India, May 13 -- The Agniveer scheme addresses both age and financial issues, but the Agniveer tenure needs to increase.
For over 30 years, the need to reduce the soldiers' average age has been repeatedly highlighted. In 1976, for manpower requirement needs of a post-1962 expanding Army, colour (minimum) service (seven years till 1965), was increased from 10 to (pensionable) 15 years and all post-1981 retirees started earning a Rs 95 monthly pension.
However, the adverse effects of having "older soldiers" soon needed a new personnel policy. In 1985, a Vice Chief Lt Gen Balaram-headed expert committee observed that terms of engagement were the "least cost-effective among many options that could be considered". Realisation that loss of yout...