Centre Announces 50% Quota for Ex-Agniveers in CAPFs

The Union government announced a 50% reservation for retired Agniveers in recruitment to Constable (General Duty) posts in the Central Armed Police Forces and Rifleman posts in the Assam Rifles. The policy was placed before the Lok Sabha on 21 July 2026 through a written reply by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai.

Ex-Agniveer Recruitment Framework

The Ministry of Home Affairs has created a separate category called Ex-Agniveers for recruitment into CAPFs and the Assam Rifles. The arrangement applies to Constable (GD) and Rifleman posts, which are entry-level uniformed positions in India’s internal security structure. CAPFs include the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, and Assam Rifles. These forces function under the Ministry of Home Affairs and handle border guarding, internal security, counter-insurgency, and protection of vital installations.

Age Relaxation and Selection Exemptions

Eligible Ex-Agniveers will receive a three-year relaxation over the prescribed upper age limit for recruitment. The first batch of Agniveers will receive an additional five-year relaxation, which makes the total age relaxation eight years for that batch. Ex-Agniveers will also be exempt from the Physical Standards Test, Physical Efficiency Test, and the written examination for these posts. These tests are part of the standard recruitment process for many uniformed services in India.

Agnipath Scheme and Service Tenure

The Agnipath scheme was launched in 2022 for recruitment into the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Under the scheme, Agniveers serve for a fixed tenure of four years, after which a selected share may be retained in the regular cadre. A dedicated Ex-Agniveer wing has been set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs for coordination of recruitment-related matters. No appointment under the new policy had been made as of 21 July 2026 because the first batch of Agniveers had not completed its tenure.

Important Facts for Exams

• CAPFs are armed forces under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Assam Rifles is one of the oldest paramilitary forces in India and performs both border and internal security duties.
• The Agnipath scheme provides short-term military service for Agniveers for a period of four years.
• Constable (General Duty) and Rifleman are entry-level posts in many Indian security forces.