The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has decided to reserve 10% vacancies in the central paramilitary forces and the Assam Rifles for ‘Agniveers’ after their four years of service in the armed forces, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Saturday.

The home ministry has also decided to give three years’ age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in the paramilitary forces and Assam Rifles. 

For the first batch of Agniveers, the age relaxation will be for five years beyond the prescribed upper age limit, Aimt Shah said.

The decision to reserve 10% seats in paramilitary forces or CAPFs (Central Armed Police Forces) and the Assam Rifles will somewhat give assurance of ‘permanent job’ to the youngsters, who have been violently protesting against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme across the country for the past two days, an official said.

The age relaxation of 3 years’ will also help more and more Agniveers to come to CAPFs, which currently have an upper age limit of 23 years in Constable ranks, after finishing their four years’ service in the armed forces so that they have permanent jobs, said the official.

The CAPFs and Assam Rifles, both under the administrative control of the MHA, have over one lakh vacancies, and the decision will also help fill these vacancies at a fast pace every year, said a second officer.

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