Agnipath: 'Degrades Military's Combat Effectiveness; Agniveers are Barely Trained, just sentries’

Agnipath scheme will degrade combat effectiveness; Agniveers are "barely trained" and only fit "for sentry duties"; military is not a laboratory for social engineering and reform: former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash

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In forceful and outspoken criticism of the Agnipath scheme as it exists today, one of India’s most distinguished former Navy Chiefs and a former Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, has said that it will “degrade combat effectiveness” and that Agniveers are “barely trained” and only fit “for sentry duties”. Speaking specifically about the navy, Admiral Arun Prakash says “it must be recognized that at least 5-6 years are required before a new entrant can acquire hands-on experience to be entrusted with the operation or maintenance of lethal weapon systems and complex machinery and electronics.” This means that the 6 months training an Agniveer gets is woefully inadequate and, anyway, after 4 years he ceases to be in service. Therefore, as far as the navy is concerned, an Agniveer is probably never adequately trained.



In a 25-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Admiral Prakash very forcefully argued that the military “is not a laboratory for social engineering or reform”. He also said the Agnipath scheme should have been brought in on a trial basis and not enforced on all three services at one go. He also believes that the time when the scheme was introduced was not “the best time to cast the armed forced – already short of manpower – into turmoil with a radical and untried new recruitment system”.



Speaking specifically about Agniveer Ajay Kumar and the controversy over whether his family has received ex-gratia payment from the army following his death, Admiral Arun Prakash said that the 98 lakhs insurance money they have got is not the same as ex-gratia. He said he could not understand why even after 6 months the ex-gratia has not been paid. In the case of a regular jawan it’s paid within a few weeks. Admiral Prakash said this delay is most “unfortunate”.



Admiral Arun Prakash pointed out that there are significant differences between Agniveers and regular jawans and these are not just to do with length of training and length of service but also with the facilities they can avail of and the fact that Agniveers do not have a rank and carry a badge on their shoulders identifying them as Agniveers. Admiral Prakash said this will have a significant detrimental impact on the fraternity and bonding i.e. esprit de corps of the armed forces.



Admiral Prakash’s forceful critique of the Agnipath scheme raises the critical question how come recently retired or serving service Chiefs accepted this scheme as it stands and, in many cases, went on to forcefully defend it. Those are questions that these gentlemen must now answer.



I do not know of any other former service Chief and former Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee who has so forcefully critiqued the Agnipath scheme, pointing out the significant differences between Agniveers and regular jawans, the detrimental impact on bonding and fraternity between Agniveers and regular jawans as well as between Agniveers themselves and the detrimental impact on combat effectiveness. As far as I know, no other retired Chief has addressed this issue so comprehensively and so unequivocally. I, therefore, strongly recommend this interview.



I have only given you the main points made by Admiral Prakash. There’s an awful lot in the interview that you must see for yourself.

[Codetutor-DemystifyCoding]

Please replace NSG commandos with Agniveers for VIP security.
Then only these politicians will realise the blunder they have committed

[sudhirchada]

Had the opportunity to meet Admiral Arun Prakash years ago in the Andaman Islands. At that time Vice Admiral and I mentioned to him that he would one day make Admiral. A gentleman and a distinguished officer!
Excellent opinion and views on the Agnipath scheme - hope the govt takes heed.

[sasanthosh]

Great interview! I am an ex Navy person served during Adm Arun Prakash tenure. I have undergone 3.5 years of Technical training and .5 year of OJT, before being allowed to initially clean, place chocks, bring tools, housekeeping, etc on the anti submarine aircrafts and helicopters. I had to appear an exam to get a 'qualification to maintain' (QM) to do certain maintenance activities, such as before flight and after flight servicing, then another exam for Qualification to Sign'(QS) to sign of the service documents of these complicated machines! Before each promotion, I had to appear before an examination board, write exams and interviews to qualify. I was always apprehensive about agniveers in Navy and Air force especially, how a new recruit with barely 6 months training can handle these scenarios.! Thanks to Adm AP in articulating these concerns even before the scheme was in pipeline.

[NitinMathur]

I believe Agniveers will be used as Private Militias (maybe within RSS) after their 4-year tenure. Remember that quote "Army takes months, RSS can prepare a force within 3 days". Clearly there is a bigger plan in works.

[Dei_Kei]

Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash is one who will call a spade a spade and not fear Govt. action like so many others we have seen ! I was surprised to see some officials fear their own Govt of the day, perhaps for loss of pension or falling out of Guv. good books ! How would such people be able to protect the borders of our glorious Nation, if they cannot stand upto & confront their own Govt. on a critically important issue which involves their own Department [The Armed Forces], esp. when it could debilitate curb & cripple its power & strengths ?

[arunaravind]

Spoken like a true Indian. We are with you Admiral.

[harinderahluwalia]

Frank, forthright and straight answers from an officer who served the flag. Thank you Admiral sir for serving the country.

[rajeshsingh-pmgm]

Sir, salute to you for speaking for men behind the machine. Ur words are crystal like that of a military officer. Most of officers do not speak boldly and even joined political parties.

[MP_mp]

Agniveer should replace NSG for VIP security

[dhairysheelghatge]

The Modi government has been reckless in handling the security of the nation. It has no money to pay the pension of the ex servicemen but is happy to write off the bad loans of the corporates and reduce the rate of corporate tax.

[snehalathaebenezer]

Thankyou, Admiral Arun Prakash for your frank and forthright opinion. It is indeed a great service to the youth of this nation.
Thankyou, Mr. Thapar for this bold and timely interview. It is the need of the hour.

[the_foxbat]

That's how an Admiral speaks sharp straight and hard hitting. We have bloody very good men is just politics who lets us down.

[jjayasheela]

Totally agree with Admiral. It is indeed mind boggling why this hasty decision

[abhijitchatterji]

Nothing this government does is very well thought out. The track record proves it.

[AftabKhan-lguc]

Thanks Karan brought such an intelligent and distinguished military person on interview.

[percymaloo]

Wow what an interview . Imagine an admiral saying this.

[sarojsidhu]

Defence minister should be from Army not a civilian, who knows nothing about defence.

[SumoTheUltimateTraveller]

Every single point was rightly presented by the Admiral.

[col.waltervonschonkopf]

If an Agniveer doesn't have a rank, is he even a real soldier?

[blackfrost]

Not filling up lakhs of vacancies in the govt sector for a decade, finance minister not able to give report on gst, selling off all public sector infrastructure and establishments, petrol diesel, cooking gas price soaring unabated etc and then comes agnipath, the country's fiscal health must be in shambles and Modi's govt trying its best to cover up.