10% vacancies in CAPFs, Assam Rifles to be reserved for Agniveers: Home ministry

New Delhi: The ministry of home affairs (MHA) today announced to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles for Agniveers. The decision comes amid widespread protests against the recently unveiled Agnipath scheme for recruitment of soldiers in the armed forces on a short-term contractual basis.

The soldiers recruited under this scheme will be called Agniveers. "The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers," the Home Minister’s Office said in a tweet.

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The MHA also announced age relaxation for 'Agniveers' for recruitment in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles.

The Home Minister's Office also said, "The MHA also decides to give 3 years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs & Assam Rifles. Further, for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit."

The MHA also decides to give 3 years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs & Assam Rifles. Further, for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.

— गृहमंत्री कार्यालय, HMO India (@HMOIndia) June 18, 2022

Earlier the defence ministry announced that around 46,000 soldiers will be recruited this year between the ages of 17 and a half years and 21 years into the three services.

The government had also recently increased the upper-age limit to 23 years from 21 years for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme for the year 2022 amid widespread protests.