Page 21 - NIS English 16-31 July,2023

Cover Story
Young India

MODERN, SELF-RELIANT AND

TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED ARMY

The security of the nation is the priority of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Along with modernizing the army and armed forces, work is also being done to make them self-
reliant. India is manufacturing various types of weapons including tanks, aircraft carriers, submarines.
Exports were Rs 900 crore in 2014, which has now increased to Rs 20 thousand crore. Technologically
capable soldiers will play a vital role in the new frontiers of non-contact warfare and the challenges
of cyber warfare as the 21st century changes the way war is fought. The new Agnipath scheme will
strengthen the technologically advanced and young armed forces, also the entry of girls in the
National Defence Academy has been allowed.

ith the agreement between General Electric
Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Wfor the co-production of India's F-414 fighter
jet engine, India will become the fourth country to
manufacture jet engines. The government is taking
several steps to make the armed forces young and more
tech-savvy. Under the Agnipath scheme, technology-rich
youth are being recruited in all the three forces according
to the need of the hour. With the recruitment of Agniveers,
the average age of those serving in the armed forces will
come down from 32 years to 26 years in a few years. Women's participation in the army,
Agniveer Yojana will also empower women. admission allowed in Sainik schools
Agnipath: n In all Sainik Schools, admission of girls has been started

against 10% of the vacancies in class 6 from the session
Towards becoming a young
2021-22.
and dynamic armed force
n In November 2021, the admission of girls for NDA-2022
n
On June 14, 2022, the Agnipath scheme was launched. was started.
n Young men and women in the age group of 17 years 6 months to
n The number of women officers serving in the army is 10,
21 years are eligible.
493 of which 4734 are Army Nursing Service officers.
n Shift towards a more tech savvy army.
n On the basis of merit, up to 25% Agniveer will be included in the n The Indian Air Force has commissioned 15 women fighter
regular cadre. pilots by 28 March 2022.
n Agniveers who are not able to advance in service will get a n
degree and tax free service fund package of about Rs 12 lakh after In the Navy, 28 women officers have been deployed on
ships.
completing 4 years of service.
n Non-contributory insurance of Rs 48 lakh will be available during n The provision for recruitment of women to other ranks
the tenure. in the Military Police Corps in the Indian Army was
n introduced in 2019.
In the Navy's first batch of Agniveers, 273 women Agniveers were
inducted.
New India Samachar July 16-31, 2023 19