Agnipath Scheme: Centre Approves 10% Job Quota For Agniveers In Defence Posts Amid Nationwide Protests

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that there will be a 10 per cent quota in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles across the country for the Agniveers.

(File Photo/ PTI)

New Delhi: In a bid to quell the growing anger among the armed force aspirants, the government has decided to provide 10 percent quota in Defence Ministry jobs for Agniveers, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday, amid widespread protests since the launch of ‘Agnipath’ scheme. Taking to his Twitter handle, Singh wrote, “The 10% reservation will be implemented in the Indian Coast Guard and defence civilian posts, and all the 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings. This reservation would be in addition to existing reservation for ex-servicemen.”

“Necessary amendments to relevant recruitment rules will be undertaken to implement these provisions. Defence Public Sector Undertakings will be advised to make similar amendments to their respective recruitment rules. Necessary age relaxation provision will also be made,” Rajnath Singh further said.

Necessary amendments to relevant recruitment rules will be undertaken to implement these provisions.

Defence Public Sector Undertakings will be advised to make similar amendments to their respective recruitment rules. Necessary age relaxation provision will also be made.

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) June 18, 2022

Notably, earlier in the day, the Centre also offered further concessions to convince the protestors to call of the ongoing agitation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that there will be a 10 per cent quota in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles across the country for the Agniveers.

He also said that the Home Ministry has decided to “give 3 years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs & Assam Rifles.”

गृह मंत्रालय ने CAPFs और असम राइफल्स में होने वाली भर्तियों में अग्निपथ योजना के अंतर्गत 4 साल पूरा करने वाले अग्निवीरों के लिए 10% रिक्तियों को आरक्षित करने का महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय लिया है।

— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) June 18, 2022

As per reports, in line with the one-time upper age limit relaxation from 21 to 23 years, Shah further said, “for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.”

The announcements come in the wake of four days of violent protests across the country by armed force aspirants who are of the opinion that the new military recruitment plan envisions only a four-year service for the sailors, soldiers and airmen and that there would be no job security at the end of the tenure.

As per reports, currently, over 73,000 posts are vacant in five wings of the paramilitary forces - Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Shastra Seema Bal (SSB), and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Home Ministry data shows that a total of 73,219 posts are vacant in CAPFs and the Assam Rifles, and 18,124 posts are also vacant in police forces in Union Territories.