India has found itself embroiled in heated discussions over two major issues that have far-reaching implications for the nation’s youth and the integrity of its institutions. The unfolding National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) scam and the not-too-long-ago unveiled Agnipath scheme, a radical overhaul of the military recruitment process, have sparked widespread protests, debates, and soul-searching across the country.
The NEET scam
The NEET scam has exposed deep-seated issues in the examination process, including allegations of cheating, impersonation, question paper leaks at some exam centres, awarding of grace marks and unusual scoring patterns. It undermines the principles of merit and fairness and also raises serious concerns about the competence of future medical professionals. It has sparked widespread concern among students, parents, and educators alike.
There are reports of question paper leaks at some centres, where students were charged around Rs 5 lakh. At one centre, two proxy students were caught from the NEET exam centre. The involvement of academic professionals and the large sums of money involved raises serious concerns about the possibility of systemic cheating and corruption in the exams.
Notably, an unusually high number of students, 67 got full marks and eight of them were from the same centre. These alarming news forced parents and educators to question if there was a coordinated cheating effort or a breach in the NEET 2024 exam process.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) had awarded grace marks to around 1,563 candidates who had complained of loss of time due to lapses at the examination centre, including delayed distribution of the question paper. This decision was based on the normalisation formula prescribed by the Supreme Court in 2018, resulting in several students receiving unusually high scores, including 44 who received perfect scores, which is improbable, raising doubts about the integrity of the exam process and the fairness of the competition.
Meanwhile, taking a U-turn in this matter and creating further confusion, the Union government today (June 13) has told the Supreme Court that it will cancel the controversial grace marks awarded to 1,563 students and they will be given the option to appear for a re-test. As per the latest development, those students (out of 1,563) who do not wish to sit for re-tests will have their original scores – without the grace marks – considered.
The Agnipath conundrum
The Agnipath scheme, introduced by the Indian government in June 2022, has been a topic of significant debate and controversy. The scheme aims to revamp the recruitment strategy for the Indian armed forces by introducing a four-year tenure for new recruits, with only 25% of them eligible for permanent enlistment.
One of the primary goals of the Agnipath scheme is to reduce the pension burden on the Indian government. Currently, India spends a significant portion of its defence budget on military pensions, which is estimated to be around 50% of the total defence expenditure. However, the problem is that although the wage of an Agniveer is currently around Rs 5,000 per month more than regular personnel, they are there only for four years and are ineligible for service pensions.
Another significant issue with the Agnipath scheme is the limited training and experience that Agniveers will receive. A four-year tenure might not be enough to adequately train soldiers for complex military operations. A well-trained and experienced military is critical for national security.
The Indian military considers its rank and file soldiers to be fully trained after two or three years (some even consider it to be as high as five-six years in the case of Navy and Air Force), which means that Agniveers will only be operationally useful to the military for half of their service, if not less. This raises concerns about the quality of training and the potential for Agniveers to be assigned to marginal tasks due to their relative lack of experience compared to regular personnel.
The Agnipath scheme also raises concerns about the operational efficiency of the Indian military. By aiming to lower the average age of the military’s rank and file members from 32 years to 27 or 28 years, it could lead to a shortage of experienced personnel, which could impact the military’s operational capabilities.
The Agnipath scheme also raises concerns about the job prospects of the 75% of Agniveers who will be compulsorily retired after their four-year service. The government has said it will reserve some public sector and central policing jobs for Agniveers, but this will be insufficient to cover all those currently being recruited, let alone the higher numbers expected to be phased out in the future. Shutting the doors on permanent jobs in the armed forces will frustrate the youth and this scheme is a stopgap measure that fails to provide long-term security.
In response to the concerns surrounding the Agnipath scheme, the Indian Army has made several recommendations to improve the scheme. These include increasing the percentage of Agniveers to 60-70%, the service period to seven or eight years and providing ex-gratia for disability during training. It remains to be seen if these are implemented, in which case it will provide some relief.
Beyond Agnipath and NEET: Addressing India’s larger youth crisis
While the controversies surrounding the NEET same and the Agnipath scheme have gripped national attention, they represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the multifaceted challenges facing India’s youth.
Unemployment rate in India was 8.1% in April 2024. Even those who have scaled the academic summits, such as graduates from the elite Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), are grappling with dwindling employment prospects.
Moreover, even institutions like the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), once beacons of hope for aspiring scientists and engineers, have failed to generate sufficient employment avenues to absorb the burgeoning pool of talented youth. This stark reality underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s youth development strategies.
The onus now falls squarely on the shoulders of India’s leaders to carve out a clear and inclusive path for the nation’s young populace. Mere lip service in the form of sporadic startup events and tokenistic initiatives will no longer suffice. What is required are sustainable, long-term programs that foster innovation, nurture entrepreneurship, and provide tangible opportunities for the youth to thrive.
Failure to address this critical issue risks squandering the much-vaunted “demographic dividend” — the potential economic boost derived from a large, productive workforce. Without concerted efforts to empower and uplift the youth, this demographic advantage could rapidly transform into a ticking time bomb of unfulfilled aspirations and wasted potential.
The road ahead
The Agnipath scheme and the NEET scam have triggered a national conversation about the challenges and aspirations of India’s youth. In general, addressing the concerns surrounding job security, training, and fair competition is crucial. By creating a more inclusive and transparent system, we can empower our youth to pursue their dreams while safeguarding India’s future.
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To address the issues in the Agnipath scheme, the government and the military need to work together to ensure that the scheme is implemented in a way that balances the need for financial savings with the need for operational efficiency and the well-being of the Agniveers.
Stringent measures are needed to eliminate cheating in competitive exams. Strengthening invigilation processes, using technology for more robust exam delivery, and stricter penalties for malpractice are essential steps. The NTA must take immediate action to address these concerns and ensure the integrity of the examination process. The government must also provide transparency and clarity on the issue to restore confidence among students and parents.
It is imperative that the government, private sector, and civil society collectively recognise the urgency and collaborate to develop comprehensive strategies to fix issues concerning the youth in today’s India. These should encompass a multitude of aspects, including revamping education systems to align with industry demands, promoting skill development and vocational training, incentivising job creation across diverse sectors, and fostering an ecosystem conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation.
Only through a holistic and sustained approach can India truly unlock the immense potential of its youth and harness their energy, creativity, and ambition to propel the nation towards a prosperous and self-reliant future. The time to act is now, lest the dreams and aspirations of an entire generation be extinguished, leaving the nation’s progress and development in jeopardy.
Sushiila Ttiwari is the Managing Director of 7Qube, and D. Samarender Reddy is the Director of 7Qube.
