10% quota in CAPF, Assam Rifles; age waiver: Centre’s new promises for Agniveers

The Centre on Saturday announced a 10% reservation for Agniveers, youngsters who will be recruited to the military for four years through the Agnipath scheme, in the recruitment of CAPFs and Assam Rifles once they complete their four-year contract. The announcement comes amid the raging protest against the Agnipath scheme announced by the Centre on Tuesday. The Union home ministry has also decided to give three years of age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles, while the first batch of Agniveer will get a relaxation of 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit, the home ministry said.

The Centre earlier assured that the future of the Agniveers is not insecure though only 25% of the force will be retained after four years as the rest will get priority in other recruitments. Several BJP-ruled states including Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana have already announced that they will give priority to Agniveers in their state police recruitment.

Concerns have been raised over the future of the Agniveers as Centre’s Agnipath offers employment only for four years. Nationwide protests broke out leading to massive violence, arson, damage to railway properties, death of a protester in Telangana in police firing. With opposition parties vehemently criticising the short-term recruitment plan, the government came under pressure over the Agnipath scheme.

Union ministers and military service chiefs are pushing for the scheme asserting that the scheme is a well-thought-out one and beneficial for those who want to join the defence, attributing the widespread protest largely to misunderstanding.

The government on Thursday modified the Agnipath scheme and provided an age waiver of extra two years for the first batch of Agniveers which means instead of 21, youth between 17.5 and 23 years will be allowed to apply for the Agnipath scheme this year.