The Union government has decided to significantly increase the reservation for ex-Agniveers in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified that 50% of constable-level Group-C posts in CAPFs will now be reserved for ex-Agniveers. This change will come into effect beginning with the Border Security Force (BSF) and will later be extended to other CAPFs in a phased manner.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the recruitment rules to provide a much larger share of vacancies to former Agniveers in CAPFs. Under the new rules, half of the constable vacancies in every recruitment year will be reserved exclusively for ex-Agniveers. This is a major jump from the earlier policy and is aimed at providing better post-service employment opportunities to youth recruited under the Agnipath Scheme.

The Border Security Force will be the first CAPF to implement this revised reservation policy. Recruitment rules for other forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Assam Rifles will be amended gradually to bring them in line with the new decision.

When the Agnipath Scheme was launched in 2022, the government had announced a 10% reservation for ex-Agniveers in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. Along with this, certain age relaxations were also provided. For the first batch of Agniveers, the upper age limit was relaxed by five years, while for subsequent batches, the relaxation was limited to three years.

Despite the reservation, ex-Agniveers were required to go through the same recruitment process as other candidates. They had to compete in physical tests, written examinations, and other stages of selection under regular recruitment procedures.

Under the revised rules, the reservation for ex-Agniveers has been increased from 10% to 50% for constable-level posts. This means that in every recruitment year, half of the total vacancies will be set aside for candidates who have completed their four-year service as Agniveers.

Ex-Agniveers will now be exempted from the Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET). However, they will still be required to qualify in the written examination, just like other candidates. This ensures that they meet the required knowledge and aptitude standards while also recognising their prior military training and experience.

Recruitment will take place in two phases. In the first phase, a nodal CAPF will conduct recruitment specifically for ex-Agniveers to fill 50% of the vacancies. In the second phase, the remaining vacancies will be filled through recruitment conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). This second phase will include the existing 10% reservation for ex-servicemen.

Another important change relates to age limits. The upper age limit for the absorption of BSF Combatised Constable (Tradesmen) has been increased from 30 years to 35 years. This relaxation is expected to help more ex-Agniveers become eligible for these posts.

While the revised reservation policy has been notified for the BSF, the government has made it clear that similar amendments will be introduced in the recruitment rules of other CAPFs in due course. Forces such as CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles will adopt the same framework once their rules are formally amended.

This step reflects the government’s intention to ensure uniform benefits for ex-Agniveers across all central armed forces and to create a clear pathway for their continued service in uniformed roles after completing their tenure in the Armed Forces.

The Agnipath Scheme is a short-term military recruitment programme introduced by the government in June 2022. Under this scheme, selected youth are enrolled in the Armed Forces as Agniveers for a period of four years, which includes both training and active service.

Agniveers do not receive a pension or gratuity after completing their four-year tenure. Instead, they are provided with a Seva Nidhi package of around ₹10.04 lakh, which is tax-free and paid at the time of exit. During service, Agniveers receive a monthly salary that starts at ₹30,000 in the first year and increases to ₹40,000 by the fourth year.

Up to 25% of each batch of Agniveers may be absorbed into the permanent cadre of the Armed Forces based on performance, organisational requirements, and other criteria. During their service period, Agniveers are also covered by a non-contributory life insurance cover of ₹48 lakh.

In addition, the scheme offers skill and education benefits. Agniveers receive skill certificates, and those who join after completing Class 10 are eligible for Class-12 equivalent certification.

By increasing the reservation for ex-Agniveers in CAPFs to 50%, the government aims to strengthen employment prospects for youth after their short-term military service. The move also allows CAPFs to benefit from trained and disciplined personnel who already have experience in uniformed service. Overall, the decision marks a significant policy shift in integrating Agniveers into India’s internal security framework.