At the end of their four-year service in the army, ‘Agniveers’ will be integrated into the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
MHA also announced a three-year age relaxation for Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles above the upper age limit. Age relaxation will be for 5 years over the upper age limit for the initial batch of Agniveers.
The decision comes in the midst of nationwide protests over the Centre’s Agnipath Scheme.
On June 14, the Union Cabinet authorized Agnipath, a recruiting scheme for Indian youth to serve in the three Armed Forces services. Those who are picked under this scheme would be known as Agniveers.
Agnipath is a programme that permits patriotic and determined young people to serve in the Armed Forces for four years. The Agnipath Scheme was created to give the Armed Forces a more youthful look.
According to the Ministry’s latest announcement, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), which include the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG), and Special Protection Group (SPG), will have a maximum age limit of 26 years.
Meanwhile, the first batch of Agniveers will be granted a 5-year extension beyond the top age limit of 23, bringing their total age to 28.
