The three services chiefs on Friday came out in defence of the Agnipath scheme, arguing that it presented an opportunity to youths to serve the nation and would equip them with skills for subsequent employment amid violent protests from defence aspirants across the country demanding scrapping of the scheme.

Sources said the tri-services chiefs were asked by the top leadership to allay the protesters’ fears.

Officials in the defence ministry said that when the Agnipath scheme — also called Tour of Duty — was mooted in early 2020, it was decided to launch it as an experimental/ pilot project. “It was decided that 1,000 soldiers would be recruited initially on a trial basis. As per the initial proposal, the plan was to induct officers as well under the scheme on a trial basis,” a ministry official said.

Army chief General Manoj Pande on Friday said youths had perhaps not fully understood the contents and implications of Agnipath and that this had led to apprehensions about the scheme.

“Once they understand the contents, they will realise it is good for them and the armed forces,” he said.

Navy chief Admiral Hari Kumar said the introduction of the Agnipath scheme was long overdue and that it had been done to ensure a younger age profile in the armed forces.

Air Force chief V.R. Chaudhari said the air force would be the first service to recruit young men under Agnipath and would kick off selection under the new recruitment model on June 24.

The defence ministry had on Thursday night announced the one-time waiver of raising the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 for recruitment under the new scheme, given that the process was stalled for more than two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The armed forces are expected to recruit 46,000 Agniveers this year.

Many veterans have slammed the government for the “ill-thought-out” scheme under which soldiers will be recruited to the army, air force and the navy on short-term contracts, the aim being to cut the ballooning salary and pension bills.

Amid the raging debate on why the government had not consulted the stakeholders before launching the scheme, much like the farm law fiasco, Major General Yash Mor (retd) said the new scheme should be put on hold.

“Unfortunately no test bedding or trial, no feedback from the environment. We can start the entire process held up since Covid pandemic, with age relaxation for those who had been part of the process. Put a hold on the scheme, good for everyone,” he said in a tweet.

Colonel N.S. Malhan (retd) tweeted: “Saving money in a foolhardy way is not an economic reform. Agniveer scheme is neither an economic reform nor a military reform.”

Another veteran said: “If the scheme is so brilliant, as claimed by the government, then why has the government not announced it for officers too?”

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi trained his guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called the new scheme a “reckless decision”.

“Sir @PMOIndia Please Stop hiding behind military chiefs Mr Modi. Have the guts to take ownership of your reckless decision and face the consequences. The anger of the youth of the country about their future is directed at you and only you,” he tweeted.