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New Delhi: The Haryana government, led by the BJP announced that it will reserve 10% of police and mining guard positions for Agniveers, who are recruited under the Agnipath scheme, on Wednesday. This decision comes ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections and amid reports that the Agnipath scheme's unpopularity among youth contributed to the BJP's poor performance in the Lok Sabha election.
Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini stated that Agniveers will also receive a 5% reservation in Group C posts and a three-year age relaxation for Group C and D posts. Additionally, interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh will be available for Agniveers who wish to start their businesses.
The Agnipath scheme was introduced by the central government on 14 June 2022. It aims to modernize the armed forces and reduce pension costs. The Agnipath scheme recruits personnel for a short-term contract of four years in the Army, Navy and Air Force with only 25% of recruits eligible for permanent commission and an additional 15 years of service.
The scheme sparked nationwide protests, as critics argued that those who leave the service after four years would face uncertainty. The BJP faced setbacks in the recent Lok Sabha polls in regions with high concentrations of defense personnel, leading to calls for a review from allies like Nitish Kumar's JD(U).
The opposition demands a rollback of the scheme, amid controversy over compensation for Agniveers who die in service.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has initiated consultations with veterans from all three services to address concerns and explore potential revisions to the recruitment scheme.
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