Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant Praises Agnipath Scheme as a Step Forward for Indian Armed Forces

Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has praised the Centre’s Agnipath scheme, stating that it is a step forward for the Indian armed forces and will help in creating a dedicated youth force for the country. The Centre introduced the Agnipath scheme in 2022 for the short-term induction of personnel in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with the aim of reducing the age profile of the three services.

The scheme allows for the recruitment of Agniveers between the ages of 17-and-a-half years and 21 years for a four-year period, with the option to retain 25 percent of them for an additional 15 years. In a message posted on his social media handle on Friday evening, Sawant stated, “The Agnipath scheme is a progressive step for our armed forces and will create dedicated, motivated youth for a bright future of Bharat.

” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address on Kargil Vijay Diwas marking the 25th anniversary of the victory in the Kargil war, described the Agnipath scheme as an example of necessary reforms undertaken by the Army and accused the opposition of politicizing the recruitment process, which is aimed at maintaining a young average age in the armed forces. Modi also dismissed claims that the Agnipath scheme was launched to save pension money and urged people not to play politics over this sensitive issue related to national security.