Govt Announces 10% Reservation In CISF For ‘Ex -Agniveers’

The Union home ministry on Monday notified a 10 per cent vacancy reservation for former ‘Agniveers’ in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) following a similar job initiative for them in the BSF. 

The ministry also approved relaxation in the upper age limit depending on being a part of the first batch or subsequent batches of Agniveers.

The announcement came in amending the rules under the Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968, (50 of 1968). "Ten per cent of the jobs will be reserved for ex-Agniveers," the statement added.

According to the ministry, the upper age limit will be relaxed up to five years for candidates of the first batch of former Agniveers and up to three years for candidates of other batches.

The Ex-Agniveers will also be exempted from the physical efficiency test, the ministry added.

The ambitious Agnipath scheme for the recruitment of youths in the army, the navy and the air force were unveiled by the centre on 14 June 2022. The youth aged between 17 and a half and 21 are eligible for the scheme on a four-year short-term contractual basis. And the recruited youths under the scheme will be known as ‘Agniveers’.

Following the completion of the four-year tenure, 25 per cent of the recruits from each batch will be offered regular service.

Earlier the home ministry had announced 10 per cent vacancies in central paramilitary forces and Assam Rifles to be reserved for demobilised 75 per cent Agniveers. It has even relaxed the upper age limit for the first batch of ex-Agniveers by up to five years and for the subsequent batches for three years. In addition to the exemption of the physical proficiency test.

The specified age limit for recruitment to paramilitary forces is 18 to 23 years.

Youth joining the armed forces at the upper age limit of 21 years under the Agnipath scheme can be recruited by the CISF till the age of 30, after four years of service in the army or the air force or the navy in case of the first batch and till 28 years for the subsequent batches.

A similar change is to be implemented in the case of the Border Security Force (BSF).

The home ministry's decision to absorb Agniveers into paramilitary forces is significant as it helps the former Agniveers to get employment opportunities till retirement age.

Meanwhile, this will also help the paramilitary forces and benefit them to get a trained pool of personnel to fill up over 84,800 vacancies.