The central government on Thursday introduced a 10 per cent reservation for ex-Agniveers in vacancies within the Border Security Force (BSF) as well as relaxed upper age-limit norms depending on whether they are part of the first batch or subsequent batches.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made the announcement through a notification issued on Thursday in exercise of the powers conferred by clauses (b) and (c) of sub- section (2) of section 141 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968 (47 of 1968).
Using the powers, the Central Government declared to make the rules further to amend the BSF, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2015, namely Border Security Force, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) (Amendment) Recruitment Rules, 2023.
Amending the Border Security Force, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2015 with effect from March 9, the Central government announced that against the part relating to the post of Constable, notes shall be inserted relaxing the upper age limit for ex-Agniveers by up to five years for candidates belonging to the maiden batch of ex-Agniveers and up to three years in case of all other batches of ex-Agniveers.
Another note that was made part of the Border Security Force, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) (Amendment) Recruitment Rules, 2023. It provides for exemption of ex-Agniveers from taking the physical proficiency test.
“Ten per cent of the vacancies shall be reserved for ex-Agniveers,” pointed another amendment to the rules.
The MHA, mindful of criticism of the Agniveer scheme, that provides for absorption of only 25 per cent of the Agniveers in the defence forces upon completion of their four-year stint, even as the remaining 75 per cent are demobilised, had announced soon after that 10 per cent vacancies in Central para-military forces and Assam Rifles shall be reserved for demobilised Agniveers.
The upper age limit was also relaxed for the first batch of ex-Agniveers by up to five years and for the subsequent batches for three years. In addition, ex-Agniveers would be exempted from the physical proficiency test.
The specified age limit for recruitment to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) is 18-23 years. So, any person who is enrolled as Agniveer at 17-22 years, can be recruited into CAPFs till attaining 26 years of age.
For ones who join the armed forces as part of the first batch of Agniveers at 23 years, the maximum age for enrollment, the enhanced five-year upper age limit relaxation will still leave them a year after completion of the four-year stint, to seek recruitment into the CAPFs and Assam Rifles.
The MHA’s decision for absorption of Agniveers into CAPFs is significant in that it incentivises the choice of youths for a short career in the armed forces, by offering them a long-term, follow-up career in the Central para-military forces and Assam Rifles. It also benefits the CAPFs and Assam Rifles in equal measure by helping them fill up the more than 73,000 vacancies they currently have between them.
AGNIPATH SCHEME
The government in 2022 announced the implementation of the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces. This scheme is just for recruiting soldiers and not officers in the forces.
The soldiers recruited under this Agnipath scheme will be known as Agniveers. All these Agniveers will join the Army for four years. The review will be done after four years of service. After the review, only 25 per cent Agniveers will be able to serve further in the army and the remaining 75 per cent will be retired.
Protests broke out in several parts of the country in view of the military recruitment scheme. However, in a recent order, the Delhi high court dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the Agnipath scheme. The court said that the scheme was made in the national interest and to ensure that the armed forces are better equipped.
Recently, the Indian Army changed the recruitment process of Agnipath scheme and from now on, screening in the common entrance examination (CEE) will be the first step. Earlier, candidates under the scheme had to first undergo a physical fitness test, followed by medical tests and the online CEE.
