Finding jobs for Agniveers: CISF forms committee to assess ways to induct them into force

CISF DG Praveer Ranjan said committee will identify sectors where Agniveers can be deployed, and will soon come out with a blueprint to ensure smooth induction.

File photo of newly inducted Agniveer soldiers celebrating during the passing out parade at the Bihar Regiment Centre in Patna | ANI

New Delhi: With the Centre deciding to incorporate Agniveers into the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has started the process of identifying what duties will be assigned to them in the forces.

Addressing a press conference Monday, CISF DG Praveer Ranjan said they have constituted a committee to assess and identify sectors where Agniveers can be deployed. Ranjan added that the committee will soon come out with a blueprint to ensure smooth induction.

“It is the policy of the Government of India that Agniveers will get a certain percentage of reservation and that we have to assimilate them into CAPFs. We are deliberating on the percentage of their induction and what duties will be assigned to them,” Ranjan said.

He was addressing the media at the curtain raiser event for the second edition of the Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon, the force’s initiative aimed at strengthening coastal security awareness, national unity, and community participation along India’s coastal belt.

“We have started working on that because the CAPF is obviously an employment avenue for Agniveers, including CISF. So we are deliberating on induction based on their expertise. For example, Agniveers from the Indian Navy will be experienced hands in port security. Our committee is examining all such aspects, and we will come out with a blueprint very soon,” he added.

The Ministry of Defence had inducted 46,000 Agniveers from the first batch, recruited through the Agnipath scheme launched in 2022. The first batch is set to pass later this year. These personnel were recruited into the Army, Navy, or Air Force for a four-year term, with one-fourth retained for longer service afterwards, and the rest relieved from service.

The development within the CISF comes weeks after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released a gazette notification mandating a 50 per cent quota for Agniveers—a significant upgrade from the earlier 10 per cent quota mandated by the MHA in 2024 for the post of Constable in the Border Security Force.

ThePrint had last month reported that officials in the MHA, as well as other CAPFs, are all expecting similar amendments to their recruitment rules and reservations for Agniveer passouts.

The existing CAPF recruitment rules mandate a quota of 27 per cent for the Other Backwards Classes, 15 per cent for Scheduled Castes, and 7.5 per cent for the Scheduled Tribes, along with a quota of 15 per cent for ex-servicemen after they retire from the Army, Air Force, or Navy, among other Union government services.

However, Ranjan said recruitment rules and their implementation are a policy matter for the MHA, which will eventually put in place formal arrangements.

“We are deliberating on the modalities of their induction into CAPFs, and findings and recommendations of our committee will be submitted to the MHA, which will come out with a policy. We are still finalising it, and hence it will be premature to comment on the exact terms,” Ranjan further said.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)