First Batch Of Agniveers Board INS Vikramaditya For Naval Defence Training. WATCH

INS Vikramaditya got its first batch of trainees under the Agnipath scheme of the central government on Tuesday. The men and women will undergo the same training required for a life at sea.

The first batch of Agniveers, including women candidates, boarded the INS Vikramaditya on Tuesday for their training on the vessel. Aboard the INS Vikramaditya, they will prepare mentally and physically for a life at sea.

INS Vikramaditya is an Indian Navy aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 2013. Originally built as the Soviet Navy's Admiral Gorshkov, the ship was extensively refurbished and modernized in Russia before being transferred to India in 2013. The carrier is the largest and most powerful vessel in the Indian Navy, and is capable of carrying a mix of MiG-29K and Kamov Ka-31 helicopters and anti-submarine warfare and reconnaissance aircraft.

Last week, the first batch of Agniveers under the Indian Navy passed out on March 28. A total of 2,585 Agniveers (first batch), including 272 women, passed out the portals of INS Chilka in Odisha in a first-of-its-kind ceremony. The passing-out parade was reviewed by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar.

Last year, Admiral Hari Kumar had said that women trainees would undergo the same rigor as men. He had said that of 3,000 total Agniveers, 341 were women and they would be deployed across all branches.

https://twitter.com/IN_Chilka/status/1641717364327866368

Training for the second batch of Agniveers in the Indian Army began on March 1 this year with 3,020 candidates. The first batch of Agniveers in the Indian Army began training on January 1. They would be imparted basic and advanced military training over 24-31 weeks.

The Agneepath scheme or Agnipath Yojana was launched on June 14 by the Central Government with an aim of encouraging the youth of India to participate and enlist in the armed forces. Through this government scheme, interested youths between the ages of 17.5 and 21 years can apply for recruitment under the Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Indian Navy. Selected candidates, would earn the title of Agniveer, and would work in the defence sector for four years.

As per the government, not more than 25 percent of the total strength of those recruited will be selected for the permanent cadre.

Candidates who retire after four years will not be eligible for pension but will be eligible for an amount of approximately Rs 11.71 lakh at the end of their respective tenures.