Why are Agniveers praising the 'Assam model'? They will remain eligible for reservation even after leaving the service..

Thousands of 'Agniveers' currently serving in the Indian Army find themselves in a state of uncertainty. While the Army has offered them a two-year extension, some Agniveers are looking for permanent employment elsewhere after completing their four-year tenure. However, under the current rules, those who choose to leave the service after four years will not be eligible for a quota in other security forces. Consequently, some Agniveers and their families are now advocating—on social media and elsewhere—for the adoption of the 'Assam model,' and are urging other state governments to provide similar provisions. Let us examine what the Assam government has implemented that has left the Agniveers satisfied.

What is the new rule?
The Army has introduced certain changes to the 'Agnipath' scheme. Agniveers who have completed their four-year term are being offered a two-year extension. While 25 percent of the total recruits will be absorbed into the Army, the remaining 75 percent are being given the opportunity to serve for an additional two years—bringing their total potential service duration to six years—after which they may still have the chance to secure a permanent position in the Army. Those who wish to leave after four years are free to do so, but they will not be entitled to reservation benefits for future employment.

The Assam government's decision
The Assam government has decided to provide a 12 percent reservation for Agniveers in state government jobs. Notably, following the announcement of the new rules, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated in a post that this 12 percent reservation would also apply to those Agniveers who choose not to accept the service extension and decide to leave the force after completing their four-year term.

This is precisely why there is now growing pressure on other states to follow suit. Several states had promised to provide job reservations for 'Agniveers' (recruits under the Agnipath scheme). However, the introduction of a six-year service threshold has created confusion regarding these reservations. Since such reservations are not being offered for central government jobs, it remains a major question whether state governments will provide them or not.

What is the issue surrounding the reservations?
The Army has introduced a two-year service extension, stating that 75% of those who opt for this extension will be given an opportunity to secure permanent positions within the Army. However, it has not been specified exactly what percentage—or which specific individuals—will ultimately receive permanent employment. Furthermore, there is no clarity yet regarding the policy on marriage. Given this, many Agniveers aspire to secure a permanent job elsewhere by the age of 25 or 26.

On the other hand, if all Agniveers were eligible for job reservations immediately after completing their initial four-year term, many might choose to leave the service. To address this, the government has extended the eligibility period for these benefits to six years. This means that those Agniveers who are not granted permanent status after completing six years of service will be able to leverage these reservations to seek recruitment in other security forces or services.

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