Indian Army Modifies Agniveer Selection Procedure; Candidates to Appear for CEE First

The Indian Army has announced significant revisions to the Agnipath scheme's recruitment procedure. Now, candidates must first show up for an online common entrance examination (CEE), which is followed by physical and medical exams.

It is said that only those who receive marks of more than 25% will be contacted for the following round of the hiring procedure. A formal notification regarding this is anticipated to be released around mid-February.

In the past, the selection process for Agniveers was conducted in a different order, the candidates had to go through a physical fitness test first which was followed by their medical tests. Only the qualifying candidates were allowed to write the common entrance exam and lastly, candidates were selected for training on the basis of the final merit list.

According to sources in the Army, the modification to the application process was made to cut down on the expense of setting up recruitment fairs for physical and medical examinations.

Since only applicants who passed the entrance exam will take the physical and medical tests, it will lessen the administrative and logistical strain.

According to the sources, the previous process required significant administrative costs due to lakhs of applicants queuing up at more than 200 screening stations around the nation. Approximately 40,000 applicants who wish to join the army beginning with the 2023–2024 recruitment cycle will be subject to the new procedure. According to sources, the country's first online CEE will probably take place in April at about 200 places.

According to reports, at least 21,000 Agniveers will be enlisted in the army during the first week of March, with at least 19,000 already having done so. The army holds recruitment events in numerous cities, both large and small, with significant candidate involvement.

What is Agnipath Scheme?

Agnipath Scheme is a nationwide merit-based recruiting process for the Army, Indian Air Force, and Navy.

The young people who are hired in this way are referred to as "Agniveers," and they have the chance to serve in the military for four years.

After that, based on merit, willingness, and physical fitness, 25% of them will be inducted permanently.

However, the scheme's introduction was met with vocal opposition across the nation.