Ex-Agniveers to get 10% quota, age relaxations: CISF, BSF, CRPF chiefs

NEW DELHI: The chiefs of CISF, BSF and CRPF on Thursday said 10 per cent posts of soldiers will be reserved in their respective forces for former Agniveers in line with a decision by the Union home ministry. The remarks by CISF director General Nina Singh, her BSF counterpart Nitin Agrawal and CRPF director General Anish Dayal Singh came amid fresh spotlight on the Agnipath recruitment scheme for short-term induction of personnel in the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

"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. The chief of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) said 10 per cent jobs will be reserved for ex-Agniveers in all future appointments of constables. 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 five years and in the subsequent year, the age relaxation will be three years," she told DD News. "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.

In June 2022, the government rolled out the Agnipath recruitment scheme with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services. The Agnipath scheme provides for recruiting youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years and 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 percent of them for 15 more years. Several opposition parties including the Congress have been targeting the government over the scheme wondering what will happen to 75 percent of the Agniveers after their four-year tenure ends as only 25 per cent of the total recruits will be retained for 15 years. Various central government agencies and departments have already announced plans to recruit former Agniveers. "They got four years of experience. They are fully disciplined and trained personnel. This is very good for the BSF as we are getting trained soldiers. After short training, they will be deployed along the border," said Border Security Force director general Agrawal.

10% quota for ex-Agniveers

He said all the security forces will be benefitted by recruiting former Agniveers. "We are waiting for them to be deployed after giving conversion training, they will be deployed. 10 percent of the total vacancies will be reserved for them," he said. "There will be age relaxation for them as well. The first batch will get five years of age relaxation and the subsequent batches will get three years of age relaxation," he told DD News. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Singh said all arrangements have been made in his force to recruit former Agniveers. "The recruitment rules have been accordingly amended. A reservation of 10 percent has been made for ex-Agniveers. They will also get relaxation in age. The first batch will get five years of relaxation while it will be three years afterwards," he said.

No physical efficiency test for the former Agniveers

Singh too said that there will be no physical efficiency test for the former Agniveers. "This is a welcome step for the force to recruit ex-Agniveers as they are Army trained and have already served in the three services. They will bring dedication and discipline from day one," he said. Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Daljit Singh Chaudhary said a quota has been fixed for ex-Agniveers in his force. "We have amended the recruitment rules accordingly. The first batch will be given an age relaxation of five years. And, there will be no physical efficiency test for them," he said. A defence ministry official said that no physical test would be required for recruitment of the former Agniveers into the paramilitary forces as such tests have already been done by the Army. They just will need a physical fitness certificate, he said.