• UGI USER
  • Jul 27, 2024
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PM DEFENDS AGNIPATH SCHEME

Why in the news?

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended the Agnipath scheme on the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War.
  • Modi emphasised the scheme aims to keep the Army young and fit for war.
  • Criticised the Opposition, especially Congress, for politicising national security issues and past failures to meet armed forces’ demands.
source:worldmap

About the Kargil War and Operation Vijay:

  • Post-1971 Indo-Pak conflicts; nuclear tests in 1998 escalated tensions.
  • Kargil War (1999): Fought between May-July in Kargil, Jammu and Kashmir; India emerged victorious.
  • Location: Kargil district, Line of Control (LoC), Mashkoh valley, Dras, Kaksar, Tiger Hill
  • Context: Occurred after the Lahore Declaration, aimed at peace between India and Pakistan
  • Memorials: Kargil War Memorial (Dras), National War Memorial, New Delhi
  • Operation Vijay: Launched by India in response to Pakistani infiltration under Operation Badr; began May 3, 1999, to reclaim captured high-altitude territory.

Military Reforms Post-Kargil

  • Defence Intelligence Agency: Established in 2002
  • National Technical Research Organisation: Created for technical intelligence
  • Chief of Defence Staff: Position created in 2019 for unified military advice
  • Andaman and Nicobar Command: First tri-service command established
About Agnipath Scheme:

  • Launch Date: June 14, 2022.
  • Purpose: Recruits for Army, Navy, and IAF on four-year contracts; 75 lakh intake cap until 2026.
  • Eligibility: Ages 17.5-21, class 10 degree, physical and medical fitness required.
  • Women Recruitment: Enabled in IAF, Navy; Army’s Corps of Military Police since 2019.

Objectives

  • Youthful Profile: Reduce average age of personnel.
  • Modernization: Transform into a tech-savvy force.
  • Skill Utilisation: Skilled youth contribute to society post-service.
  • Pension Bill Reduction: Lower rising defence pension costs.

Recruitment Status

  • Army: 40,000 Agniveers trained; third batch of 20,000 in November 2023.
  • Navy: 7,385 Agniveers trained.
  • Air Force: 4,955 Agniveers trained.

About Article 370:

  • Provision: Granted Jammu and Kashmir special autonomous status under Part XXI of the Indian Constitution.
  • Autonomy: Allowed its own constitution, flag, and control over internal affairs; Indian government retained authority over defence, foreign affairs, finance, and communications.
  • Abrogation: Announced on August 5, 2019, leading to reorganisation into Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/the-agnipath-scheme/#:~:text=Launched%20in%202022%2C%20the%20Agnipath,for%20permanent%20enlistment%20as%20’Agniveers