MP to give preference to 'Agnipath' soldiers in police recruitment: CM Chouhan

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said soldiers recruited under the central government’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme will be given preference in police recruitment in the state.

The Centre on Tuesday unveiled a transformative scheme–‘Agnipath’– for the recruitment of ‘Agniveers’ (soldiers) in the Army, Navy, and the Air Force largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis, in a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process to bring in fitter and younger troops to deal with future security challenges facing the nation.

Under the scheme, nearly 46,000 soldiers will be recruited this year between the ages of 17 and a half years and 21 years into the three services, the defense ministry said.

Welcoming the scheme, Chouhan on Tuesday said, “Such jawans, who would have served in the Army under the Agnipath scheme, will be given priority in the Madhya Pradesh Police recruitment.” He said the ‘Agnipath’ scheme will connect youth with the Army and generate 45,000 jobs. “I heartily thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for starting this scheme. The Indian Army is the pride of the country and its countrymen. The jawans are our heroes and role models. The ‘Agnipath’ scheme will connect youth with the Indian Army and ensure the protection of the country’s borders, and strengthen its unity and integrity,” Chouhan said. According to the central government, the recruitment under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme will be based on an ”all India, all-class” basis, which is set to change the composition of several regiments that recruit youth from specific regions as well as castes such as Rajputs, Jats, and Sikhs.

After completion of the four-year tenure of the recruits, the scheme provides for retaining 25 percent of each specific batch for regular service, based on organizational requirements and policies promulgated by the armed forces from time to time.

The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday announced that the ‘Agniveers’ will get priority in recruitment to the central armed police forces (CAPFs) and the Assam Rifles.

It said those who complete four years of service under the scheme would be given priority in the recruitment process.