Reservation for Agniveers: In a latest development, the Union Home Ministry has announced 10% reservation for ex-firefighters in vacancies in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). This comes a week after the government took a similar initiative for jobs for them in the Border Security Force (BSF).
Besides this, the ministry also announced relaxation in the upper age limit on the basis of Agniveers from the initial batch or subsequent batches. The announcement was made through a notification after amending the rules made under the Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968, (50 of 1968). “10 per cent vacancies shall be reserved for ex-employees,” the notification said.
As per the notification, the upper age limit will be relaxable up to five years for the candidates of the first batch of Ex-Agniveers and up to three years for the candidates of other batches. It further said that ex-servicemen will also be exempted from physical efficiency test.
About Agneepath Scheme
On June 14 last year, the Center launched the ambitious Agneepath scheme to recruit youth in the Army, Navy and Air Force in the age group of 17 to 21½ years, largely on short-term contract basis for four years. Those recruited under the scheme will be known as Agniveer.
After completion of four years tenure, 25 per cent recruits from each batch will be offered regular service. At that time, the Ministry of Home Affairs had announced that 10 per cent of the vacancies in the central paramilitary forces and the Assam Rifles would be reserved for 75 per cent Agniveers.
Read also: Agneepath Yojana: First batch of Agniveers join Indian Army from Jammu and Kashmir
AGE RELAXATION FOR EX-AGNIVERS
It had also announced that the upper age limit was relaxed by up to five years for the first batch of pre-augmentors and up to three years for subsequent batches. Also, Ex-fire veterans will be exempted from Physical Efficiency Test. The age limit specified for recruitment in paramilitary forces is 18-23 years.
Those joining the armed forces even at the upper age limit of 21 years under the Agneepath scheme can be recruited by the CISF till the age of 30 years after four years of service in the Army or Air Force or Navy in the case of the first batch. and up to 28 years for subsequent batches.
(With inputs from PTI)