Agnipath scheme: Centre extends upper age limit from 21 yrs to 23 yrs amid protests
17 June, 2022 | Pravina Srivastava
Central government raised the maximum age restriction for the Agnipath recruiting plan from 21 to 23 years on Thursday, after widespread opposition to the initiative across the country
The central government raised the maximum age restriction for the Agnipath recruiting plan from 21 to 23 years on Thursday, after widespread opposition to the initiative across the country.
According to the Defence Ministry, the age waiver will be granted only “once” for the proposed recruitment cycle for 2022. The decision was made since there had been no recruiting in the previous two years.
Defence Ministry in a statement said, “Since the implementation of the Agnipath initiative, the entrance age for all new recruits in the Armed Forces has been set at 17.5 to 21 years old. Recognizing that the recruitment could not be completed in the previous two years, the government has decided to offer a one-time waiver for the scheduled recruitment cycle for 2022. As a result, the upper age restriction for the Agnipath scheme recruiting process for 2022 has been raised to 23 years.”
Some applicants for the armed services are dissatisfied with the new recruiting scheme’s adjustments, notably the duration of service, the lack of pension benefits for those released early, and the 17.5 to 21-year age restriction, which now makes many of them ineligible.
Youths protested by lying down on railway tracks and blocking roadways in numerous districts, demanding that the project be scrapped.
Huge crowds gathered in Bihar’s Chhapra, Jehanabad, Munger, and Nawada districts, demanding that the Agnipath project be withdrawn. A group of army aspirants demonstrated at Bhabua Road Railway Station, blocking the rails before torching a train.
People took to the streets in Palwal, Haryana, to protest the Agnipath scheme for recruiting adolescents into the defence forces. Following this, police officers stationed at the DC residence in Palwal used overhead fire to caution demonstrators who were throwing stones at the residence.
Several police vehicles were set on fire, several highway buses were damaged by stone-pelting, and National Highway 19 was closed. The police used tear gas shells to control the throng and fired into the air. During the protest, local authorities temporarily halted Internet and SMS services. It was later discontinued. Section 144 has been imposed in Palwal to keep the situation under control.
The Union Cabinet approved the Agnipath recruitment plan on Tuesday, which allows Indian youth to serve in the regular cadre of the Armed Forces for four years.