The Haryana Government has taken a bold step forward for Agniveers. Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini, declared a 10% job reservation in police and mining guard recruitments for former Agniveers. Additionally, former Agniveers will be granted age relaxation of up to three years for Group C and Group D government jobs.
Zero-Interest Loans for Entrepreneurial Aspirants
The Haryana government has also announced a 5% job reservation for Agniveers in Group C government positions. In an effort to support entrepreneurship, the state will offer zero-interest loans up to INR 5 lakh for Agniveers wishing to start their own ventures.
Parliament addresses the Agnipath Scheme Concerns
This announcement comes at a time when the Agnipath scheme stirred discussions in the Parliament. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, addressing the Center's Agniveer scheme, met with Agniveers' families, questioning the government's hesitation to offer martyr status to Agniveers.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refuted these claims, emphasizing that the scheme was launched after consultations with 158 organizations.
Reservations announced for CISF, BSF, CRPF, and SSB
The chiefs of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have announced a 10% job reservation for former Agniveers, with leeway also given in age limits and physical fitness tests.
Understanding the Agnipath Scheme
The government introduced the Agnipath Scheme in June 2022, a short-term recruitment plan aimed at integrating youth into defence services such as the Army, Air Force, and Navy. Recruits under the Agnipath scheme are known as Agniveers, and they are enlisted for four years, with a potential extension for another four years. Upon completion of service, 25% of Agniveers may be absorbed into the regular army, while the remaining 75% are to receive a sizable amount of money and a skills certification to facilitate new job opportunities.
