Clear Entry, Exit Norms, Hiked Retention Ratio
June 19, 2022
Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col DPK Pillay’s piece ‘Clear entry, exit norms, hiked retention ratio: How can Agnipath be made more attractive?’ has been published in the Times of India, on 19 June 2022.
Much of the criticism of Agnipath is coming from those who are not considering armed forces’ past experience. Till 1977 soldiers were enlisted only for 7 years, which was then changed to 17 years. So, all major wars fought by the army were won by soldiers on 7-year terms of duty. What has also surprised many is that why a recruitment scheme for armed forces, which employs less than 0.5% of the government workforce has led to such widespread protests. That is because armed forces are a reservation-free, merit-based workforce, with lifetime pension and medical cover, says Col Pillay.
