conference along with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, at Qazigund in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

    The GoC said during the operation, Sepoy Jasbir Singh lost his life.

    “As the operation was being conducted in very heavily built up area, while evacuating civilians from harm’s way, we had two Army personnel and one JKP personnel suffering gunshot wounds. They are all stable as of now,” he said.

    The IGP Kashmir said the JeM group was involved in the December 13 attack on a police bus in Zewan area on the outskirts of the city here in which three policemen were killed.

    “After the Zewan attack, I had shared with you that JeM carried out the attack. Security forces personnel will be happy to know that this is the same group which carried out the attack in which three policemen were martyred,” he said.

    Kumar identified the three militants behind the attack as Suhail Ahmad Rather, resident of Zaffran Colony, Peer Altaf Hussain alias Mufti Altaf, resident of Nathipora Dooru, and a Pakistani national Sultan, alias Rayees.

    “Rayees was active in south Kashmir since 2017. His aim was to inflict heavy casualty on the forces. Although, our forces had retaliated heavily (in Zewan), but still three were martyred. We had promised to neutralise this group before the end of the year,” Kumar said.

    He said so far this month, 24 terrorists, including five Pakistani nationals, have been killed.

    “Two US-made M-4 Carbine rifles, 15 AK-47, two dozen pistols and some grenade and IEDs have been recovered. This proves that Pakistan wants to foment trouble here,” he said.

    The IGP said security forces have delivered a huge setback to JeM this year by killing its number one and number two.

    However, he said, the outfit is still planning attacks on forces and “there is a danger of IED blasts”. “But, police and security forces are on alert. Our intelligence network is fully alert and we will give a befitting reply to it,” he added.

    He said if Pakistan claims the bodies of the foreign JeM militants, police is “ready to give back the bodies”.

  • BTS announce four in-person concerts in Los Angeles

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: South Korean music sensation BTS will hold four in-person concerts in Los Angeles in November and December, the band’s label Big Hit Music announced on Tuesday.

    ‘BTS Permission To Dance On Stage’ will take place at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on November 27 and 28 and December 1 and 2.

    The event marks the first stage concert for the Grammy-nominated group since the ‘2019 BTS World Tour Love Yourself: Speak Yourself The Final’.

    The septet, comprising RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, also shared a video with their fan group, called ARMY, about the upcoming live event on their YouTube channel.

    “Hey ARMY, we are so excited to announce that later this year ‘BTS Permission To Dance On Stage’ will be held in LA,” group leader RM said in the clip.

    “We’ve been itching to tell you. I hope this news will make ARMY glad,” added Jungkook.

    The time for the group and fans to dance together without permission is nearing, said Jin.

    “Let’s have a fun time together,” he added.

    “We are working hard to compensate you for your long wait.

    So please look forward to it,” J-Hope said.

    “We purple you, ARMY! See you very soon!” promised V.

    On fan community online platform Weverse, Big Hit Music said they are able to hold the concert amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the US after “taking the national and regional health regulations and circumstances into consideration”.

    The label said they will do their very best “to bring you an all-new, phenomenal concert while keeping the health of the artists and fans our top priority”.

    Expressing regret over not being able to hold concerts in more areas, Big Hit said, “We will do our best to put on additional concerts for not only Korean fans but fans from all around the world who have been patiently waiting for a long time.”

    Ahead of the LA shows, BTS will also hold an online concert, ‘BTS Permission To Dance On Stage’ on October 24.

    Their ‘Map of the Soul’ live concert was eventually cancelled earlier this year after being postponed indefinitely from its February 2020 dates due to the pandemic.

    BTS, whose full name is Bangtan Sonyeondan (Bulletproof Boy Scouts), have remained connected with their fans around the world through many virtual shows like ‘BTS Map of the Soul ON:E, which was held last October, since the pandemic struck.

    More details about the LA concerts are available on Ticketmaster.