India: Several plans to absorb and skill Agniveers underway

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The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’s Directorate General of Training (DGT) signed this MoU with the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force to certify the skills acquired by Agniveers during their training and service. These certifications are intended to aid Agniveers in their transition to the private sector.

Several initiatives are underway and are being announced to absorb and enhance the skills of Agniveers. Agniveers are soldiers/Jawans recruited under the “Agnipath” scheme introduced by the Indian government in 2022. This scheme recruits individuals between 17.5 and 21 years old into the Indian Armed Forces for a four-year term time frame. At the end of this term, up to 25 per cent of these recruits may apply to join the services on a regular basis, based on merit and organisational needs. The remaining 75 per cent are released back into society with a financial package.

One of the initial steps to recruit Agniveers was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on December 26, 2022. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship’s Directorate General of Training (DGT) signed this MoU with the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force to certify the skills acquired by Agniveers during their training and service. These certifications are intended to aid Agniveers in their transition to the private sector.

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In December 2023, another significant development took place in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya and the Indian Army’s Mahar Regiment signed an academic agreement at the Mahar Regimental Centre in Sagar. This agreement allows Agniveers to undertake 45 distance-learning courses specifically designed for them.

These courses are in addition to pre-existing and future courses. Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya in Sagar offers diploma degrees in 14 courses and certificate courses in five disciplines: Mushroom Cultivation and Processing, Retail Management, Fashion Technology, Tourism, and Water Purification.

State governments are also contributing to efforts. In July 2024, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced many measures that benefit the Agniveers which include age relaxation in state public services recruitment, horizontal reservation, and subsidies to industrial units employing Agniveers.

For the first batch of Agniveers, government Group ‘B’ and ‘C’ posts will have a five-year relaxation in the maximum age prescribed, with subsequent batches receiving a three-year relaxation. Additionally, there will be a five per cent horizontal reservation for direct recruitment to civil posts in Group ‘C’ and a one per cent horizontal reservation in Group ‘B’.

The Haryana Government will also provide a 10 per cent horizontal reservation in direct recruitment for posts such as Constable, Mining Guard, Forest Guard, Jail Warden, and Special Police Officers (SPO). Subsidies will be provided to industrial units employing Agniveers.