Ex-Agniveer Quota in CAPF Won't Impact Existing Reservation Structure
Government assures ex-Agniveer quota in CAPF won't disturb existing reservation categories.
Photo by Buddha Elemental 3D
The Union government has clarified that the proposed 10% reservation for ex-Agniveers in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will not affect the existing reservation matrix for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). This assurance aims to allay fears that the new quota would dilute opportunities for other reserved categories.
The move is part of the government's efforts to provide post-service employment opportunities for Agniveers, who serve for four years under the Agnipath scheme. This policy decision is significant as it addresses concerns about the future of Agniveers and the broader implications for India's reservation policy.
Key Facts
10% reservation for ex-Agniveers in CAPF
Government assures it won't affect existing SC/ST/OBC quotas
Agniveers serve for four years under Agnipath scheme
UPSC Exam Angles
Constitutional provisions related to reservation (Articles 15, 16, 335)
Distinction between vertical and horizontal reservations
Structure, mandate, and components of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)
Salient features and implications of the Agnipath scheme
Government's policy on youth employment and skill development post-military service
Visual Insights
More Information
Background
Latest Developments
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Agnipath scheme and related reservations: 1. The Agnipath scheme recruits soldiers for a four-year tenure, with an option for 25% to be absorbed into regular cadre. 2. The 10% reservation for ex-Agniveers in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) is a horizontal reservation. 3. Article 335 of the Constitution mandates that claims of SCs and STs to services and posts shall be taken into consideration consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
Statement 1 is correct. The Agnipath scheme recruits Agniveers for four years, and up to 25% can be enrolled in the regular cadre. Statement 2 is correct. Reservations for specific categories like ex-servicemen, women, or persons with disabilities, which cut across existing vertical reservations (SC, ST, OBC), are typically considered horizontal reservations. The news implies this by stating it won't affect existing SC/ST/OBC quotas. Statement 3 is correct. Article 335 of the Indian Constitution deals with the claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts, emphasizing efficiency of administration.
2. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in India?
- A.CAPF operate under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- B.The Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are components of CAPF.
- C.CAPF personnel are considered part of the Indian Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defence.
- D.CAPF are primarily responsible for internal security, border guarding, and assisting state police forces.
Show Answer
Answer: C
Statement C is NOT correct. CAPF personnel are NOT considered part of the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) which operate under the Ministry of Defence. CAPF, despite their paramilitary nature, function under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and are distinct from the regular armed forces. Statements A, B, and D are correct descriptions of CAPF.
3. In the context of India's reservation policy, consider the following statements: 1. The 'creamy layer' concept, applicable to OBC reservations, aims to exclude socially advanced persons from the benefits of reservation. 2. The Supreme Court's ruling in the Indra Sawhney case (1992) upheld the constitutional validity of reservations in promotions for SCs and STs. 3. Economic Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation, introduced by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, is a form of vertical reservation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1 and 3 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 1 is correct. The 'creamy layer' concept, established by the Supreme Court, applies to OBC reservations to ensure that the benefits reach the most backward among them, excluding those who are already socially and economically advanced. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Indra Sawhney case (1992) explicitly ruled against reservations in promotions. Subsequent constitutional amendments and Supreme Court judgments (like M. Nagaraj and Jarnail Singh) have addressed this issue, allowing for reservations in promotions under certain conditions. Statement 3 is correct. EWS reservation, based on economic criteria, is a vertical reservation, similar to SC, ST, and OBC reservations, as it provides a separate quota within the overall reservation matrix.