Following strong protests, the government announced that a 10% reservation will be introduced in the Indian Coast Guard, defence civilian posts, and all 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh agreed to a proposal on Saturday to reserve 10% of Ministry of Defense employment vacancies for qualified ‘Agniveers’ who would leave the Agnipath plan after completing the required four-year term with the Army, Navy, or Air Force.
- This reservation will be in addition to the current ex-servicemen reservation, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Modi administration launched the Agnipath initiative, under which about 45,000 to 50,000 troops will be recruited yearly for a period of four years only. Several veterans of the armed services have branded the scheme unfair and a political ruse in the name of creating employment.
The soldiers will be selected for only four years under this scheme. Only 25% of the total yearly recruits will be able to stay under permanent commission for another 15 years. Candidates between the ages of 17.5 and 21 will be allowed to apply, and selection will take place twice a year. The decision is intended to make the armed services leaner and lower the defence pension expense.
The chosen candidates will receive six months of training before being posted for 3.5 years. They will start with a 30,000 wage and other perks that will increase to 40,000 at the completion of the four services. At least 30% of their pay would be placed away in a savings scheme, and the government would provide an equivalent amount each month, plus interest.
At the completion of the four periods, each soldier would get a lump sum payment of Rs.11.71 lakh, which will be tax-free. In the case of re-selection, the four-year term will not be included in retirement benefits.
According to the Defence Ministry, a 10% reservation would be enforced in the Indian Coast Guard, defence civilian positions, and all 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings. This reservation would be in relation to the current ex-servicemen reservation.
Many ministries and states have considered giving Agniveers jobs when they retire after four years. The statement came after Singh met with key defence officials to review the finer points of the Agnipath project and its execution.
The statement came after Rajnath Singh met with the military chiefs today in Delhi, including Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari.
Previously, the home ministry announced a 10% job quota for ‘Agniveers’ in the Central paramilitary forces and the Assam Rifles, as well as a three-year relaxation in the maximum age limit. “The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to reserve 10% of CAPF and Assam Rifle posts for Agniveers,” the Home Ministry stated in a tweet. “The MHA also decided to grant Agniveers a three-year age relaxation above the statutory upper age limit for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles.”
“To implement these regulations, necessary changes to relevant recruitment rules will be made.” Defence Public Sector Undertakings are encouraged to make comparable changes to their recruiting policies. Age relaxation provisions will also be established as needed,” it stated.
According to government sources, any changes to the plan are doubtful, and the focus in the current circumstances will be to begin the recruiting process as soon as possible, given the public outcry about the lack of recruitments in the previous two years.
The government stated earlier this week, when introducing the Agnipath initiative, that recruiting rallies will begin in 90 days.
These modifications are in response to the Opposition’s and demonstrators’ call to repeal the Agnipath plan. In other states, the aggression became violent, with some demonstrators torching public and private property and attacking BJP office buildings, while police committed to fire to quiet the rallies.
