Amid Agnipath protests, government raises maximum age to 23 this year

Agnipath, the
Indian government’s new Armed Forces recruitment scheme, is seeing a wave of
protests across the country. Unemployed aspirants of defence jobs are furious over
the government’s change in policy. Amid all of this, the Indian government
decided on Thursday that the upper-age limit for the Agnipath scheme be raised
from 21 to 23 for the year 2022.

The government’s decision
to raise the maximum age is because no recruitment to the Armed Forces took
place over the last two years.

Also Read | Countrywide stir needed to stall Agnipath scheme: Tikait

While raising the
maximum age will allow thousands of more candidates to go through the selection
process this year, it might not be enough to douse the flames of Agnipath.
Protests have broken out across India with Bihar leading from the front.

Bihar, one of
India’s most populous and highly impoverished states, has seen violent protests
with trains being set on fire and ugly physical exchanges between police and
protestors. The state has a Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party
coalition government with Nitish Kumar at the helm. The JD(U) has called for a
review of the policy.

“There has been an
atmosphere of discontent, disappointment and fear of a dark future because of
unemployment after the announcement of the Agnipath scheme. The Centre should
revisit the Agnipath scheme immediately because it is related to the country’s
safety and security,” tweeted Rajiv Ranjan Singh, JD (U) national president.

Nearly 10
districts in Bihar are aflame in protests, including Ara, Siwan, Munger, Saharsa
and Bhagalpur. BJP MLA Aruna Devi’s vehicle was targeted by protestors. Protests
also broke out in Haryana’s Palwal where more that 20 police officials and
government personnel were injured and five police vehicles put on fire. The
government suspended internet in Palwal for a while.

“The agitation was
infiltrated by antisocial elements who began pelting stones, causing a
law-and-order situation. They also tried to cause damage to the (DC’s) office
and stole ammunition from the police positioned there,” police said. Protests
have broken out in more states, including Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi.

The Agnipath scheme
overhauls the process of Armed Forces recruitment in India. It allows for
people between the ages of 16.5 to 21 (23 years in 2022) to gain entry into the
services for a period of four years. After these four years, nearly 75% of the
recruits will be let go with a lumpsum payment and no pension or health
benefits. Only the remaining 25% will go on to serve full 15-year terms.