Case 54 · Policy misfire

Agnipath. Recruitment overhaul over youth objections

14 Jun 2022

Pushed through amid protests

1,523 days since Recorded outcome: Pushed through amid protests.

Human cost Est

Lakhs of aspirants affected; only ~25% of 'Agniveers' to be kept on after four years

Financial cost Est

Public property torched in nationwide protests; trains burned

What happened

A scheme that replaced permanent military recruitment with four-year 'Agniveer' contracts, most of whom leave with no pension.

Claim against record

What the government said

The government says Agnipath builds a younger force and gives youth skills and a stipend.

What the record shows

Pushed through amid protests

Announced with no real consultation and forced through despite violent protests, the core grievances of job security and veteran status were met with cosmetic tweaks, not a rethink or a pause to build consent.

What accountability should have looked like

Consult veterans and aspirants, pilot before a national rollout, and confront pension and post-service security head-on.

Ministers and office-holders responsible

Defence MinisterRajnath Singh

Naming who held the portfolio is a matter of public record. It is not by itself a finding of personal responsibility for any death or any rupee.

Sources

T1 primary record · T2 reporting · T3 partisan

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Cite or export this case

Citizens' Accountability Ledger, "Agnipath. Recruitment overhaul over youth objections" (14 Jun 2022), case-21. https://whoisresponsible.xyz/case/case-21/

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