Centre Reserves 10% Vacancies for Ex-Agniveers in CISF, BSF & RPF

Amidst the ongoing debate over the Agniveers and the Agnipath scheme, the Ministry of Home Affairs has reserved 10% of constable vacancies in Central Armed Forces for ex-Agniveers. This reservation extends to the CISF, Border Security Forces, and Railway Protection Forces.

In addition to the reservation, the Centre will provide ex-Agniveers with relaxation in the Physical Efficiency Test and age limit. The CISF has prepared for this initiative, which was announced on March 10 last year by the PM Modi-led government and implemented today.

For the first batch of ex-Agniveers, the upper-age limit relaxation is five years, followed by three years for subsequent batches. This ensures that ex-Agniveers can avail of this benefit promptly. CISF Director General Nina Singh emphasized the importance of this move for the CISF, as it will enhance operational quality with disciplined and trained manpower.

DG Singh also highlighted that this initiative allows ex-Agniveers to continue serving the country under the CISF. The Agnipath scheme, launched on June 14, 2022, recruits youth aged 17.5 to 21 for four years, with 25% retained for an additional 15 years in the Indian Armed Forces. Later that year, the upper age limit was extended to 23 years.

In a recent parliamentary session, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the Agnipath scheme, accusing the Centre of treating Agniveers as "use-and-throw laborers." Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refuted these claims, stating that an Agniveer who sacrifices their life in the line of duty receives Rs 1 crore in compensation.
Rahul Gandhi subsequently claimed that Agniveer Ajay Kumar's family had not received any compensation from the government. The Indian Army responded on July 3, affirming that Kumar's family would receive Rs 1.65 crore in financial assistance and that Rs 98.39 lakh had already been paid.