MHA says ‘Agniveers’ to get priority in CAPF recruitment

Youth recruited in the armed forces under the short-term ‘Agnipath’ scheme will get priority in recruitment to the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Wednesday. Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that the Ministry has taken steps to fill-up vacancies in mission mode in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions to recruit 10 lakh personnel in one-and-a-half years. The Education Ministry, in order to enhance future career prospects of ‘Agniveers’ and equip them for various job roles in the civilian sector, will launch a special, three-year skill-based Bachelor degree programme for serving defence personnel that will recognise the skill training received by them during their tenure in the defence establishments, a government statement said. The statement added: “Under this programme that has been designed by IGNOU and will also be executed by them, 50% of the credits required for a graduate degree will come from the skill training - both technical and non-technical - received by the Agniveer, and the remaining 50 % will come from a basket of courses that cover a wide variety of subjects like languages, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Mathematics, Education, Commerce, Tourism, Vocational Studies, Agriculture and Jyotish, as also Ability Enhancement Courses on Environmental Studies and Communication Skills in English.”