Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Agnipath scheme relaunched as Sainik saman scheme with multiple changes including the extension of service period from 4 to 7 years.
Fact
No such decision taken by the government so far. Viral document found to be fabricated.
Several social media users shared a document purportedly announcing the “relaunch” of Agnipath scheme for the recruitment to the Indian armed forces by the newly sworn-in Modi government. The document further claims that amid rampant demands of changes in the scheme, “Aganipath scheme change to Sainik saman scheme after reviews (sic)”
It further details the alleged changes in the scheme such as an extension in the service period from four to seven years, increase in training period from 24 to 42 weeks, pension to the families of the deceased among others.
The image of the document claiming to show modifications in the Agnipath scheme has been widely shared on X and Facebook. However, Newschecker found that the claim is untrue, and that no such decision has been taken by the centre so far.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
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The Agnipath scheme was rolled out in June 2022 for the recruitment of youth to the Indian Armed Forces. Under the same, the candidates, known as “Agniveers,” serve the army forces for a period of four years, and up to 25% of those are then selected to be enrolled as regular cadres. It had prompted multiple protests in the country, with military aspirants demanding the repeal of the Agnipath scheme.
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Agnipath ” and “Sainik Samman/Saman Scheme ” on Google did not yield any credible reports on any such “relaunching” of the scheme by the government.
We then scanned through the official social media handles of the Defence Ministry, which did not carry any such announcement either. The official website of the ministry too was devoid of any release/notification on the alleged changes in the Agnipath scheme.
On carefully analysing the viral document, we noticed that it neither carried an official letterhead, nor was it signed by any competent authority. Additionally, the text in the document had multiple grammatical and spelling errors. For instance, the name of the scheme “Agnipath” itself is misspelt as “ Aganipath.” The word “permanent” is misspelt as “parmanent,” while “pension” is spelled as “pantion.” “Guaranteed” is misspelt as “gurnted,” and “lakhs” as “lacks” confirming that the document was not authentic.
Furthermore, the government’s PIB Fact Check too termed the viral document as “fake.” In an X post, dated June 16, 2024, it stated, “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% permanent staff & increased income. GOI has taken no such decision”
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Fake Document Viral Amid Political Push
Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), a critical ally of the BJP in the recently sworn-in Modi 3.0, reportedly wants the government to review the Agnipath scheme. Party leader K.C. Tyagi said that his party had offered unconditional support to the BJP but wanted the shortcomings in the scheme to be discussed in detail.
“A section of voters has been upset over the Agniveer scheme. Our party wants those shortcomings which have been questioned by the public to be discussed in detail and removed,” Tyagi was quoted as saying by The Hindu. Though the JD(U) leader then clarified that his remarks were “exactly in sync with the line articulated on several occasions by Rajnath Singh that the scheme is going to be reviewed periodically to look for shortcomings and their removal.”
On JD(U)’s push for a review of armed forces recruitment, another BJP ally Chirag Paswan said “Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has said the platform is open for discussions. I believe that we must deliver how much we could deliver through Agniveer, because this is something related to the youth of our country. A review must be done But these things can be kept on hold for a while, government formation is happening and after that, we can sit and discuss these things.”
Furthermore, a recent article stated that armed forces are discussing “possible tweaks” in the Agnipath scheme. “This follows feedback from the three services — a survey was conducted recently — that flagged certain issues with the scheme…These changes, however, are not yet formal recommendations to the government. These are proposals that are still being discussed by the Armed Forces,” the Indian Express reported
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Conclusion
We could thus conclude that there is no official announcement on any such change to the Agnipath scheme by the government so far. The viral document, claiming that the Agnipath scheme relaunched as Sainik saman scheme, is fabricated.
Result: False
Sources
Official Website Of Ministry Of Defence
X Post By @PIBFactCheck, Dated June 16, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
