Agnipath: Despite Protests, Air Force To Begin Recruitment From June 24

New Delhi: Widespread protests across India notwithstanding, Indian Air Force will be the first of the tri-service of Armed Forces to begin selection under the new Agnipath recruitment model — from June 24.

“Happy to announce that the upper age limit (for recruitment) has been revised to 23 years. This will benefit the youth. The recruitment process for Indian Air Force will begin on June 24,” Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari announced on Friday.

The three Service chiefs and Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the Agnipath scheme on June 14. Under the short-term recruitment scheme, youngsters aged 17.5 to 21 – relaxed to 23 following protests — will be inducted into one of the Armed forces as ‘agniveers’ for a period of four years.

Armed forces aspirants were quick to express their reservations as, after completion of four years, only 25% of the recruited soldiers through the scheme will be retained to serve a full term, while the rest will be relieved without pension benefits.

The COVID-19 pandemic had halted Army recruitment for over two years. Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, however, did recruit soldiers in the last two years.