Centre Reserves 10% Vacancies For Ex-Agniveers In CISF, BSF & RPF

The Centre will also provide the ex-Agniveers a relaxation in physical efficiency test and upper-age limit.

Amidst the ongoing row over Agniveers and Agnipath scheme, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday reserved 10 per cent vacancies for the posts of constables in Central Armed Forces for ex-Agniveers. Besides CISF, Border Security Forces and Railway Protection Forces have also announced 10 per cent reservation for the ex-Agniveers.

The Centre will also provide them with relaxation in Physical Efficiency Test and age limit.

The CISF has made all the arrangements for this move by the PM Modi-led government, which was announced last year on March 10, but has been implemented today.

The upper-age limit relaxation for the first batch is for five years, followed by three years in the forthcoming batches. This will enable the ex-Agniveers to avail this benefit on time, and the CISF will ensure about it, CISF Director General Nina Singh said.

DG Singh also said that the move is important for CISF as well as it will get a trained and discplined manpower, thereby improving the quality of the operations carried out by the armed forces.

The ex-Agniveers will also get a chance to serve the country under CISF, she added.

BSF Announces 10% Reservation For Ex-Agniveers

"We are getting ready soldiers, nothing can be better than that. All forces will benefit from it. Ex Agniveers will get 10% reservation in the recruitment," Border Security Forces Director General Nitin Agrawal said.

Agrawal further stated that since these soldiers have prior training and experience through their four-year jobs, the BSF will provide them with a short conversion training and appoint them to local capsules. They will then be posted on borders.

RPF Announces 10% Reservation For Ex-Agniveers

The Railway Protection Forces also confirmed the 10 per cent reservation for ex-Agniveers.

"In future, all recruitment for the constable post in Railway Protection Force will have a 10% reservation for Ex Agniveers. RPF is very excited to welcome Ex Agniveers. It will give new strength, energy and boost the morale of the force," Manoj Yadava, DG, RPF announced.

Taking another dig at the Centre over the ongoing Agniveer controversy, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, pointed out that Agniveer member Ajay Kumar's family is yet to receive any compensation from the Centre.

Kumar had died in Jammu & Kashmir's Naushera in Januar in a landmine explosion.

Gandhi stated that "there is a difference between compensation and insurance."

He further accused the PM Modi-led government of "discriminating" against the Agniveers, who sacrificed their lives for the country by not providing them with adequate support.