Amid huge stir over ‘Agnipath’ scheme, Govt relaxes upper age limit to 23 years for 1st batch
Home Minister Amit Shah & Defence Minister Rajnath took note of the stir and sought to placate the protesters by announcing the relaxation of age bar for ‘Agniveers’.
New Delhi: As the violent protests spreads across many states over Centre’s Agnipath scheme, the government in a bid to allay their concerns announced an age relaxation of 2 years for the first batch.
Granting a waiver, the Centre announced that the upper age limit of Agniveers will now stand at 23 years instead of 21 which means more people will get chance to apply under the category.
The scheme to induct young blood in Armed Forces has met with strong backlash as hundreds of people have hit the streets and are vigorously protesting against the decision. The protesters are setting ablaze public property including buses & trains in Bihar, UP, Haryana and others and are demanding rollback of the scheme.
Home Minister Amit Shah & Defence Minister Rajnath took note of the stir and sought to placate the protesters by announcing the relaxation of age bar for ‘Agniveers’.
पिछले दो वर्ष कोरोना महामारी के कारण सेना में भर्ती प्रक्रिया प्रभावित हुई थी, इसलिए प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी ने ‘अग्निपथ योजना’ में उन युवाओं की चिंता करते हुए पहले वर्ष उम्र सीमा में दो वर्ष की रियायत देकर उसे 21 साल से 23 साल करने का संवेदनशील निर्णय लिया है।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 17, 2022
“Prime Minister has taken a sensitive decision by showing concern for the youth of the country”, tweeted Home Minister while taking note of the fact that Army recruitments were hampered in last two years of Covid pandemic & lockdowns.
Rajnath Singh, also announcing one-time relaxation of 2 years, said that this was a golden chance for youth to serve and secure their motherland and they must make full advantage of it.
The Agnipath scheme was announced on Tuesday. Soon after, it led to demonstations in parts of the country especially Bihar but now it has spread like wildfire. In Bihar, the protestors also stormed a BJP office yesterday.
#WATCH | For the last 2yrs, young people didn’t get the opportunity to get inducted into Armed forces due to no recruitment process. Thus… govt decided to increase the upper age limit from 21yrs to 23yrs. It’s a one-time relaxation…: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh#Agnipath pic.twitter.com/UfP5z0zakY
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2022
The Centre’s new military recruitment plan is an attempt to bring reforms in the Armed Forces by carving a leaner & young fleet of jawans while also cutting down the yearly expenses.
In the first year, about 46,000 ‘Agniveers’ will be inducted in all three wings of the Armed Forces – Army, Navy & Air Force. The age criteria for entry is fixed at 17.5 to 21 years and with this waiver, the upper age limit will go upto 23.