Highlights | Centre extends age limit for Agnipath scheme from 21 years to 23 for 1st year

The Centre on Thursday extended the upper age limit for the Agnipath scheme from 21 years to 23 years amid massive protests against the scheme throughout the day. The age waiver will be given only one time for the proposed recruitment cycle for 2022.

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The Centre on Thursday released a list of things that 'Agniveers'- people who will get recruited under the 'Agnipath' scheme- can opt for after they have served in either the Army, the Navy or the Air Force.

The Rashtrriya Lok Dal (RLD) said on Thursday that protests will be held at all district headquarters in Uttar Pradesh against the Agnipath scheme on June 18 (Saturday). 

Former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief RKS Bhaduria said on Thursday that there is a lack of understanding of the Agnipath scheme and that there is no place for violence and protest of this nature for youth who are aspiring to join the defence forces. 

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Agnipath scheme and said it will not solve the issue of unemployment in the country. 

Amid violent protests seen across several states against the Centre's Agnipath scheme, people in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh held a peaceful protest. The protest was held at the at Siltham Chowk but led to a brief traffic jam on Wadda, Munsiyari, Dharchula routes, Pithoragarh SDM Sundar Singh told news agency PTI on Thursday. 

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday urged protesters agitating against the Agnipath scheme to maintain peace and emphasised the need to understand the recruitment initiative before showing outrage. 

"I urge everyone to maintain peace. Certainly, Narendra Modi, who is the successful Prime Minister of the country, always thinks and does good about the youth. There is a feeling of doing good in their thoughts for you too," Thakur was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

The railways said on Thursday that more than 34 trains were cancelled and eight more are partially cancelled due to the ongoing protests against the Agnipath scheme. The railways added that 72 trains were also running late due to protests. 

Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Thursday urged those protesting against the Agnipath scheme to stop their agitation and claimed that some people were using students for their own political gains, a reference to opposition parties that have criticised the scheme. 

"We assure you that this programme is a constructive step to bring in long-term positive results. Lakhs of youngsters will not only benefit from this but nationalistic sentiments within them will also be strengthened," Choubey said in a statement. 

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Thursday that the Centre's Agnipath scheme is controversial, carries multiple risks, subverts the long-standing traditions & ethos of armed forces and there's no guarantee that soldiers recruited under the scheme will be better trained and motivated to defend the country. 

The Union education ministry said on Thursday that the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is instituting a special programme in consultation with defence authorities to enable Agniveers who have passed class 10, to further their education and obtain a class 12 pass certificate by developing customised courses that are relevant to their area of service. 

Army aspirants protesting against the Agnipath scheme attacked BJP MLA Aruna Devi's vehicle at Nawada and also torched the party office in the city. In Chapra, BJP MLA C M Gupta's house was also attacked by the protesters. 

The protests against the Centre's Agnipath scheme have spread in several states including Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi among others. 

Bihar deputy chief minister Tarkishore Prasad on Thursday urged the armed forces aspirants in the state who are protesting against the Agnipath scheme to take back their protest. 

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Thursday that the Agnipath scheme for the short-term recruitment in the armed forces is a good opportunity for the state's youth where serving in the defence is a much sought after profession. 

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun, Dhami said, “Uttarakhand's association with the armed forces is well known. The history of the country's armed forces is full of the stories of the valour of soldiers from our state which is also called sainyabhoomi,” news agency PTI reported. 

Left parties have demanded that the 'Agnipath' scheme be scrapped and taken up in Parliament for discussion, alleging that it does a 'disservice' to India's national interests. "The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly disapproves the 'Agnipath' scheme that does disservice to India's national interests. Professional armed forces cannot be raised by recruiting 'soldiers on contract' for a period of four years. This scheme, to save pension money, severely compromises the quality and efficiency of our professional armed forces," CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi urged prime minister Narendra Modi to listen to the voice of the protesters and the country's unemployed youth and not take an 'agnipareeksha' of their patience by making them walk on an 'Agnipath'. On Wednesday, he had warned that this scheme would reduce the operational effectiveness of the armed forces, and stressed that the dignity and valour of India's soldiers must not be compromised.

In Delhi, according to police, around 15-20 people gathered at Nangloi Railway Station around 9.45 am to protest against a delay in railway recruitment examinations and also against the Agnipath scheme. They stopped a train which was bound for Old Delhi from Jind in Haryana, police said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has backed armed forces aspirants protesting against the 'Agnipath' scheme and has appealed to the government to give these young men and women the chance to serve the country throughout their life and not just four years.

Three trains were set on fire in Bihar - in the Chhapra, Gopalganj and Kaimur districts. Stone-throwing was reported from Ara railway station in the state as more protestors resorted to picketing and road blockades. Protests were also reported from Bhagalpur, Arwal, Buxar, Gaya, Munger, Nawada, Saharsa, Siwan and Aurangabad districts.

Scores of youngsters gathered in Bulandshahr and Ballia districts to protest against the Agnipath scheme. According to news agency PTI, they gathered in the Khurja locality and the city area of Bulandshahr and raised slogans against the government, demanding the scheme be withdrawn.

A group of 60 people staged a protest at Kotwari area under Rasra police station limits. They called off the protest late after the administration authorities spoke to them, officials told PTI.