Centre asks states to keep tab on social media to curb rumours about Agnipath

Central agencies have asked all states to keep a tab on social media activities to curb rumours about the Agnipath scheme.

Central agencies have sounded alert to all states and Union Territories to be cautious about rumours regarding the new recruitment scheme--Agnipath. The agencies have also asked states to keep a tab on social media activities amid unrest.

The alert has been sounded to avert incidents where 'ill-elements' disrupt law and order by destroying public property. The states and UTs have been warned to keep additional forces ready to tackle any untoward incidents.

As protests against the Agnipath intensified, the Army, Navy and the Air Force announced that they will go ahead with the enrolment process and appealed to youth wanting to join the armed forces to start preparing for the induction.

Unveiling the scheme on Tuesday, the government said youths between the ages of 17 and-a-half and 21 years would be inducted for a four-year tenure while 25 per cent of them will be subsequently inducted for regular service. The youth to be recruited under the new scheme would be called 'Agniveer'.

The monthly salary of an 'Agniveer' in the first year of employment would be Rs 30,000 and the in-hand amount would be Rs 21,000 as Rs 9,000 would go to a corpus with an equal contribution from the government.

Subsequently, the monthly salary in the second, third and fourth year will be Rs 33,000, Rs 36,500 and Rs 40,000.

(With PTI inputs)