A day after the Union Cabinet approved 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme under which the youth would get an opportunity to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of four years as 'Agniveers', the Education Ministry on Wednesday (15 June) announced that it will launch a special three-year skill based bachelor degree programme for serving defence personnel that will recognise the skill training received them during their tenure in the forces.

The programme will enhance the future career prospects of Agniveers, and equip them for various job roles in the civilian sector.

"Under this programme, that has been designed by IGNOU and will also be executed by them, 50 per cent of the credits required for a graduate degree will come from the skill training - both technical and non-technical - received by the Agniveer, and the remaining 50 per cent will come from a basket of courses that cover a wide variety of subjects like languages, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Mathematics, Education, Commerce, Tourism, Vocational Studies, Agriculture and Jyotish, as also Ability Enhancement Courses on Environmental Studies and Communication Skills in English," the Education Ministry said in a release.

This programme is aligned with UGC norms and with the National Credit Framework/National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) as mandated under the National Education Policy 2020.

It also has provision for multiple exit points – undergraduate certificate on successful completion of the first year courses, undergraduate diploma on successful completion of the first and second year courses, and degree on completion of all the courses in three year time frame.

According to the ministry, the framework of the programme has been duly recognised by the concerned regulatory bodies - All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and UGC.

Degree will be awarded by IGNOU as per UGC nomenclature (BA; B. Com.; BA (vocational); BA (Tourism Management), and will be recognised both in India and abroad for employment and education, the ministry said.

The ministry added that the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force will sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with IGNOU for implementation of the scheme.

The Education Ministry's move comes after Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah on Wednesday (15 June) announced that the 'Agiveers' recruited through the 'Agnipath scheme will get preference for appointment in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles.