NEW DELHI, July 11: In line with the union government’s earlier decision, several central armed forces, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), and Railway Protection Force have announced reserving 10 per cent of constable posts for former Agniveer soldiers.
The ex-Agniveers will also receive exemptions in physical tests and age relaxations in recruitment for the constable posts in these agencies, officials said.
The government had introduced the “Agnipath” recruitment schemes for jobs in defence forces in June 2022 under which the armed forces are to recruit between 17-and-a-half and 21-year-old youths as soldiers for four years after which they retain 25 per cent of the new recruits for full service and retire the remaining 75 per cent but with handsome benefits.
Several Opposition parties, including the Congress, have attacked the scheme, questioning what will happen to the 75 per cent of Agniveers who are not retained after their four-year tenure.
The CISF Director General Nina Singh said on Thursday that the CISF was also preparing for this recruitment process. She announced that 10 per cent of jobs would be reserved for ex-Agniveers in all future constable appointments.
Ex-Agniveers will receive exemptions in physical tests and age relaxations. In the first year, the age relaxation will be five years, and in subsequent years, it will be three years. “Ex-Agniveer will be able to take advantage of this and the CISF will ensure that. This will be beneficial for the CISF too as the force will get trained and disciplined personnel,” Singh said.
The BSF Director General Nitin Agrawal also said 10 per cent of total vacancies would be reserved for Agniveers. There will also be age relaxations, with the first batch receiving five years of age relaxation and subsequent batches receiving three years.
Manoj Yadava, the director general of the RPF, announced that all future constable recruitment in the RPF would have a 10 per cent reservation for ex-Agniveers. He expressed enthusiasm about welcoming ex-Agniveers and said their inclusion would provide new strength, energy, and a morale boost to the force.
(Manas Dasgupta)
