Amidst the ongoing outrage over Agnipath scheme, a defence tri-service briefing was held Sunday which was chaired by Additional Secy Lt Gen Anil Puri, Dept of Military Affairs.

During the briefing, Anil Puri said, “We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawan are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past.”

“Around 17,600 people are taking premature retirement from the three Services every year,” Puri revealed. 

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The Agnipath scheme, which was announced Tuesday, resulted in protests in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other states with people slamming the radical new recruitment plan.

The scheme seeks to recruit soldiers in the Army, Navy and the Air Force on a short-term contract of four years. The scheme aims to bring down the average age of personnel and reduce pension expenditure.

Below are some of the key highlights from the conference:

1. Lt General Anil Puri said that the Agnipath scheme pending since 1989.

2. The Agniveers would get the same allowance in areas like Siachen and other areas which are applicable to the regular soldiers serving at present. No discrimination against them in service conditions.

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3. Agniveers to get Rs 1 crore compensation if he’s martyred, Puri said.

4. Intake of soldiers in next 5 yrs will be 50-60,000, to go up to 1.25 lakh in future.

5. Registration process for the first batch of Agniveers will start on June 24 and from July 24, phase 1 online examination process will begin.

6. “The first batch would be enrolled by December and training would commence by December 30,” said Air Marshal SK Jha.

7. “From November 21, the first batch of naval Agniveers will start reaching the training establishment INS Chilka in Odisha. Both female and male Agniveers will be recruited,” said Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi.

8. “By December, we will get the first batch of 25,000 Agniveers and the second batch would be inducted around February 2023 making it 40,000,” said Lt Gen Bansi Ponappa.

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9. The Agnipath scheme will be implemented and there is no question of a rollback, Puri said.

10. The navy said that the women Agniveers will be deployed on warships.