Indian Army to Increase Agniveer Recruitment Amid 1.8 Lakh Soldier Deficit
The Indian Army is planning to substantially increase its recruitment of Agniveers to approximately 100,000 per year, addressing a significant personnel shortfall of nearly 180,000 soldiers, according to a report by The Indian Express. This marks a significant rise from the current intake of 45,000 to 50,000 annually.
The shortage primarily arises from the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, during which soldier recruitment was suspended, while 60,000 to 65,000 personnel continued to retire each year. This gap persisted even after the introduction of the Agnipath recruitment scheme in June 2022.
The Agnipath scheme initially advertised 46,000 vacancies for Agniveers across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with 40,000 positions earmarked for the Army. The plan was to gradually increase the number of Agniveers in the Army to 175,000 over four years, with similar expansions in the Navy and Air Force.
Despite the resumption of recruitment in 2022, the rate of retirements remained unchanged, resulting in a yearly net loss of 20,000 to 25,000 soldiers. With the first group of Agniveers set to complete their four-year term by late 2026, additional retirements are anticipated, potentially exacerbating the shortage unless recruitment numbers are boosted.
Sources indicate that the Army plans to announce around 100,000 Agniveer vacancies annually beginning this year. This figure aligns with the training capacities of regimental centers to ensure that quality and training standards are upheld.
In a statement to The Indian Express, the Army confirmed its goal of recruiting 175,000 Agniveers by the end of 2025, emphasizing that future recruitment will be tailored to meet force demands and address existing shortfalls.
With both pre-Agnipath regular soldiers and Agniveers approaching retirement in the coming years, the increased recruitment is deemed crucial for restoring operational capacity and maintaining troop levels.
This initiative represents one of the largest recruitment adjustments since the Agnipath scheme's inception and underscores the Army's commitment to maintaining operational readiness and organizational stability amid evolving manpower challenges.
