Has Agnipath Scheme for recruitment of soldiers (Agniveers) been relaunched? Fact Check with Video

Posted by: Arun Nag June 17, 2024

A poster is being shared on social media with a claim that the Agnipath scheme is being relaunched by the NDA government as Sainik Saman Scheme.

 

The context is that the Opposition INDIA bloc has vehemently opposed the scheme and promised to scrap the Agnipath scheme implemented in September 2022 for the recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into the three services of the defence forces for a four-year period. Personnel recruited under this system would be called Agniveers. The message has been shared here and here.

Following appeals within the NDA for a review of the Agnipath (Agniveer) scheme, the message received a wider attention on social media.

FACT-CHECK

When searched on official sources, no report or release has been found. Had it been announced, it would have made the headlines throughout the day with opinions across all parties being sought. Further search for official PIB statement revealed that the government’s PIB on Sunday dismissed reports that the Agnipath Scheme has been relaunched, terming the social media message fake. “A #fake WhatsApp message claims that the Agnipath Scheme has been re-launched as ‘Sainik Saman Scheme’ after review with several changes including duty period being extended to 7 years, 60 per cent permanent staff & increased income… GOI has taken no such decision,” the Press Information Bureau clarified on its X handle.

Further, the fake message has several spelling mistakes, making it questionable as a government statement. Hence, the claim is false.

Claim: Agnipath scheme to recruit soldiers or Agniveers has been relaunched with modifications.
Conclusion: The claim is false. Government-owned PIB has denied the claim and termed it as fake.
Rating: Misleading —

About Arun Nag

Arun is with Digiteye India since the beginning as the main source for re-writing copies and re-checking the facts and images. He writes on general and tech issues. He can be reached at arunnag@digiteye.in