In direct recruitment under its various departments, the Railways would provide Agniveers with a cumulative 15 per cent reservation in non-gazetted positions, as well as an age relaxation and an exemption from fitness tests.
According to sources, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is also working on a reservation scheme for Agniveers.
The Railways will provide 10 per cent reservation for Level 1 and 5 per cent reservation for Level 2 and above non-gazetted positions. It will be in the form of horizontal reservations similar to those for people with benchmark disabilities (PwBD), ex-servicemen, and course-completed act apprentices (CCAAs).
Also, the Agniveers will receive exemptions from physical efficiency tests and age relaxations. The first batch of Agniveers will receive a relaxation of five years, and the subsequent batches will get three years. These exemptions will be given over the existing age limit set for different communities for Level-1, Level-2 and above posts.
Level 1 posts comprise assistants for different branches of Railways. Level 2 and above posts include junior clerk-cum-typist, accounts clerk-cum-typist, station managers, and junior engineers, among other categories.
As per the sources, the Railway Board gave letters to all General Managers asking them to grant relaxations/facilities in recruitment to ex-Agniveers hired through railway recruiting agencies (Railway Recruitment Boards/Railway Recruitment Cells) in Pay Level-1 and Pay Level-2 and above non-gazetted posts from the open market recruitment. These relaxations will be given to those who have completed four years in the forces.
After completing their service period, Agniveers can apply when Railway Recruiting Agencies issue Centralised Employment Notifications for recruitment for positions with non-gazetted pay grades after submitting documentary proofs.
In a letter to the General Managers, the Board stated that there would be no carrying over of the unfilled positions; instead, in the event of a shortage, other candidates on the combined merit list would fill the unfilled positions.
The Agniveers who have completed their full tenure will be charged Rs 250 for the application fee for open market recruitment which is even refundable to those applicants who have appeared for the written examination.
Similar job reservation schemes offer former Agniveers suitable career alternatives by various central ministries, state governments and industry bodies.
In March 2023, the Modi Government took a crucial move by declaring a 10 per cent reservation for ex-Agniveers in vacancies within the Border Security Force (BSF) and relaxed upper age-limit norms depending on whether they are part of the first batch or subsequent batches.
