India Promotes Ex-Agniveers Integration Into Private Security Sector: Government Directs States To Ensure Employment Opportunities

Various central government agencies have already announced plans to incorporate former Agniveers into their workforce.

New Delhi:

The Central Government has instructed all states and Union territories to facilitate the employment of ex-Agniveers in private security agencies and training institutes, recognizing their valuable experience acquired during military service, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has dispatched this directive to all states and UTs as part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure career advancement opportunities for ex-Agniveers following the completion of their service term with the armed forces.

In June 2022, the government launched the Agnipath recruitment initiative designed to reduce the average age profile across the three military services.

Under the Agnipath scheme, young individuals between 17-and-a-half and 21 years are recruited for a four-year term, with provisions to retain 25 percent of them for an additional 15 years. The inaugural batch of Agniveers will complete their four-year commitment next year.

"The undersigned is directed to refer to the subject cited above and to convey that pursuant to a high-level meeting, Police-ll Division of this Ministry has informed that it has been directed to work out a system for ensuring absorption of Agniveers by the security provider agencies outsourced by the government department agencies, banks, etc.

"The Division has further conveyed that considering the huge recruitment in the security agencies, the top 10 security provider agencies may be sensitised to absorb Agniveers," stated a letter from the MHA to controlling authorities for Private Security Agencies Regulation Act (PSARA) of the states/UTs dated September 11.

Referencing Section 10(3) of the PSARA, which mandates preferential employment for individuals with armed forces experience, the letter emphasized that every private security agency should prioritize hiring persons who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, other Union armed forces, police forces including state armed constabularies, and Home Guards when recruiting security personnel.

The correspondence further noted, "Agniveers have an experience of about four years in service. Hence, they may be given preference by the private security agencies during engagement/employment of private security guards and supervisors." The letter instructed controlling authorities to sensitize and encourage leading security provider agencies to incorporate Agniveers, and recommended that state/UT departments implement similar measures to promote their absorption into contracted security agencies.

Previously, in June, the government issued a notification designating the Union Home Ministry as the coordinator for activities supporting ex-Agniveers' career progression after completing their armed forces tenure.

The government has reserved 10 percent of vacancies for ex-Agniveers in recruitment for Constable (General Duty) and Rifleman positions within the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles, including CISF and BSF. Additional provisions include relaxation in upper age limits and exemption from Physical Efficiency Tests.

Numerous central government agencies and departments have already unveiled initiatives to recruit former Agniveers.

Several states, including Haryana and Rajasthan, have committed to implementing reservations for Agniveers within their police forces.