First Batch Of Naval Agniveers Completes Specialist Diver Training At Elite Diving School In Kochi

The first batch of naval Agniveer recruits has completed an eight-month training course for specialist divers at Indian Navy's elite school, INS Venduruthy in Kochi, Kerala.

These Agniveers, also known as qualified clearance divers after the completion of their training, will be able to locate and carry out explosive ordnance disposal underwater.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, from this batch, 10 were recruited through the Agnipath scheme in March 2023. They trained alongside regular Indian Navy personnel, who were also part of the batch.

Only 30 to 40 per cent of the recruits who volunteer for this school pass the test and qualify as clearance divers.

This comes after various political parties, including the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government allies, are asking for changes in the scheme. However, the government is sticking to its guns and is in no mood to scrap the scheme.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just a week ago (on 26 July), speaking at the 25th anniversary of the victory of the Indian Army against Pakistan at Kargil, defended the scheme stating that "the scheme is here to stay".

When the scheme was introduced in 2022, there were massive protests in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana.

Under the Agniveer scheme, aspirants from the age group of 17.5 to 21 years are recruited. They are trained for nine months, after which they are sent to their assigned regiments for a four-year term. After the completion of four years, 75 per cent of the Agniveers recruited are let go with a lump sum package of close to 12.5 lakh.

The remaining 25 per cent are inducted for further service.

However, even though the government is sticking to its guns, some changes in the scheme are on the anvil.

This includes increasing the upper age limit of recruitment from 21 years to 23 years and increasing the number of Agniveers retained after the expiration of their four-year term from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.

Also Read: Here Are The Five Changes The Army Wants In Agnipath