IndiaPosted at: Nov 6 2026 8:23PM


Congress demands scrapping of Agnipath, says two-year extension exposes scheme’s flaws

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) The Congress on Friday renewed its demand for the complete withdrawal of the Agnipath military recruitment scheme and restoration of regular recruitment into the armed forces, claiming that the Narendra Modi government’s reported decision to extend the service tenure of Agniveers by two years amounted to an admission that the policy had failed to deliver on its objectives.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters, chairman of the party’s Ex-Servicemen Department Colonel Rohit Chaudhary, accompanied by Uttarakhand department chairman Colonel Ram Ratan Negi, western Uttar Pradesh vice-chairman Colonel Sidhir Kumar and Chandigarh department chairman Lieutenant Colonel Navjot Singh Thind, said the reported extension was an attempt to address the scheme’s shortcomings without correcting its fundamental flaws.
Chaudhary alleged that the government had been compelled to reconsider the arrangement following sustained opposition by the Congress under the leadership of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and concerns over the political implications of the issue ahead of Assembly elections.
“By extending the service tenure of Agniveers by two years, the Modi government has effectively acknowledged that introducing the Agnipath scheme was a wrong decision,” he said, attributing the reported move to pressure generated by the Congress’s campaign and the government’s apprehensions about electoral consequences.
The Congress has opposed the scheme since its introduction, demanding its withdrawal and the restoration of permanent recruitment in the armed forces. It had also launched its nationwide ‘Jai Jawan’ campaign to mobilise support against the policy.
Under the reported arrangement, 25 per cent of Agniveers completing their initial four-year tenure would be absorbed into regular service, while the remaining 75 per cent would be offered a two-year extension. Those meeting the prescribed selection criteria and willing to continue would subsequently be considered for regularisation, while the others would be discharged.
Questioning the rationale behind retaining only a quarter of the recruits in permanent service, Chaudhary referred to observations by the Chief of Defence Staff about the satisfactory performance of Agniveers and asked why all those who performed well could not be absorbed into the armed forces. The Congress demanded that Agniveers selected for regularisation receive the same salary, Military Service Pay, dearness allowance and other service benefits as regular soldiers, with effect from the date of their initial induction.
It also sought 90 days of annual leave for Agniveers, on a par with regular personnel, instead of the existing 30 days. The party further demanded the reinstatement of Agniveers discharged on medical grounds during their service, arguing that medical circumstances should not automatically deprive young recruits of the opportunity to continue serving the country.
On compensation and social security, Chaudhary insisted that families of Agniveers killed in the line of duty should receive the same recognition, compensation, benefits and lifelong pension as the families of regular soldiers. He also questioned the restriction on Agniveers marrying during their contractual service, describing it as an infringement of the fundamental rights of young people and demanding that the condition be withdrawn.
Seeking transparency over the financial rationale behind the scheme, the Congress leader asked the government to disclose the savings generated by paying Agniveers lower salaries and providing them fewer facilities than regular soldiers. “The government must place before the country a transparent account of where the money saved by denying Agniveers the benefits available to regular soldiers is being spent,” he said.
Arguing that the issue went beyond recruitment and employment, Chaudhary said the Agnipath scheme had implications for national security, the traditions of the armed forces and the future of young people aspiring to join the military. He also maintained that the service chiefs had not originally proposed the scheme themselves.
The Congress leaders alleged that the policy had aggravated manpower shortages in the armed forces, claiming that the Army’s strength had declined by approximately 2.25 lakh personnel since its introduction. They further claimed that nearly 1.5 lakh candidates who had completed the recruitment process were still awaiting appointment letters.
Chaudhary also expressed concern over reports of Agniveers taking their own lives, alleging that uncertainty over their future and the conditions of their service had added to the difficulties confronting young recruits. Pointing to India's extensive land borders and maritime security requirements, he argued that the country needed experienced, professionally trained soldiers with permanent careers rather than a recruitment model based on four-year contractual engagements.
Such an arrangement, he said, posed challenges for cadre management, continuity of training and long-term career progression in the armed forces.
Announcing the next phase of the party’s agitation, the Congress leaders said the nationwide ‘Jai Jawan Part-2’ campaign would be launched and continue until the Agnipath scheme was completely withdrawn and Agniveers were granted the status and benefits of regular soldiers.
They maintained that extending the tenure of a section of Agniveers could not be treated as a substitute for restoring the traditional recruitment system, reiterating their demand for a permanently staffed armed force with assured career progression, institutional experience and equal service rights.
UNI SKA RN
Tags: #Congress demands scrapping of Agnipath# says two-year extension exposes scheme’s flaws
More News

Congress calls ECI’s fresh SIR relaxation tacit admission of wrongful voter deletions, demands Gyanesh Kumar’s exit

06 Nov 2026 | 9:26 PM

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) The Congress on Friday accused the Election Commission of India of tacitly admitting that eligible voters had been wrongfully excluded during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the poll panel issuing yet another set of instructions to provide voters left out of the draft rolls in seven states and union Territories an opportunity to secure their inclusion in the final lists.

see more..

Make clean air, cracker-free Diwali a people’s movement; Repeated court orders may invite more violations: SC

06 Nov 2026 | 9:18 PM

Parmod Kumar

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday said efforts to ensure clean air during Diwali and other festivals must develop into a “people’s movement”, observing that pollution during such celebrations cannot be controlled merely through judicial orders and police enforcement.

see more..

Sirsa urges people to adhere to CAQM’s GRAP- lll curbs, amid likelihood of unfavorable weather & wind speed

06 Nov 2026 | 9:02 PM

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Friday said that Commission of Air Quality Management for Delhi- NCR has invoked the Graded Response Action Plan Stage- lll restrictions in wake of the rising AQI levels and the likelihood of further deterioration.
The minister urged everyone to cooperate amid the implementation of the measures aimed at preventing the rise in pollution.

see more..

Congress demands scrapping of Agnipath, says two-year extension exposes scheme’s flaws

06 Nov 2026 | 8:23 PM

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) The Congress on Friday renewed its demand for the complete withdrawal of the Agnipath military recruitment scheme and restoration of regular recruitment into the armed forces, claiming that the Narendra Modi government’s reported decision to extend the service tenure of Agniveers by two years amounted to an admission that the policy had failed to deliver on its objectives.

see more..

SC refuses to suspend Tarun Tejpal’s sentence in 2013 rape case

06 Nov 2026 | 8:10 PM

Parmod Kumar

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday refused to suspend the 10-year sentence awarded to former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 rape case, saying that no case for interim relief was made out on a prima facie examination of the prosecution evidence, emails and messages placed on record.

see more..