New Delhi: In a landmark move to expand employment opportunities for ex-Agniveers, the Union Home Ministry has raised the reservation for ex-Agniveers in Group C posts of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 10% to 50%. The provision will soon be extended to other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) as well.
The decision marks a significant shift from the ministry’s earlier stance, which had set the reservation for temporary armed forces recruits in CAPFs at 10%.
Key Provisions for BSF Recruitment
According to the Home Ministry notification issued on Friday, 50% of vacant constable posts in the BSF will now be reserved for ex-Agniveers. Importantly, these candidates will only need to appear for the written test, as they are exempted from both the Physical Standard Test (PST) and the Physical Efficiency Test (PET).
The notification, issued through an amendment in the BSF General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, specifies:
- 50% of vacancies reserved for ex-Agniveers each recruitment year.
- 10% of vacancies reserved for ex-servicemen.
- Up to 3% vacancies for absorption among Combatised Constables (Tradesmen).
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Age and Service Criteria Relaxed
The amended rules also relax the age and service criteria for recruitment and deputation:
- Age for absorption of Combatised Constables raised from 30 to 35 years.
- Minimum service period increased from three to five years.
- Upper age limit for deputation to other forces increased from 52 to 56 years.
A reliable source confirmed that similar amendments for Group C posts across all CAPFs will be introduced gradually in the coming days.
Background of the Agniveer Scheme
The Agnipath scheme, launched in 2022, had previously faced widespread protests. Initially, the Centre announced a 10% reservation in CAPFs for armed forces recruits who completed four years of service under the scheme. The first batch of ex-Agniveers will become eligible for recruitment in the CAPFs in 2026.
This policy change is seen as a major step to ensure that Agniveers have smoother career transitions after completing their service.
