DECIDING HOW TODAY WILL BE VIEWED IN HISTORY
Background Defence ministers, do address the press. But the one on 14th of June 2022 will remain indelibly etched in history of modern India. The RM, flanked by his service chiefs unveiled the new recruitment policy for ‘Personnel Below Officer Rank’ (PBOR) of the Indian defence forces. They named it ‘Agnipath’ (the path of fire) and called those to be recruited under this scheme ‘Agni Veer’ (fiery warriors). It is claimed to be the boldest and most transformative intervention the Indian defence forces has ever had in its lifetime. Officially, it is claimed that the scheme would achieve “ National Integration providing equal opportunity ” and nation building nation “ through empowered disciplined youth with military ethos in civil society ”. For the Army it is supposed to “ improve battle preparedness through transformative evolution ”, select the best “ with rigorous and transparent selection process ”, achieve “youthful profile through optimal b...