Agnipath Scheme Protests Live: Schools closed, exams postponed amid calls for Bharat Bandh

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday slammed the Centre over 'Agnipath' claiming the scheme was introduced in a haste and that the opposition to the BJP "from all sides" showed the saffron party had lost its base, PTI reported.

Defence job aspirants are protesting against Agnipath scheme demanding a roll back. They have been campaigning on Twitter with hashtag saying "Agnipath Yojana Wapas Lo" in Hindi. 

मोदी सरकार की दमनकारी नीतियों और अलोकतांत्रिक तरीके से विपक्ष की आवाज को दबाने के किये जा रहे प्रयास के विरोध में आज जंतर मंतर,नई दिल्ली पर @INCIndia के विरोध प्रदर्शन में।@DeependerSHooda#अग्निपथ_योजना_वापस_लो pic.twitter.com/4da5Jybpxv

— Choudhary Israil (@IsrailHathin) June 20, 2022

देश की युवाओं की बर्बादी के Roadmap वाली अग्निपथ योजना के खिलाफ दिल्ली में रेलवे ट्रैक पर लेटे युवा कांग्रेस के कार्यकर्ता,

शांतिपूर्ण तरीके से ट्रैन रोककर युवाओं के समर्थन में की आवाज़ बुलंद । pic.twitter.com/PSAYedjEll

— Srinivas BV (@srinivasiyc) June 20, 2022

Armed forces aspirants blocked roads today and demanded roll back of the Agnipath scheme. The security has been stepped up.

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has announced that it will institute a special programme in consultation with the defence authorities to enable those Agniveers who have cleared the Class 10 exam to obtain the Class 12 pass certificate by developing customised courses.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will not postpone the dates of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2022 amid the ongoing Agnipath protest. According to NTA official, the exam conducting agency is closely monitoring the situation and has no plan to postpone the JEE Main 2022.

The Centre unveiled Agnipath scheme for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force on a short-term contractual basis to cut the ballooning salary and pension bills and enable a youthful profile of the armed forces. Under the 'Agnipath' scheme, Indian youth will be provided an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as 'Agniveer'.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) will launch a special three-year skill based bachelor's degree programme foragniveers...Read More

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles for Agniveers.

The government has increased the upper-age limit to 23 years from 21 years for recruitment of Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme for the year 2022...Read More

In view of Bharat Bandh observed in parts of the country, the Delhi Police on Monday tightened security across the city and its bordering areas, PTI reported. 

Around 300 Congress workers got arrested in front of park hotel near Jantar mantar as they were protesting against Agnipath Scheme, a Congress person said. 

While 539 trains were affected, 529 trains were cancelled, including 181 mail/express trains and 348 passengers trains, the Railways said in a statement.

Schools in Jharkhand remained shut on Monday in view of the bandh called over the Agnipath recruitment scheme. The ongoing examinations of classes 9 and 11 have also been postponed.