In season of protests, contentious Agnipath provision rolled back to send message to youth

NEW DELHI: In a season when the young have hogged political conversations, govt's move to roll back the contentious provision of Agnipath scheme by opening a pathway to permanent jobs addresses a core concern of millions of aspirants. For them, entry into the forces was a ticket to social mobility, and the provision allowing only 25% of Agniveers to be absorbed after four years was a source of resentment.

Coming ahead of a crucial round of assembly polls, including in UP, Uttarakhand and Punjab - key states for recruitment in the forces - the BJP-led NDA govt will hope the decision placates the youth. Though the govt had said at the scheme's rollout in 2022 that it was open to reviewing it, especially percentage of Agniveers to be absorbed permanently, it took its time to make amendments despite opposition attacks. It unveiled them amid its rivals' campaign over SIR and efforts to bring Gen Z into their ranks.

The move fits BJP's strategy of not appearing to cede ground to rivals but changing course to address concerns of its audience when the opposition seems to have moved on. Govt similarly decided to conduct a caste census in 2025, a demand raised by the opposition ahead of 2024 LS elections, as it became clear that a large section of OBCs, whom BJP has courted and successfully, were sympathetic to the idea.

The development has now triggered speculation in political circles over whether govt will also rethink the contentious anti-discrimination UGC guidelines, which upset general castes as they were perceived to project them as likely oppressors and others as likely victims on campuses. The guidelines issued have been stayed by SC. Govt has since maintained silence on its stand, saying only that it supports justice and fairness on campuses.

It is tricky terrain for BJP. It will not want to antagonise its core general-caste constituents further, but cannot afford to let down the backward classes, much larger in number and crucial to its fortunes in UP. A vocal section of general castes, especially youths, continues to criticise BJP on social media for allegedly cultivating OBCs, SCs and STs while ignoring the sentiments of its original flag-bearers.