Agnipath scheme: Education Ministry to launch special three-year skill based bachelor degree programme for 'Agniveers'

Tribune News Service

Vibha Sharma

New Delhi, June 15

In order to enhance future career prospects of Agniveers and equip them for various job roles in the civilian sector, the Education Ministry will launch a special, three-year skill based bachelor degree programme for serving defence personnel that will recognise the skill training received by them during their tenure in the defence establishments, the Education Ministry said.

Under the programme designed and to be executed by IGNOU, 50 per cent of credits required for a graduate degree will come from the skill training, both technical and non-technical, received by Agniveers, according to officials.

The remaining 50 per cent will come from a basket of courses covering a wide variety of subjects like languages, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Mathematics, Education, Commerce, Tourism, Vocational Studies, Agriculture and Jyotish, as also Ability Enhancement Courses on Environmental Studies and Communication Skills in English, they added.

This programme is aligned with UGC norms and with the National Credit Framework / National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) as mandated under the National Education Policy 2020.

It also has the provision for multiple exit points – Undergraduate Certificate on successful completion of the first year courses, Undergraduate Diploma on successful completion of the first and second year courses, and Degree on completion of all the courses in three year time frame.

The framework of the programme has been duly recognized by the concerned regulatory bodies — All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and UGC. Degree will be awarded by IGNOU as per UGC nomenclature —BA; B. Com; BA (vocational); BA (Tourism Management), and will be recognised both in India and abroad for employment and education.

Army, Navy and Air Force will sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with IGNOU for implementation of the scheme.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved an attractive recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces called Agnipath and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers.

Agnipath allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years.

The Agnipath scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces.

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