Indian Army is preparing to induct women as Agniveers, a new category of soldiers who will serve the country for a period of four years. According to a New Indian Express report, sources said that a proposal to get women inducted as jawans into the Army is in advanced stages and will be implemented soon.
The report further said that the induction of women Agniveers will start with the Services, which include branches like the Army Medical Corps, the Army Service Corps, the Army Ordnance Corps, etc. After that, the induction will take place in the Combat Support Arms, which include branches like the Corps of Engineers, the Corps of Signals, the Intelligence Corps, etc.
The report also said that women Agniveers will be inducted into those arms and services where female officers are already serving. This means that women will not be eligible for combat roles or special forces like the Parachute Regiment.
The Indian Army has already inducted women into the Corps of Military Police at the soldier’s level. The first batch of 83 women military police personnel completed their training and joined duty in May 2021.
The Agniveer scheme was launched by the government in June 2022 to recruit patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years. The scheme aims to enhance the youthful profile and battle readiness of the Armed Forces, as well as to impart military skills and experience to the youth who can contribute to nation building after their stint.
The Agniveers are given an attractive monthly package along with risk and hardship allowances. They are also given a one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package of approximately Rs 11.71 lakhs on completion of their engagement period. They are also provided with non-contributory life insurance cover of Rs 48 lakhs and a certificate of skills gained during their service.
The Agniveer scheme is open to both men and women who have passed 10th, 12th or ITI exams. The selection process involves a written exam, physical fitness test and medical examination with a training period of nine months.
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