Overview
- A Home Ministry letter dated September 11 asked PSARA authorities in all states and UTs to work out a system for absorbing ex-Agniveers in private security agencies engaged by government departments, banks and other entities.
- The directive cites PSARA Section 10(3) to urge preference for those with armed forces service and encourages the top 10 security providers to be sensitised to hire them, including roles in training institutes.
- The government has reserved 10% vacancies for ex-Agniveers in CAPF and Assam Rifles with age relaxations and exemptions, while states such as Haryana and Rajasthan have announced police reservations.
- Congress relaunched its Jai Jawan campaign promising to scrap the Agnipath scheme and regularise Agniveers, arguing the policy funnels trained soldiers into private guard work and risks creating “private armies.”
- Industry body CAPSI welcomed the move, offering one month of pre-induction training and supervisory tracks for ex-Agniveers, with the first cohort set to complete service from January 2026.