Agnipath Scheme Protests Live: Students fear exam cancellation; Army notifies recruitment

More protests were witnessed in parts of Haryana on Monday against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme with district administration ordering closure of all private institutes which give coaching to youths for various recruitment exams in Mahendragarh and Jhajjar districts, PTI reported.

Several organisations such as Desh Ki Baat Foundation, Chatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Aam Aadmi Party youth wing participated in the "peaceful" protest against Agnipath scheme at Jantar Mantar. 

More than 600 trains were cancelled today due to the Agnipath protest. About 602 trains were cancelled, which included 223 mail and express trains and 379 passengers trains, the Railways said in a statement.

Assam Police detained leaders of the CPI(M) party and other Left-wing organisations like SFI and DYFI across the state to thwart protests against the Agnipath scheme, claims the Assam unit of CPIM. 

There was a huge deployment of police force across Bihar state amidst the Bharat bandh against Agnipath recruitment scheme. No untoward incident took place during the bandh. 

There was a huge deployment of police force across Bihar state amidst the Bharat bandh against Agnipath recruitment scheme. No untoward incident took place during the bandh. 

Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra, RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka and Biocon Ltd chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw supported the Agnipath recruitment scheme saying that the scheme has huge potential for employment in the corporate sector.

For agniveer recruitment under the Agnipath yojana, male candidates should have a height of around 157 cm. 157 cm in feet is 5 ft. 15".  

Late Gen Bipin Rawat had earlier in 2020 proposed to raise the retirement age in the armed forces. The Congress cited this statement and raised the question that whether the Agnipath scheme for agniveer recruitment was not an insult to the approach of India's first CDS. According to Ajay Maken, Congress general secretary, Rawat had advocated raising the retirement age of soldiers to 58 years. 

Agnipath Protests In India: Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a farmers' collective will hold a nationwide protest against the Agnipath scheme on June 24, said farmer leader Rakesh Tikait.

Schools remain closed across Jharkhand on Monday due to the Agneepath protests demanding the rollback of the Agnipath recruitment scheme for recruiting soldiers to the Indian armed forces. Over 5000 security personnel were deployed in the state.  School closed in Jharkhand amid Agnipath protest

The Congress today held a "Satyagraha" against the Agnipath scheme saying that the government has "betrayed" the youth with the new Agnipath recruitment scheme.  

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) welcomed the decision of the centre to increase the maximum age limit in the Agnipath scheme to 23 years for recruiting agniveer into the Indian armed forces in view of the strategical necessity and the disruption caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic period. The Agneepath notification mentioned the maximum age for applying as 23 years. Aspirants can check the website -- joinindianarmy.nic.in for the Agnipath notification. 

Agnipath Scheme: Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the youth should not fall for the misinformation campaign on the Agneepath recruitment scheme announced for recruitment into the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.

Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) has extended its support to youth organizations across India against the Agneepath scheme, and the call for Bharat Bandh given by the youth against the scheme. In a statement, the KYS  condemns the government's Agnipath yojana.

As per a PTI report,  the Agnipath scheme protest reached Jammu city on Monday. Political parties such as the Congress and the AAP are demanding the revocation of the Agnipath recruitment scheme. Police have detained many members for blocking highways, officials said.

Army has today issued Agniveer recruitment notificiation. Aspirants can check Agneepath scheme pdf including selection process, vacancies on official website -- joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Indian Army will start registration for recruitment of Agniveer from July. Exact Agniveer scheme form date will be released soon at joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Army has issued recruitment notification today. Aspirants can check Agniveer salary structure on Indian Army's official website -- joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Aspirants and opposition party members are protesting on road as well as on social media against the Agnipath scheme. 

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संघर्ष बहुत भीषण होगा।

आज भंडारा जिला युवा कॉन्ग्रेस के कार्यकर्ताओं के साथ विश्रामगृह से मोर्चा निकालकर जिलाधिकारी कार्यकाल के समीप गिरफ़्तारी दी।#अग्निपथ_योजना_वापस_लो@IYC @IYCMaha @KunalNitinRaut @imshivrajmore @INCAniketMhatre pic.twitter.com/SnObFz9WK7

— Jay Dongare (@dongare_jay) June 20, 2022

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the country's youths should not fall for "misinformation campaign" regarding Agnipath scheme. Whereas, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Centre claiming the scheme was introduced in a haste, as per PTI.

Youth Congress’ continuously protest at railway stations in Delhi against #AgnipathScheme pic.twitter.com/NMpBGW85S2

— Supriya Bhardwaj (@Supriya23bh) June 20, 2022

Army has issued the notification for recruitment of "Agniveer" under the Agnipath scheme on its official website -- joinindianarmy.nic.in. Registration will begin from July and is mandatory for all aspirants...Read More

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will not postpone the dates of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2022 amid the ongoing Agnipath protests. Admit card likely to be issued today...Read More

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

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

Jharkhand schools 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.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced Agnipath scheme to recruit soldiers in the Army, Navy, and the Air Force on June 14. 

Rajnath Singh (Shutterstock)

Agnipath scheme launched by Defence Ministry provides for the recruitment of youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 23 for 4 years with a provision to retain 25% of them for 15 more years. The personnel to be recruited under the new scheme will be known as 'Agniveers'.