NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received over 1.83 lakh applications under the Agnipath scheme just six days after the registration process began.
“So far, 1,83,634 future Agniveers have applied on the website https://agnipathvayu.cdac.in . Registration closes on July 5, 2022,” the IAF said on Twitter.
So far, 183634 future #Agniveers have applied on the registration website https://t.co/kVQxOwkUczIf you want to b… https://t.co/5Jgilctfcg— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) 1656470721000
The Agnipath recruitment scheme, which was unveiled on June 14, saw immediate protests in several states with Bihar witnessing large-scale violence and loss of public properties. The protesters demanded its rollback.
Under the scheme, the government had said that the youth in the age group of 17-and-a-half and 21 years would be inducted for a four-year-tenure, while 25 per cent of them will be subsequently inducted for regular service.
The government had on June 16 increased the upper age limit for recruitment under the scheme to 23 years from 21 for 2022.
With continued protests over the rollout of the scheme, the government also announced that those who would be released from the armed forces after four years of service would be given preference in the central paramilitary forces and in the defence force for the public sector undertakings.
Many BJP-ruled states also declared the Agniveers – as the soldiers inducted under the Agnipath scheme will be known – will be accorded priority in induction into state police forces.
The Indian Army and the Indian Navy will launch their recruitment drive in July.
– With agency inputs
