Amidst the raging debate over the Agnipath scheme, the Union Home Ministry (MHA) has announced that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will implement a 10 per cent reservation for former Agniveers. The Chiefs of central forces such as BSF, CRPF, CISF, and SSB have affirmed their commitment to recruiting ex-Agniveers, ensuring age relaxation and exemption from the Physical Efficiency Test.
CISF Director General Nina Singh, BSF Chief Nitin Agrawal, CRPF DG Anish Dayal, DG Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Daljit Singh Chaudhary, and Manoj Yadava, DG RPF, on Thursday, said 10 per cent of constable posts would be reserved in their respective forces for former Agniveers.
“Union Home Ministry has taken a big step in recruiting Agniveers in Central Armed Police Forces. In this regard, CISF has also made all arrangements. 10% of the constable’s vacancies will be reserved for ex-agniveers. Additionally, they will be given relaxation in the Physical Efficiency Test,” said Nina Singh, DG, CISF.
DG CISF mentioned that ex-Agniveers would receive exemptions and age relaxations during physical tests. “In the first year, the age relaxation is for five years, and in the subsequent year, the age relaxation will be three years,” Singh explained. She also assured that the CISF would ensure ex-Agniveers could take advantage of this.
Director General Anish Dayal of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) confirmed that they have made all the necessary preparations to induct ex-Agniveers into the CRPF. He mentioned that the recruitment rules have been amended to provide a five-year age relaxation for the first batch of Agniveers. Additionally, they will receive a 10% reservation and be exempted from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET).
“In the future, all recruitment for the constable post in the Railway Protection Force will have a 10% reservation for ex-agencies. RPF is very excited to welcome former Agniveers. It will give new strength and energy and boost the morale of the force,” RPF Director-General Manoj Yadava announced today.
Similarly, the BSF has also announced that it is getting ready to implement the promised quota. “We are getting ready, soldiers; nothing can be better than that. All forces will benefit from it. Ex-Agniveers will get a 10% reservation in the recruitment,” BSF Director General Nitin Agrawal said.
“They got four years of experience. They are fully disciplined and trained personnel. This is very good for the BSF as we are getting trained soldiers. After a short training, they will be deployed along the border,” added Agarwal.
Sashastra Seema Bal DG Daljit Singh Chaudhary said the SSB has amended the recruitment rules accordingly. “The first batch will be given a five-year age relaxation,” he said.
In June 2022, the government introduced the ambitious Agnipath scheme to recruit young people aged between 17 and a half and 21 into the armed forces for a four-year term. After completing the four-year tenure, 25% of the recruits from each batch will be offered regular service, while 75% will return to civilian life.
The new scheme led to extensive protests throughout the country. At that time, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that 10 per cent of vacancies in central paramilitary forces and Assam Rifles would be reserved for 75 per cent of Agniveers. The MHA also stated that the upper age limit for the first batch of ex-Agniveers was extended by up to five years and for subsequent batches by three years. Additionally, the ex-Agniveers would be exempted from the physical proficiency test.
The age limit for recruitment to paramilitary forces is 18-23. Under the Agnipath scheme, individuals who join the armed forces can be recruited by the CISF until the age of 30 after four years of service in the army, the Air Force, or the Navy for the first batch and until 28 years for subsequent batches.
Team BharatShakti
