Operational requirements should guide any refinement in Agnipath Scheme, says Gen Dwivedi (IANS Exclusive)
New Delhi, June 30
Outgoing Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, in an interview with, has called the Agnipath Scheme a "major human resource reform" aimed at forming a "younger and future-ready Army".
He emphasised that any improvements to the Agnipath Scheme in the future should be "guided by operational requirements" and field experience rather than by "predetermined numbers."
The Agnipath Scheme is a short-term recruitment program for the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) that enlists youth aged 17.5 to 21 as "Agniveers" for a four-year tenure. Twenty-five per cent of recruits are retained for permanent service after their term.
Speaking about the short-term recruitment programme, the outgoing Indian Army Chief said, "The Agnipath Scheme is a major human resource reform aimed at creating a younger, fitter, more energetic and future-ready Army. The character of warfare is changing rapidly, and today's soldier must be physically robust, mentally agile and technologically adept."
He mentioned that initial feedback from operational units has been "encouraging".
"Agniveers are adapting well to unit life, training standards and field requirements. Their ability to adapt to modern battlefield systems such as drones, surveillance systems, communication networks and other technology-enabled systems is a positive contribution," he added.
However, Gen Dwivedi said that at the same time, the scheme is still evolving.
"The first batch has not yet completed its full-service cycle, and therefore any final assessment would be premature. Indian Army is continuously analysing training outcomes, unit integration, operational performance and feedback from commanders across the Army," he said.
When asked if the Agniveer model needs any changes going forward, Gen Dwivedi said, "Any refinement in future should be guided by operational requirements and field experience rather than predetermined numbers."
"If future assessments indicate the need for changes, particularly in specialised or technology-intensive domains such as air defence, drones, counter-UAS, signals, surveillance and electronic warfare, the matter can be examined institutionally," he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
My cousin joined as an Agniveer last year. He says training is intense but he's learning drone operations and cyber warfare - skills he never imagined. The Gen is right, modern warfare needs tech-savvy soldiers. But we must ensure retention pathways for those who excel in specialised roles. 25% permanent retention seems low for critical domains like air defence.
The scheme makes sense on paper but ground reality is different. I've seen Agniveers in my unit - young, enthusiastic, but four years is too short to build the kind of experience needed for serious operations. The Gen's cautious approach is good, but I worry about morale when 75% know they're temporary. Need more concrete assurances for those who perform well.
As an outsider watching from abroad, this seems like a bold experiment. India is thinking ahead by making the military more youthful and tech-focused. Gen Dwivedi's emphasis on data-driven refinements rather than knee-jerk reactions is wise. Hope the scheme succeeds - a modernised Indian Army benefits global security.
Good to see the Army Chief being honest about the scheme still evolving. But I wish they had done more consultation with veterans and current soldiers before rolling it out. Many retired officers have valid concerns about unit cohesion and experience gaps. The "operational requirements" approach is correct, but do we have enough data yet to know what those requirements truly are?
Interesting perspective from a military leader who admits the scheme is still in its infancy. The focus on technology domains like drones and cyber warfare shows India is serious about future conflicts. My only concern
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.