By M Alok
Patna, July 25: The first-ever examination for the recruitment of Agniveers in the armed forces under the new ‘Agnipath’ scheme was conducted peacefully under tight security arrangements at 26 centres in Bihar on Sunday.
The recruitment examination, Agnipath Vayu, through which 3500 posts of Agniveer Vayu are to be filled in the Indian Air Force, will continue till July 31.
The examinations were conducted through online mode in three shifts from 7.30 am to 5:45 pm at 13 centres in Patna, four each in Saran (Chapra) and Gaya, three in Muzaffarpur and two in Bhagalpur districts. In the state capital, the online examination centres were set up Beur, Khagaul, Danapur, Patliputra and Kankarbagh areas.
The state police had made elaborate security arrangements at all the examination centres as the announcement of the scheme in June 14 this year had resulted in widespread protest across the country. Bihar had also witnessed violent agitation with protestors resorting to arson. Many trains, buses and other government property were torched during the anti-Agniveer protests in the state.
The Agnipath scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet on June 14. It allows youth selected under the scheme—Agniveers– to serve as soldiers, airmen and sailors in the three services of armed forces for a period of four years.
After four years, only 25 per cent of the Agniveers will be retained or re-enlisted in the regular cadre based on merit, willingness, and medical fitness. The other 75 per cent ‘Agniveers’ will be demobilized, with an exit or “Seva Nidhi” package of Rs 11-12 lakh, partly funded by their monthly contributions, as well as skill certificates and bank loans for help in their second careers.
All photos: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
