 "10% quota, age relief: The special provisions for ex-Agniveers in CISF, BSF, SSB")
Amid the controversy of compensation to the families of Agniveers who have died while in service, the heads of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have announced that they have set aside posts and made exemption rules for former Agniveers, in line with the Home Ministry’s directive.
On Thursday (July 12), the Home Ministry reiterated a 10 per cent reservation for vacancies within Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for ex-Agniveers.
The announcement by the heads of the different CAPFs comes amid the row over the Agnipath recruitment scheme, with the Opposition — and even some BJP allies — attacking it, questioning what will happen to the 75 per cent of Agniveers who are not retained after their four-year tenure.
Exemptions, quotas for Agniveers
On Thursday, the chiefs of several central forces announced that they had made preparations to accommodate ex-Agniveers into their fold, stating that the forces would benefit by getting trained and disciplined manpower.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Director General Nina Singh said on Thursday: “The Union Home Ministry has taken an important decision regarding the recruitment of ex-Agniveers. Accordingly, the CISF is also preparing the process of the recruitment of ex-Agniveer.”
Singh said that the CISF will reserve 10 per cent of jobs for ex-Agniveers in all future constable appointments. She further added, “In physical tests also, they will be given exemption along with the relaxation on the age. In the first year, the age relaxation is for five years and in the subsequent year, the age relaxation will be three years.”
“Ex-Agniveers 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.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsBorder Security Force (BSF) Director General Nitin Agrawal also stated that the BSF will reserve 10 per cent of jobs for former Agniveers, and this is “very good” for them. “We are getting ready soldiers, nothing can be better than that. All forces will benefit from it. Ex Agniveers will get 10 per cent reservation in the recruitment.”
The chiefs of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Railway Police Force (RPF) also made similar announcements of quotas for ex-Agniveers, saying the move will “give new strength, energy and boost the morale of the force”.
The SSB also announced that the first batch of Agniveers inducted into the force will be given five years’ age relaxation. They will not be required to undergo any physical efficiency test.
Government’s directive
Thursday’s announcement by CAPF chiefs is in line with what the Modi Sarkar had promised in December last year. Then Minister of State Nityanand Rai had said that the government was creating a new category of Ex-Agniveer in the recruitment to the post of constable in Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles (CAPFs and AR) with provisions.
“The provisions created in recruiting ex-Agniveer to the post of Constable (General Duty)/ Rifleman include reservation of 10 per cent of vacancies for them and three years relaxation in the prescribed upper age limit,” MoS Home Nityanand Rai had said. He had also announced that they would be exempted from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET).
Row over Agnipath scheme
The Agnipath scheme , which rolled out in June 2022 and provides recruitment between the age groups of 17.5 and 21 years for four years, has become a flashpoint between the opposition and the Centre recently.
In the recently-concluded Parliament session, the opposition came down heavily against the government over the recruitment scheme, with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accusing the Centre of considering the Agniveers as “use-and-throw labourers.”
Responding to the accusations, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said that the Congress shouldn’t mislead the country and that an Agniveer who lays down his life in the line of duty gets a compensation of Rs 1 crore.
The Indian Army later rebuffed Rahul’s claim, saying the next of kin has already been paid Rs 98.39 lakh out of the amount due. “Ex-gratia and other benefits amounting to approximately 67 lakh, as applicable according to the provisions of the Agniveer Scheme, will be paid on Final Account Settlement shortly post due Police verification,” it added as per The Print.
Earlier, when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerged victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, cracks emerged in the coalition when the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United (JD{U}) and Chirag Paswan asked for a review of the Agnipath scheme.
The Agnipath scheme since its induction has seen fierce opposition, even leading to massive protests in some states such as Punjab , Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Rajasthan.
Critics argue that the scheme creates a “lesser” cadre of soldiers, who work on the same tasks as those with full commission, but with lesser pay, benefits, and prospects, reports Indian Express. Even veterans of the Armed Forces have raised concerns about the scheme — one of them being Major General GD Bakshi (retired). He had then tweeted: “Was flabbergasted by the Agniveer scheme. I thought initially it was a trial being done on a pilot basis. This is an across the board change to convert Indian armed forces to a short-tenure quasi-conscript force Like the Chinese. For God’s sake PLEASE DONT do it.”
Lieutenant General Raj Kadyan (retired), former Vice Chief of the Army Staff, had also been quoted by The Frontline as saying: “I only hope and pray there is no war. If there’s [going to be a] war, you don’t expect a man who is already looking beyond four years to be committed to the extent that he can lay down his life.”
With inputs from agencies
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