BSF Recruitment: Ex-Agniveer reservation quadrupled to 50%

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has significantly enhanced reservation for former Agniveers in the recruitment of constables in the Border Security Force (BSF), raising it from 10 per cent to 50 per cent, according to a notification published in the Official Gazette.

The decision, formalised through an amendment to the Border Security Force, General Duty Cadre (Non-Gazetted) Recruitment Rules, 2015, aims to provide greater employment opportunities to Agniveers completing their four-year service under the Agnipath scheme. The amended rules came into force on December 18 with their publication in the Gazette.

Under the new provisions, 50 per cent of vacancies in every recruitment year will be reserved for ex-Agniveers, while 10 per cent will continue to be earmarked for ex-servicemen. Up to three per cent of annual vacancies will also be set aside for the absorption of combatised constables (tradesmen) through direct recruitment.

The notification also grants age-related relaxations to former Agniveers. Candidates from the first batch will be eligible for an upper age relaxation of up to five years, while those from subsequent batches will receive a three-year age concession. The crucial date for determining age eligibility will be specified in the recruitment advertisement issued by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) or the designated nodal force.

The recruitment process will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the nodal force will carry out recruitment for the 50 per cent vacancies reserved for ex-Agniveers. In the second phase, the SSC will recruit candidates other than ex-Agniveers for the remaining 47 per cent of posts, which includes the 10 per cent quota for ex-servicemen, along with any unfilled ex-Agniveer vacancies from the first phase.

Vacancies for female candidates will be calculated annually by the Director General of the BSF based on functional requirements, the notification said.

The amended rules further state that physical and medical standards for the post of Constable (General Duty) will be applicable as prescribed by the Central government from time to time. However, ex-Agniveers will be exempted from the Physical Standard Test and Physical Efficiency Test during recruitment.

The notification clarified that the amendments were made in exercise of the powers conferred under the Border Security Force Act, 1968, marking a significant policy shift in integrating trained Agniveers into the country’s border guarding force.