The 10-lakh-strong CAPF is one of the home ministry’s largest job-creating agencies. The government announced Agnipath, a “transformative” system for recruiting soldiers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
New Delhi: With demonstrations over the new military recruitment plan spreading to eight states, the government declared a 10% reservation for ‘Agnives’ in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles today. The Ministry of Home Affairs recently announced a three-year age relaxation for Agniveers for recruitment into the two paramilitary forces above the authorized upper age limit.
According to the company, the initial batch of Agniveer would receive a five-year age waiver beyond the prescribed upper age limit.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers.
— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) June 18, 2022
The announcement comes only days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that ‘Agniveers’ would be given preference in CAPFs. The Centre has already announced a “one-time” increase in the new military recruitment scheme’s age limit to 23 from 21. The decision was made since there had been no recruitment in the previous two years.
Over 73,000 positions are currently available in the paramilitary forces’ five wings: the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Shastra Seema Bal (SSB), and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
According to data from the Union Home Ministry, there are 73,219 open positions in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. In addition, 18,124 positions in police forces in Union Territories are unfilled.
The 10-lakh-strong CAPF is one of the home ministry’s largest job-creating agencies.
Protests over the government’s new short-term military recruitment scheme, Agnipath, have extended to eight states, despite pledges from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Army chief.
A police officer was killed in Telangana after a mob set fire to trains and damaged property, causing a security panic. There has also been violence in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh. During the protests in Bihar, the house of Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi was attacked.
Protesters are dissatisfied with the new recruitment scheme’s adjustments, particularly the duration of service and the lack of pension benefits for those discharged early.
On Tuesday, the government announced Agnipath, a “transformative” system for recruiting soldiers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. On the other hand, Congress believes that the system is “controversial, has many hazards, and undermines long-standing traditions” and that it may be a “penny smart and security foolish.”
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