Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi expressed strong support for the Agniveer scheme as he oversaw the passing out parade of the fourth batch of Agniveers at INS Chilka, Odisha. The ceremony on Friday marked the successful completion of 16 weeks of initial naval training for the new recruits.
Admiral Tripathi highlighted the progress of the scheme, stating that over 2,500 Agniveers have now completed their training across the first three batches. The fourth batch alone included nearly 1,429 Agniveers, with approximately 300 women among them.
Reflecting on the scheme’s development since his tenure as Chief of Personnel in 2022, Admiral Tripathi said, “I see great hope in them—they are highly motivated, enthusiastic, and fully integrated into the Indian Navy.” He praised their performance and expressed confidence in their potential contributions to the Navy.
The Agnipath scheme, introduced by the government in June 2022, aims to modernize the Armed Forces with a youthful profile. Agniveers, who serve under this scheme, undergo rigorous training at INS Chilka, which covers academic instruction, naval service aspects, and outdoor training based on values of duty, honor, and courage.
The scheme provides Agniveers with a four-year tenure in the Armed Forces, after which about 25% will be retained as regular staff for a minimum of 15 years. Those not retained will receive a Seva Nidhi Package of ₹11.71 lakhs, exempt from Income Tax, and assistance with further employment opportunities. However, there will be no pension benefits.
The passing out parade not only celebrated the achievements of the Agniveers but also symbolized their readiness to contribute to the Indian Navy’s mission of being Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future Ready.
Sources By Agencies
