Over 94k applied under Agnipath in 4 days: IAF
HT Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received 94,281 applications under the Agnipath recruitment scheme within four days of the registration process getting underway on June 24 and despite widespread protests by opposition parties demanding its rollback.
The Agnipath scheme, which was unveiled by defence minister Rajnath Singh on June 14, provides for the recruitment of youths in the age bracket of 17-and-a-half to 21 for four years with the provision to retain 25% of them for 15 more years while the remaining 75% will get a onetime financial package of approximately ₹11.71 lakh. On June 16, the government increased the upper age limit for recruitment under the scheme to 23 years for the year 2022.
“A total of 94,281 Agniveer Vayu aspirants have registered till 10:30 am (Monday). Registration closes on July 5,” tweeted A Bharat Bhushan Babu, defence ministry spokesperson.
The announcement on June 14 led to widespread protests in several states against the scheme with opposition parties, including the Congress, demanding its rollback. The armed forces later said that those who had indulged in violent protests and arson against the new recruitment scheme will not be inducted.
Till Sunday, the IAF received 56,960 applications under the scheme. Overall, there are 3,500 vacancies in the IAF under the scheme, officials told HT.
The government has also announced a slew of placatory steps like giving preference for Agniveers — as the soldiers inducted under the Agnipath scheme will be known — in central paramilitary forces and defence PSUS after retirement. Several Bjp-ruled states have declared that the Agniveers will be accorded priority in government jobs in respective states.