‘Agnipath’ scheme: MHA reserves 10 per cent vacancies for ‘Agniveers’ in CAPFs and Assam Rifles
New Delhi, June 18
Amid raging violent protests across the country over Centre’s “Agnipath” scheme for recruitment in the armed forces, Union Minister for Home Amit Shah on Saturday said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to reserve 10 per cent vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles for “Agniveers”.
In a series of tweets this morning, Shah said, “The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers.”
The Minister further said that the ministry also “decides to give 3 years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in the CAPFs and the Assam Rifles”. He went on to add: “Further, for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.”
The prescribed age limit for recruiting constables in CAPFs is between 18 years and 23 years.
A senior CAPF officer said the decision would somewhat ensure that youngsters get ‘permanent job’. The age relaxation of 3 years’ would also help more and more ‘Agniveers’ to come to CAPFs after finishing their four years’ service in the armed forces, the officer said.
The CAPFs and Assam Rifles, both under the administrative control of the MHA, have over one lakh vacancies, and the decision will also help fill these vacancies at a fast pace every year, he added.
The Home Minister announced the decision on reserving vacancies days after he made an announcement that ‘Agniveers’ would be given priority for jobs in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles.
Terming the ‘Agnipath’ scheme as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary decision, Shah had said that the new recruitment scheme for the armed forces would provide youngsters with a bright future.
While stating that the youngsters trained under ‘Agnipath’ would contribute more to the service and security of the nation, Shah had updated that detailed planning was under way to recruit Agniveers into the CAPFs and the Assam Rifles.
