The Union Home Ministry has sharply raised reservation for ex-Agniveers in Group C posts of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) from 10% to 50%. A senior official told The Hindu about this major change. On December 19, 2025, the Ministry notified that half of the vacant constable posts in the Border Security Force (BSF) will be reserved exclusively for ex-Agniveers. Ex-Agniveers will not need to pass Physical Standard Test or Physical Efficiency Test but must clear written exams, just like other candidates. The recruitment rules for all CAPF Group C posts will be amended in the coming days to support this move. This is a big shift from the earlier rule made in 2022, which capped the reservation at 10%. That earlier rule had sparked protests and became a key issue during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Ministry initially offered 10% reservation and age relaxations for Agniveers. The first batch of Agniveers can apply for CAPF recruitment in 2026. The new BSF recruitment rules now say 50% of vacancies will go to ex-Agniveers, 10% to ex-servicemen, and up to 3% for Tradesmen constables. Recruitment will happen in two phases: the first by the Nodal Force for the ex-Agniveers' seats, and the second by the Staff Selection Commission for other candidates and leftover vacancies. Additionally, the age limit for Tradesmen constables has been raised from 30 to 35 years, and minimum service time from 3 to 5 years. The upper age limit for deputation to other forces is now 56, up from 52 years. CAPFs include the BSF, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, and Assam Rifles.