1st Agniveer dies in line of duty, former officers slam policy denying pension

Agniveer Gawate Akshay Laxman, a soldier under the Agnipath scheme, died in Siachen Glacier due to medical complications. He is the first casualty since the recruitment scheme began. Unlike regular soldiers, Laxman’s family will not receive family pension or ex-servicemen benefits. However, they will receive non-contributory insurance, ex-gratia, Seva Nidhi contribution, pay for the balance tenure, and a contribution from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund.