00:00And at the top of this hour, we're getting some big breaking news.
00:03This is regarding the Agni Veer scheme.
00:05The CDS has now announced that there will be a two-year extension in the Agni Veer scheme,
00:11which was earlier for four years.
00:12Now it has been extended to six years.
00:15So that's the big decision that has been taken by the CDS.
00:20And the CDS has announced this decision regarding the Agni Veer scheme,
00:24in which two-year extension has been announced.
00:27And after those two years, there will be an evaluation which will be done of the Agni Veers
00:33on the basis of which they may be permanently also recruited.
00:36Now, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has hailed the Agni Veer extension.
00:41He has said that taking a significant decision today,
00:44the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Modi,
00:46has approved a two-year second tour of duty for Agni Veers under Agnipat.
00:51I sincerely thank Prime Minister Modi for taking the decision of additional two-year,
00:55second tour of duty for Agni Veers under the Agnipat scheme.
00:59And this decision is continuation of long-term structural reforms of our Defence Forces
01:03aimed at creating a younger, fitter, technologically equipped and future-ready military.
01:10It is not merely a recruitment policy.
01:12It is a way forward to prepare India's military for the changing character of warfare.
01:16So, that's the big decision that has been taken as far as Agni Veer scheme is concerned.
01:23There will be a two-year extension that will be offered.
01:26Now, this will be optional for the Agni Veers.
01:28And this comes at a very significant time,
01:30just ahead of the first batch that was about to complete its four-year.
01:36So, the first batch was recruited in 2022.
01:39Its four-year completion was set for December this year.
01:42And just ahead of that, this extension has been announced for the Agni Veers scheme,
01:50for the Agni Veers, in which two-year extension will be given.
01:53Now, this will be optional.
01:54They may choose to opt out of this also.
01:57My colleague Shivani Sharma is now joining us with more details on this.
02:01Shivani, what prompted this decision of a two-year extension?
02:05Was it the heavy criticism that this scheme was facing?
02:10See, Anjali, when this scheme was announced in 2022, June,
02:14and implemented on September 2022,
02:18the government has been saying that we are reviewing the scheme
02:21since it is a big reform.
02:23And desired changes will be made to the scheme.
02:26And now, when the scheme is getting closer to the first batch of the Agni Veers,
02:30they will be completing their service in the month of November.
02:33November, this whole big reform and a big reset has been announced,
02:38which says that 25% who will be retained on the basis of merit,
02:42that 75% are also being given a chance to serve in the armed forces for coming two years.
02:49After these two years, they will be given a chance.
02:51They will be, depending on their willingness,
02:54depending upon their qualification, their fitness,
02:57and all the other evaluations that are desired,
03:00they can be absorbed in the regular army.
03:02But now, the question which you are asking, that what prompted?
03:05So, the question, there were recommendations from the armed forces.
03:09They needed added forces,
03:11and that 25% of Agni Veers that would have been retained
03:14would not suffice for the operational preparedness.
03:19That was a big recommendation that had come from all the three forces,
03:23that we need more forces.
03:24So, this recommendation has worked in the favor of the armed forces,
03:29and also for the Agni Veers who want to be a part of the army.
03:32They are getting another chance now to serve the armed forces,
03:36all the three services now.
03:38And certainly, there are reviews that will keep on happening.
03:42That's what the CDS also said while he announced this particular scheme.
03:46He said that we will be reviewing this scheme,
03:48and further changes can be expected,
03:50depending upon the need to keep the armed forces operationally ready.
03:55So, now, the big announcement that has come is that four years of service,
04:00plus two years for those 75% who were to retire,
04:05starting from this year of November, December,
04:09and thereafter, all the three services.
04:11And now, right now, there are three lakh Agni Veers
04:14who are still serving in all the three services, Anjali.
04:17So, they will be given another two years to serve the armed forces,
04:20and later, they can choose if they want to be in the armed forces,
04:24or they do not want to be.
04:26And if they are capable, they will be absorbed.
04:28All right, Shivani, do stay with us.
04:30Let's also listen in to what the CDS said
04:32while announcing this two-year extension in the Agni Veers key.
04:40In terms of merit, the 25% of Agni Veers will be enrolled in regular forces.
04:48Now, before it was said that 75% of Agni Veers will be able to exit in society
04:55as disciplined and motivated youth.
04:58But now, the focus of this scheme,
05:00the remaining 75% of Agni Veers will be offered in a two-year-old engagement period.
05:12When they will finish this two-year-old engagement period,
05:17all the willing Agni Veers will be enrolled in armed forces in the armed forces.
05:23Subject to Objective Selection Criteria.
05:35All right, so that was the announcement that was made by the CDS
05:39in which a two-year extension has been announced in the Agni Veers scheme,
05:43which was earlier for four years.
05:45Now, there's a two-year extension.
05:47Now, the timing is very significant.
05:48The timing of this announcement comes just ahead of the first batch,
05:53which was completing, about to complete its four years in December this year.
05:56And just ahead of that, now this announcement of the two-year extension has been made.
06:01Now, it is also important to note that this extension is completely optional.
06:05The Agni Veers can choose to continue for two more years or they can opt out also.
06:10Let's also listen into what else the CDS said while making this big announcement.
06:16In this case, the 25% of the Agni Veers will be enrolled in regular soldiers.
06:34In this case, the 75% of the Agni Veers will be enrolled in a second engagement period for two
06:45years.
