Tag: Indian Navy

  • BJP allies in Bihar demand withdrawal of ‘Agniapth’s scheme amid protests in state

    Express News Service

    PATNA: BJP allies in Bihar have demanded immediate withdrawal of ‘Agnipath’ or ‘Agniveer’ scheme launched by the central government for short-term recruitment of Army personnel across the country.

    Reacting to violent protest by job aspirants across the state over ‘Agnipath’ scheme, JD-U parliamentary board chairperson and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha said on Thursday that the union government should do a rethink on the scheme.

    Kushwaha further said, “The proposed changes in recruitment policy of Indian Army, Navy and Airforce should be reconsidered. The widespread protest not only in Bihar but in other parts of the country shows job aspirants’ angst against the scheme.”

    Earlier, JD-U minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav had also demanded the withdrawal of the proposed scheme. 

    “The students are protesting against ‘Agnipath’ scheme. In this case, the centre should talk to youths and their unions. The central government should also seek suggestions from people on the issue,” Yadav had said.

    HAM’s patron and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also corroborated the statement of JD-U leaders. Manjhi said, “Agnipath scheme is very dangerous for the country. It should be withdrawn immediately. I appeal from PM Narendra Modi to withdraw the proposed scheme and restore the old policy of recruitment in the Indian Army.”

    On the other hand, RJD’s young wing has threatened to burn effigies of PM Narendra Modi and Defence minister Rajnath Singh over the ‘Agnipath’ scheme in the state on Friday. Bihar witnessed widespread protest against the scheme for the last two days.

    Meanwhile, BJP Rajya Sabha member and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi urged the Bihar government to adopt the central government’s ‘Agnipath’ policy in the recruitment process in the state. He appealed to protesting students not to indulge in damaging government property.

    He also condemned the attack on BJP MLA Aruna Devi in Nawada, on the house of another leader C N Gupta in Saran and vandalising of the offices of BJP in Nawada and Madhubani districts. 

    “The anti-socials have joined the protest. The authorities concerned should take action against them,” junior Modi asserted.

  • Amid protests, Modi government increases upper-age limit to 23 for recruitment under Agnipath scheme

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday increased the upper-age limit to 23 years from 21 years for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme for the year 2022 amid widespread protests against the new model for enrolment of soldiers into the three services.

    Unveiling the scheme on Tuesday, the government had said the entry age for all new recruits will have to be between 17 and a half and 21 years.

    “Cognizant of the fact that it has not been possible to undertake the recruitment during the last two years, the government has decided that a one-time waiver shall be granted for the proposed recruitment cycle for 2022,” a defence ministry spokesperson said.

    He said the upper-age limit for the recruitment process under the Agnipath scheme for 2022 has been increased to 23 years.

    Trains were set afire, public and police vehicles attacked and personnel injured as protests over ‘Agnipath’ swept across several states on Thursday amid partisan political voices in favour and against the new recruitment scheme for the defence forces that has set off a firestorm.

    ALSO READ | Defence veterans divided over cause of protests against ‘Agnipath’ scheme as government faces heat

    From Bihar’s Ara to Haryana’s Palwal, from Agra in Uttar Pradesh to Gwalior and Indore in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, hundreds of young aspirants for jobs in the armed forces took to the streets, pouring their anger on public and private property.

    Bihar bore the brunt of the violence with trains set ablaze, window panes of buses smashed and passersby, including a ruling BJP MLA, pelted with stones on Thursday, the second day of the protest against the scheme which envisages a short four-year term for soldiers in the three armed forces entailing no gratuity or pension upon retirement.

    Police fired teargas shells and used batons to break up protests by angry youngsters who blocked railway tracks, threw burning tyres on roads, and performed push-ups and other drills on the streets against the new recruitment policy.

    In Nawada, the vehicle of BJP MLA Aruna Devi, who was on her way to a court, was attacked by the agitators, leaving five persons, including the legislator, injured.

    Railway property was vandalised and protesters set fire to stationary carriages at Bhabhua and Chhapra stations and smashed window panes of coaches at many places.

    Protesters torched government vehicles in Palwal, forcing the authorities to impose prohibitory orders and suspend mobile internet services to stop the spread rumours through social media platforms.

    Altogether 20 young men were rounded up over the violence.

    Five government vehicles were set on fire by the protesters while stones were thrown at the residence of the Palwal deputy commissioner.

    Protests also took place in Gurugram, Rewari, Charkhi Dadri, Hisar and Rohtak of Haryana.

    Violent demonstrations were held in Gwalior and Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

    Protesters hurled stones and set shops on fire near a railway station in Gwalior, affecting train operations.

    They also damaged a few shops, officials said, prompting police to baton-charge and fire tear-gas shells.

    A state-run bus was pelted with stones near Agra and hundreds of slogan-shouting youth staged protests in Bulandshahr and Ballia districts of Uttar Pradesh.

    Protests were also held in Jodhpur, Sikar, Jaipur, Nagaur, Ajmer and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan but no violence was reported.

    Army aspirants, most of whom had cleared their medical and physical tests for recruitment last year and were awaiting the written examination, which has now been cancelled, protested in Jammu.

    “We submitted our forms for the recruitment in the Army in February 2020 but the process started a year later due to COVID-19 outbreak.

    The written test was initially scheduled for April 25 last year but was postponed several times,” Munish Sharma, an army aspirant, said.

    “Today, we came to know that the process for our recruitment stands cancelled and we have to re-apply in accordance with Agnipath. It is great injustice to us,” an exasperated Sharma said.

    Over 34 trains were cancelled and eight more partially cancelled due to the protests, railway sources said in New Delhi.

    They said 72 trains were also running late due to the agitation.

    As violent protests raged in multiple states, the government issued a clarification, asserting that the new model will not only bring in fresh capabilities to the armed forces but also open up avenues for youth in the private sector and help them become entrepreneurs with the aid of the severence package they will be entitled to on retirement.

    Apart from issuing a ‘Myth vs Facts’ document to address the concerns raised about the scheme, the government’s information dissemination arm issued a series of social media posts in its support.

    “The scheme will bring in new dynamism to the armed forces. It will help the forces bring in new capabilities and take advantage of the technical skills and fresh thinking of the youths. It will allow the youths to serve the nation,” the Press Information Bureau said in a Facebook post.

    ALSO READ | ‘No change being done to Army’s regimental system’: Government sources on Agnipath scheme

    Referring to the financial package of around Rs 11.71 lakh to be given to each of the recruits at the end of the four-year tenure from the ‘Seva Nidhi Package’, it said it will provide financial independence to the youth and even help them venture into entrepreneurship.

    On the criticism that the short tenure of ‘Agniveers’, the defence personnel recruited under the new system, will harm the effectiveness of the armed forces, government sources said such systems exist in several countries, and the one introduced in India is already “tested out and considered best practice for an agile army”.

    The numbers of ‘Agniveers’ to be recruited in the first year would only make up three per cent of the armed forces, they said, adding their performance will be tested before re-induction into the army after four years.

    “Hence Army will get tested and tried personnel for supervisory ranks,” they said.

    The sources said the new scheme will bring about a right mix of “50 per cent-50 per cent” youth and experience in the supervisory ranks in the long run.

    Political parties, predictably, reacted along partisan lines with the Opposition stepping up its attack on the government and demanding that the scheme be scrapped.

    “No rank, no pension, no direct recruitment for 2 years, no stable future after four years, no respect shown by the government for the army,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

    “Listen to the voice of unemployed youths of the country, don’t take ‘agnipareeksha’ of their patience by making them walk on ‘Agnipath’, Mr. prime minister,” the former Congress chief said.

    ALSO READ | Agnipath protests: Union ministers, CMs urge students not to be ‘deceived’; political blame game starts

    The Left parties, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP leader Mayawati and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also voiced displeasure over the scheme which the government insists is “transformative”.

    There was the lone voice of disapproval from the BJP–MP Varun Gandhi– who said the new reform will give rise to more disaffection among the youth.

    However, Union minister and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Choubey and BJP chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand defended the scheme.

    Chaubey urged the youth protesting against the Agnipath scheme to stop their agitation and keep away from those inciting them, as he asserted that the initiative is in their interest and that of the armed forces and the country.

    Choubey, a senior party leader from Bihar where protests started first on Wednesday, also claimed that some people are using students for political gains.

    In a statement, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi always thinks and works for the welfare of the youth and the nation.

    “We assure you that this programme is a constructive step to bring in long-term positive results. Lakhs of youngsters will not only benefit from this but nationalistic sentiments within them will also be strengthened,” Choubey said.

    Urging youngsters to not get “deceived”, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the scheme will give a “new dimension” to their life.

    “Agneepath Yojana’ will give a new dimension to your life as well as give a golden base to the future. Don’t be deceived. Our ‘Agniveer’, determined to serve Mother Bharati, will be an invaluable fund of the nation and @UPGovt will give preference to Agniveers in police and other services, ” tweeted Adityanath in Hindi.

    His Uttarakhand counterpart Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “Uttarakhand’s association with the armed forces is well known.

    The history of the country’s armed forces is full of the stories of the valour of soldiers from our state which is also called sainyabhoomi (the land of soldiers).

    “Almost every family in Uttarakhand has someone in the armed forces. The Agnipath yojana is a good opportunity for the youth,” he told a press conference.

    However, former Punjab chief minister and BJP ally Amarinder Singh struck a note of caution and suggested a rethink on the Agnipath scheme.

    In a statement, he wondered why the government needed to make such “radical changes” in the recruitment policy, which has been working “so well for the country for so many years”.

    “Hiring soldiers for four years, with effective service of three years, is not at all militarily a good idea,” said Amarinder Singh, a former Army captain whose party Punjab Lok Congress is an ally of the BJP in Punjab.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Indian Navy will induct 3,000 Agniveers each year under Agnipath plan

    By Express News Service

    VISAKHAPATNAM: The Armed forces have brought in transformational changes in the recruitment of personnel below officer rank, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta said here on Wednesday.

    Speaking to the media, the officer said at present the personnel joining the three armed forces below the officer rank have to serve a longer period. The Agnipath scheme will enable the youth to join the force without a long-term commitment. They could serve for a shorter duration and later could opt for other steams of civil society or another vocation or study further. 

    The Vice Admiral said the Navy will induct 3,000 Agniveers — youth selected under the scheme — each year for the next three years, and 3,5000 in the fourth year. The number of intake could go up depending on the overall requirement, he added. 

    Since the Eastern Naval Command is the largest command in the country, at least 35 to 40 per cent of recruits will come to ENC, he said. He said those recruited under the scheme will have to serve four compulsory years unless in exceptional circumstances. 

    Agnipath scheme is open to women also. Initially their numbers may be less but in future they will increase, he said, adding that they are awaiting policy guidelines in this regard. He said the educational qualification for the Navy is Class XII.

    For trades that do not require higher qualification, those with Class X would be considered.  He said of the 3,000 recruits every year 2,800 will be Class XII pass and 200 will be Class X pass.T he Vice Admiral said the Agniveers will be given basic training at INS Chilka.

  • Political backlash on Agnipath, veterans advised to proceed with caution; protests break out across India

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The government’s new recruitment scheme Agnipath has stoked a major debate. While the government has termed it transformative, the lawmakers within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and those in opposition have questioned the intentions of the government. Street Protests were held by youth at various places in the country.

    Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi termed it an “uncalled for” move that too at the time when India is facing threats on two fronts.

    Gandhi Tweeted, “When India faces threats on two fronts, the uncalled for Agnipath scheme reduces the operational effectiveness of our armed forces.”

    The BJP govt must stop compromising the dignity, traditions, valour & discipline of our forces, added Rahul.

    Questioning the short tenure of service of those who will get inducted under the scheme, BJP MP from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi wrote, “Even the government gets elected for five years. Then why only four years is given to the youth to serve the nation?”

    The Cabinet approved the “transformative” scheme Agnipath, the new recruitment scheme for the armed forces, on Tuesday. Under it around 46,000 youth between the ages of 17 and a half years and 21 years will be inducted into the Army, Navy and Air Force for a period of four years.

    One of the positives of the scheme is that this will make the age profile of the Units youthful.

    Under the old system youth between 16 and half years and 21 years were selected for a minimum of 15 years of service and used to get a pension for serving this much. Under the new scheme, 100 per cent of the recruits will leave after four years and then around 25 per cent will be taken back from among them under a fresh process and will serve on a permanent basis.

    The recruitment will be on an “all India-all class” basis which earlier was based on region as well as caste and used to serve in regiments like Dogra, Punjab, J&K, Rajput, Jat and Sikhs.

    As per Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav such training and then left unemployed after four years might lead to law and order issue.

    “Under the Agnipath scheme a large population which is trained in using arms will get unemployed at the age of 22 years after serving for a temporary short period. Will it not lead to a law and order situation in the country?” he said.

    Lots of veterans expressed their angst against the scheme. Lieutenant General (retired) P R Shankar, wrote in his blog, “Many senior veterans have written with the wisdom of their experience. A common voice has emerged. The tour of duty does not seem to be a good idea. Proceed with caution.”

    Protests break out in Bihar, Rajasthan

    Army aspirants disrupted rail and road traffic in several parts of Bihar on Wednesday in protest against the “Agnipath” scheme which proposes the recruitment of jawans on a contractual basis for a four-year period followed by compulsory retirement for most without gratuity and pension benefits.

    In the Buxar district, more than 100 young men stormed the railway station and squatted on the tracks, blocking the onward journey of the Patna-bound Janshatabdi Express for nearly 30 minutes.

    They raised slogans against the scheme, unveiled the previous day by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, until security personnel led by RPF inspector Deepak Kumar and GRP SHO Ramashish Prasad, arrived at the spot and warned them against disruption of rail traffic.

    There were reports in a section of the regional media that the protesters had hurled stones at Pataliputra Express, which passed through the station, though both Kumar and Prasad denied such an occurrence.

    In Muzaffarpur town, a large number of Army aspirants vented their ire by placing burning tyres on the roads around the sprawling “Chakkar Maidan” where they turn up in large numbers for physical tests which are mandatory for the recruitment of jawans.

    They said they were exasperated to learn about the new job rules which has come after two years of “no recruitment” by the armed forces despite their having passed the requisite physical tests.

    Many Army aspirants also marched towards the Collectorate where they submitted a memorandum to the District Magistrate.

    In Begusarai, Army aspirants, many of them NCC cadets, staged a demonstration at Mahadev Chowk where they carried a huge poster inscribed with the demand rollback of the Agnipath scheme.

    Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in the state, Tejashwi Yadav, came out with a flurry of tweets sharing his misgivings about the much-touted move by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

    The RJD leader expressed apprehensions that like contractual hiring in Railways and “lateral entry” in other government departments, Agnipath “will be used to do away with the constitutionally sanctioned reservation benefits”.

    The former Bihar Deputy CM also alleged “BJP and Sangh Parivar may use the scheme for providing arms training, at government expense, to its hate-filled supporters and fringe elements”.

    “As a result of the Agnipath scheme, many young men with military training will be rendered jobless at a tender age of 22. Will it not result in a major law and order problem in the country?”, he asked.

    He also asked, with a rhetorical flourish, whether the government expected youngsters recruited under the Agnipath scheme to spend rest of their lives working as security guards of “big capitalists friendly to the BJP”.

    He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of 10 lakh government jobs till the end of next year and asked if the number “takes into account the 19 lakh jobs promised in Bihar” ahead of the 2020 assembly polls.

    Around 150 people blocked the Ajmer-Delhi highway on Wednesday in protest.

    According to Kardhani Station House Officer (SHO) Banwari Meena, around 150 protesters blocked the highway, demanding that recruitment into the armed forces should be done following the earlier method.

    The SHO said the protesters were subsequently dispersed and the highway was cleared, adding that 10 people were arrested.

    Here is what defence establishments are saying

    Chief of Staff of the Army’s Eastern Command Lt General K K Repswal on Wednesday said that recruitment of young soldiers under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme will provide availability of a trained pool in case of any requirement even after conclusion of their four-year term in the armed forces.

    “It’s a trained pool available to you and if the situation so demands, they can be called back,” he said at a press conference at the Eastern Command headquarters here at Fort William.

    Repswal said the Army will recruit 40,000 soldiers under this scheme, and the process would commence within three months.

    He said at present, only male candidates will be recruited.

    “Girls will also get a chance when the system stabilises.”

    Asserting that the “Agnipath’ scheme is to transform the Army to make it future-ready, Repswal said it provides for retention of 25 per cent of each batch for the regular forces, and the 75 per cent who leave after completion of four years will get preference in recruitment in central armed police forces and the Assam Rifles.

    The government had unveiled the scheme on Tuesday that will overhaul the decades-old selection process to bring in fitter and younger troops to tackle future security challenges facing the nation.

    Around 46,000 soldiers will be recruited this year between the ages of 17 and a half years and 21 years into the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

    “The Indian Army will recruit 25,000 ‘Agniveers’ in the next 180 days and the process for recruitment of the remaining 15,000 will begin a month after that,” Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt General B S Raju told PTI.

    He further said that the recruitment drive will be in all the 773 districts throughout the country.

    “It will cover every district of the country,” he added.

    Gen Raju said that the defence minister is empowered to make necessary changes according to operational requirements.

    The “Agnipath” scheme is being seen as a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process to bring in fitter and younger troops to deal with future security challenges facing the nation.

    The recruitment will be based on an “all-India, all-class” basis that is set to change the composition of some regiments that recruit youths from specific regions as well as castes.

    After completion of the four-year tenure of the recruits, the scheme provides for retaining 25 per cent of each specific batch for regular service, based on organisational requirements and policies promulgated by the armed forces from time to time.

    The four-year tenure under the new scheme will include around six months to eight months of training periods.

    Raju said the recruitment will give a younger profile to the Army and they will also quickly adapt to new technologies.

    Lieutenant General Arvind Walia, Chief of Staff, Southern Command, on Wednesday said the new ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in the armed forces is a “transformational reform” for the Army and the nation as it aims to bring paradigm changes in the Army’s human resource management.

    Speaking to reporters at the Southern Command headquarters, Lt General Walia said the concept of the scheme envisages the promotion of nationalism in the youth by offering skilled manpower to the society and ensuring a more youthful profile of the Army.

    “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.

    The southern commander also said the youthful profile of the Army will provide a fresh lease of “josh and jazba” (enthusiasm) while bringing about a transformational shift towards a more technical-savvy armed force, which is the need of the hour.

    The youths recruited under the scheme will be known as ‘Agniveers’.

    After completion of the four-year tenure, 25 per cent of the recruits from each specific batch would be offered regular service.

    The Lt General assured that there will be no compromise on the standards applied by the armed forces in ensuring the minimum physical, medical and professional parameters for recruits.

    He also said that during the implementation and stabilisation of the scheme, the Army’s operational capabilities and preparedness will be fully maintained.

    “I wish to emphatically state that the Army will continue to retain its rich legacy, history, traditions, military values and culture – based on the principles of cohesiveness, camaraderie, and the core ethos of ‘Naam, Namak and Nishan’”, he stated.

    It is envisaged that the average age profile of the Indian Armed forces would come down by about 4-5 years by the implementation of this scheme.

    “The dividends of short military service to the nation, society and the youth of the nation are immense.

    This includes the inculcation of patriotism, teamwork, enhancement of physical fitness, ingrained loyalty for the country and availability of trained personnel to boost national security in times of external threats, internal threats and natural disasters,” the Lt General said.

    He also said the scheme will lead to a much more youthful and technically adept war-fighting force by ensuring a fine balance between youthful and experienced personnel in the armed forces.

    The Lt General added that the first rally of the recruitment will be held within 90 days.

    The Indian armed forces will not compromise with the quality of cadets while recruiting young ‘Agniveers’ under the newly launched Agnipath scheme for four years, Air Marshal Manavendra Singh said on Wednesday.

    The Centre on Tuesday rolled out the Agnipath scheme offering four-year military training to youth from the ages 17.5 years to 21 years.

    After completing the training, the cadets may leave the service and make their own move or if they wish they can apply for regular enrolment in the military services, the Centre said while launching the scheme.

    “I would like to reassure you that it (Agnipath scheme) will work. The quality (of recruited cadets under Agnipath scheme) will not be compromised,” Air Marshal Singh, who is the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Headquarters Training Command, Indian Air Force, told reporters here.

    He was replying to a query on the defence veterans criticising the Agnipath scheme.

    The Air Marshal said in the fast-changing world there cannot be just one way of doing things and insist upon doing things that they had been doing for the past 100 or 200 years.

    “There is no reason to believe that there isn’t just one way of doing things. Let’s give it (Agnipath scheme) a try. And I have really strong belief that it will succeed very well. It will be very well received by the youth of this country and we will benefit from it,” Air Marshal Singh said.

    He said in a democratic nation, everyone is free to voice their opinion.

    But as an expert of the subject, the IAF officer said the defence establishment can train people for all kinds of specialisations.

    To a query on reservation or preference in government jobs once the ‘Agniveers’ are out of service, Air Marshal Singh said they will be given preference in Central Armed Police Forces like CISF and Assam Rifles once their term is over.

    Further, the Agniveer cadets will be given a degree by the Indira Gandhi National Open University after completing four years of service, the Air Marshal said.

    According to him, the notification for the recruitment of Agniveer will be out shortly and it will take about 90 days for the selection process.

    There will be an all-India level exam, whose details will be available online, he added.

    “There will be a total of 250 centres all over India. We are doing it in collaboration with (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) C-DAC. They’ve been our technology partners for the last couple of years,” Air Marshal Singh said.

    Stating that the exam will be conducted on a tried and tested system, he said the examination process works without any fear or favour, where there will be no scope for any intervention.

    “It’s absolutely a transparent and fair system where everybody has an equal opportunity to make his mark and get selected,” the IAF officer explained.

    Politicians disagree with the move

    BJP Lok Sabha member Varun Gandhi on Wednesday raised questions on the newly announced Agnipath scheme for recruitment of soldiers into the armed forces, saying a government is elected for five years then why are youths being given four years to serve the nation.

    Taking to Twitter, the Pilibhit MP, who has often been taking a divergent view from the party on various issues, shared a video of youngsters expressing their concerns about the transformative scheme that the government had on Tuesday unveiled for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

    Sharing the remuneration details of the new recruitment scheme for defence forces, Varun Gandhi in a tweet invited opinions about this plan while adding that there are many “questions and doubts” in the minds of the youths regarding the Agnipath scheme.

    Citing the video of youngsters who responded to his tweet, he said even government is elected for five years then why only youths are being given four years to serve the nation.

    Meanwhile, the BJP-led government at the Centre on Wednesday announced a raft of post-retirement employment possibilities for ‘Agniveer’ like a priority in recruitment to the central armed police forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles.

    However, it failed to assuage the concerns of the opposition Congress which warned the scheme will reduce the operational effectiveness of the armed forces.

    RLP leader and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal Wednesday opposed the scheme for the recruitment of soldiers on a short-term contractual basis and announced a protest against it on June 16.

    He said the government should withdraw the scheme, unveiled on Tuesday, and conduct rallies to recruit youths in the armed forces as earlier.

    “On June 16, the party joined by youths will lodge protests at all district headquarters of the state (Rajasthan) against the contractual recruitment in the army and submit memoranda. The Centre should start army recruitment rallies and give two-year age relaxation to the youths,” Beniwal tweeted.

    He said there is a strong resentment among the youth against the Center for not holding army recruitment rallies for the last two years and not completing the process of recruitment rallies held earlier “and now due to the plan to recruit in the army on contract”.

    The “transformative” scheme called ‘Agnipath’ was announced by the government for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force largely on a short-term contractual basis to cut the ballooning salary and pension bills and enable a youthful profile of the armed forces, Under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, Indian youths will be provided an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as ‘Agniveer’.

    Beniwal said the Agneepath Scheme is a “joke” with the youths of the country.

    Recruiting young men into the army under the Agneepath scheme to give six-month weapon training and removing them after four years will lead to incidents of a gang war.

    The Centre should withdraw the scheme and recruit soldiers in the army as before, he said.

    Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday lashed out at the Centre over its “Agnipath” scheme, saying it neither favours the country nor the youth.

    He requested the government to reconsider and rationalise it by ensuring permanent jobs to soldiers who complete their four-year term in the armed forces.

    “It has far-reaching consequences and these have not been fully considered while preparing this scheme. In the long run, the policy would have a detrimental impact on our national security,” Hooda claimed in a statement here.

    “It seems the government is compromising with the security of the country with the intention of saving money on salary, pension, gratuity and halving the strength of the armed forces,” the former Haryana chief minister alleged.

    Hooda claimed that youth have become overaged due to the closure of Army recruitment for the past three years due to the Covid pandemic.

    “The hopes of the youth who had been waiting for the Army recruitment for the last many years and also those who had given written examination, physical test for Army recruitment and were waiting for the results have been dashed after the implementation of this new policy,” he said.

    The Congress leader demanded that the government should consider giving relaxation in age limit to the youth who have become overage in the past three years.

    Counting the shortcomings of the scheme, Hooda said 75 per cent of the soldiers who will be recruited in the army as Agniveers will be retired after four years.

    “No care has been taken about what will happen to their future. This plan does not live up to the tradition, nature, morals and values of the Army,” he said.

    “The period of training prescribed under the scheme is insufficient. Insufficient training can have a negative impact on the capability and effectiveness of the military. With just four years of service, the Army will start being treated as a tourist organisation,” he claimed.

    Hooda, who is Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, said regimental honour is very strong part of the tradition of our armed forces and recruits would lose their attachment to the name, insignia and the emotional connect with the regiment.

    “The government is talking about giving a lumpsum amount of Rs 11.71 lakh as a service fund to the Agniveers who will be forced out from the Army after four years while the truth is that only half of this fund belongs to the government and half will be the money of the soldiers’ earnings,” he said.

    He asked the government to clearly answer if an Agniveer, who is unemployed after four years of service, will be able to spend his entire life with Rs 11.71 lakh.

    “They will get neither pension, military hospital nor canteen facility after four years of service,” he said.

    The army of the youth who have completed four years of service will be forced to search for jobs, he said.

    “Such unemployed youth who know how to use weapons can easily be misled, which can prove to be a serious threat to society. I urge the government to reconsider this scheme and take a decision keeping in mind the larger interest of the country and society,” he said.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • ‘India to have its first hypersonic missile in next six years’: BrahMos CEO

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India will have the first hypersonic missile in its arsenal in the next six years, informed the BrahMos Aerospace on Monday.

    Atul Rane, CEO and MD, BrahMos Aerospace said, “BrahMos Aerospace is capable of making hypersonic missiles. In five to six years, we will be able to have our first hypersonic missile by BrahMos”.

    Rane was speaking at an event to launch the ‘Silver Jubilee Year’ celebration (1998-2023) to mark the incredible journey of BrahMos military partnership programmes producing cruise missile BrahMos. BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture was established in 1998.

    The ‘Silver Jubilee Year’ celebrations would begin on June 12 and would end on February 12, 2023, on ‘BrahMos Raising Day.’ The celebrations will include several key events, meets, and competitions at the national level.

    Towards the process of attaining the hypersonic speed, India successfully tested Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) in September by integrating scramjet engine technology.

    The HSTDV technology will be assisting the country to develop futuristic space assets like long-range missile systems and aerial platforms.

    The HSTDV is capable of powering missiles to attain a speed of around Mach 6 or six times the speed of sound. Only a very few countries like the US, Russia and China have such a capability.

    India not only has armed the three services with the BrahMos Missiles but has also started exporting it. As reported earlier by this newspaper the Philippines Department of National Defence approved a $374.96 million (Rs 2700 cr) contract for the purchase of a shore-based anti-ship missile system from India.

    As per the initial deal The Philippines will get three missile batteries of missile system which has a range of 290 kilometres and a speed of 2.8 Mach (thrice the speed of sound).

    India has been in talks with Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand and few other nations that have shown interest in the system.

    The work is already on to extend the range of BrahMos missiles which can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.

  • Navy drills for security, not aggression: Rajnath Singh

    By Express News Service

    KARWAR: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said here on Friday that India’s maritime power enhancement is being done not with an intention of any aggression, but is aimed at peace and security in the region. He was speaking after undertaking a sea sortie on one of India’s indigenously manufactured Kalvari-class conventional submarines INS Khanderi at the Karwar naval base in Karnataka.

    Speaking to the media, the defence minister, who is on a twoday visit here, said he got “firsthand insight into the combat capabilities and offensive strength of the state-of-the-art Kalvari-class submarine”. “India is enhancing its naval power not with any intention of aggression, but to protect its maritime boundaries and ensure peace and prosperity in the region,” he added. Sharing his experience on the sortie, Singh said, “I got to know how the country’s naval power fares under water. It was a unique experience.”

    Rajnath: Navy to induct 41 warships, subs soon

    “After this, my confidence in the Navy has further increased,” the defence minister added.Highlighting the country’s Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, the minister said the Indian Navy will be inducting 41 warships and submarines in the coming days, of which 39 will be made under the Make-in-India initiative. “The INS Khanderi — the submarine in which I undertook the sea sortie — is developed in India. I have an emotional bond with it as I was present when it was commissioned in September 2019,” he added.

    A statement from the Defence ministry said during the four-hour sortie, “the full spectrum of capabilities of underwater operations of the stealth submarine was demonstrated” to Singh, and he witnessed a “wide range of operational drills with the submarine demonstrating the advanced sensor suite, combat system and weapon capability which provides it a distinct advantage in the subsurface domain”. He also got a glimpse of the submarine’s capability to effectively counter anti-submarine operations by an adversary. He was accompanied by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar along with other senior Navy and ministry officials.

    The operational sortie was accompanied by the deployment of ships of the Western Fleet, an anti-submarine mission sortie by a P-8I MPA and Sea King helicopter, a fly-past by MiG 29-K fighters and a search and rescue capability demonstration, the statement said. With this, Singh has now “witnessed first-hand the three-dimensional combat capability of the Indian Navy, after having embarked on the INS Vikramaditya in September 2019 and conducted a sortie on the P8I long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircraft earlier this month,” the statement added.

    The INS Khanderi, part of the P-75 project, under which six conventional submarines are being made in India, was commissioned on September 28, 2019. The Navy has commissioned four of these Kalvari-(Scorpene) class submarines, and two more are likely to be inducted by end next year. Before setting out on the sea sortie, the minister participated in a yoga session at the naval base. He also interacted with the crew of INS Khanderi.

  • Top Navy brass mull enhancing indigenisation as Commanders’ Conference gets underway

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2022 with top operational and area Commanders of the Indian Navy commenced on Monday with the aim of reviewing major operational, materiel, logistics, human resource development, training and administrative activities.

    Speaking of the agenda, the Navy said, “The conference will focus on addressing the contemporary security paradigms while seeking ways to enhance combat capability of the Navy and make operations more effective and efficient.”

    A detailed review of the performance of weapons and sensors, readiness of Indian Navy platforms and ongoing naval projects with focus on ways to enhance indigenisation through ‘Make in India’ will be undertaken by the Commanders, the Navy added.

    The conference would also dwell upon dynamics of the geostrategic situation of the region in the backdrop of recent international developments.

    This is the first edition of the bi-annual, held in April and October, Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2022 scheduled from April 25 to 28.

    As per the Navy, during the conference, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address and interact with Naval Commanders on matters pertaining to national security. The Chiefs of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force will also interact with the Naval Commanders to address convergence of the three services vis-à-vis a common operational environment, as well as discuss avenues of augmenting tri-service synergy and readiness.

    The conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important maritime matters at the military-strategic level as well as interact with senior government functionaries through an institutionalised forum.

    The Commanders’ Conference is being conducted in the newly set up state-of-the-art facility at the IHQ MoD (Navy) offices at Defence Offices Complex at Africa Avenue, New Delhi. This complex was inaugurated by PM Modi on September 21 as part of Phase I of the Centre’s Central Vista Project.

  • ‘Direct hit’: Indian Air Force successfully test-fires BrahMos missile from Su30-MkI fighter jet

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI:  In demonstrating its operational preparedness, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter jet on the Eastern seaboard.

    Officials said that the IAF said that the “live firing” of the missile was carried out in close coordination with the Indian Navy. The missile hit the target with accuracy and precision.

    Today on the Eastern seaboard, #IAF undertook live firing of #BrahMos missile from a Su30 MkI aircraft.The missile achieved a direct hit on the target, a decommissioned #IndianNavy ship.The mission was undertaken in close coordination with @indiannavy. pic.twitter.com/UpCZ3vJkZb
    — Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 19, 2022
    “Today on the Eastern seaboard, #IAF undertook live firing of #BrahMos missile from a Su30 MkI aircraft. The missile achieved a direct hit on the target, a decommissioned #IndianNavy ship. The mission was undertaken in close coordination with @indiannavy,” the IAF said in a tweet.

    In 2016, the government had decided to integrate the air-launched variant of the Brahmos into over 40 Sukhoi fighter jets. The project was conceived to enhance the IAF’s capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target on sea or land.

    On March 5, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired an advanced version of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile from a stealth destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The missile was test-fired from the stealth destroyer INS Chennai.

    BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms. BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.

    The range of the advanced version of the missile is learnt to have been extended to around 350 km from the original 290 km.

  • Top Navy brass of India and Australia hold talks in Delhi, military ties touching new high

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Amidst the rapidly changing strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific, India and Australia are working to bolster their military to military relationship with staff talks between the two navies held here on Wednesday.

    The Indian Navy in a statement said, “The 14th Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) staff talks were held from 11-13 April at New Delhi.” The meeting was co-chaired by Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, Deputy Chief of the RAN, and Rear Admiral J Singh, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence) of the Indian Navy. Commodore Stewart Dunne, hydrographer to the government of Australia, also attended the meeting, the Indian Navy added.

    Major issues discussed included maritime operations, information exchange and training. Talking about the important points of discussion, the Indian Navy stated, “Both sides also acknowledged the growing cooperation between the two Navies amid the emerging challenges on the maritime front, and agreed to enhance collaboration and interoperability towards ensuring maritime security in IOR.”

    On the completion of the talks, RAdm Christopher Smith interacted with VAdm Sanjay Mahindru, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy, at South Block, New Delhi on April 13.

    Meanwhile, the Indian Navy’s Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft P8I reached Darwin in Australia on April 11 to participate in coordinated maritime operations. The aircraft and its crew would be undertaking an operational turnaround at Darwin.

    During its stay, the team from the Indian Navy’s maritime patrol squadron, Albatross (INAS 312) is scheduled to engage with its counterparts from the 92 Wing of the Royal Australian Air Force.

    P8 aircraft from both the countries, would be conducting coordinated operations in Anti-Submarine Warfare and surface surveillance, to enhance maritime domain awareness.

    Both India and Australia share strategic interests, promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific and rules based order in the region, said the Navy.

    In recent times, increased interaction between the two maritime nations, through bilateral and multilateral exercises at sea, has enhanced interoperability and fostered bridges of friendship.

    The relationship between India and Australia has transformed in recent years. In 2020, India and Australia elevated their bilateral relationship to comprehensive strategic partnership and are members of the Quad grouping which also includes Japan and the United States. The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the foreign and defence ministers of the two countries held in September last year has added a new dimension to the relationship.

    In February 2021, Australia posted a liaison officer at the Indian Navy’s Gurugram-based Information Fusion Centre (IFC) that has emerged as a major hub of maritime security information relating to the Indian Ocean which has become a region of increased Chinese naval activities.

  • New Armed Forces officers assume charge at the tri-services and services level

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Armed forces witnessed a major reshuffle at the top on Friday. As per the sources major changes in the Army included one new Army Commander, DG Military Operations, the Adjutant General and a Corps Commander. Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, National Defence Academy and Strategic Forces Command also saw new faces assuming charge at the top.

    Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) SS Mahal took over as the General Officer Commanding in Chief (C-inC), Army Training Command (ARTRAC). He was the General Officer Commanding (GoC) Uttar Bharat (UB) Area. Lt General Mahal moved to Artrac after Lt Gen Raj Shukla retired on 31 March. UB area, unlike the other administrative headquarters, is a combatised area as it has operational troops under its command. Lt Gen Mahal was commissioned in December 1984 into 41 Armoured Regiment.

    Also, with the retirement of Lt Gen Raj Shukla, Lt Gen MK Pandey, the current Vice Chief of Army Staff remains the senior most serving officer after General MM Naravane. The government is in process to select the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) after the untimely demise of General Bipin Rawat.

    In the Army Lt Gen Ponappa took charge of the Adjutant General (AG), shifting from the post of Deputy Chief (Information, Services & Training). AG looks after the welfare and discipline of the Army.

    Lt Gen JP Mathews has moved in place of Lt Gen Mahal as the GoC UB Area. Prior to the new posting Lt Gen Mathews was Commanding the Dimapur based Spear (3 Corps) Corps with the Line of Actual Control, Myanmar Border and Counter Insurgency under its responsibility.

    A new Director General Military Operations will take charge at the New Delhi based Army headquarters. Lt Gen MK Katiyar is the new DGMO of the Army who was commanding the Mathura based I Strike Corps and will take over as DGMO on 30th April. The current DGMO Lt Gen BS Raju is in line to become the Army Commander.

    In the Navy, Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru assumed charge as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff on 31 Mar. He was commissioned into the Navy in Jan 85 as a Submarine and Navigation Specialist. On elevation to the rank of Vice Admiral in 2019, he held the challenging and coveted appointment of Deputy C-in-C of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) prior taking over as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.

    He succeeded Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh who retired after more than 38 years of illustrious service on 31 Mar 2022.

    At the tri-services level the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) and Strategic Forces Command have new officers at the helm. NDA has got the new Commandant with Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, assuming the appointment on Friday from Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor. Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor is heading Delhi as the Director General Inspection and Safety.

    Vice Admiral Kochhar, commissioned in July 1988, was Project Director (Operations and Training) at Headquarters Advanced Tactical Vessel Program, HQ, and New Delhi. His command tenure includes the Command of India’s only Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. He was also the Fleet Commander Western Fleet, the sword arm of the Navy.

    Another important change has taken place at the Strategic Forces Command. Air Marshal RGK Kapoor is the new Commander in Chief in place of Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar who superannuated on March 31. The SFC operationalises the delivery of nuclear weapons and warheads after the go-ahead from the Nuclear Command Authority.