The National Institute of Open Schooling, an autonomous institution under the Centre's Department of School Education and Literacy, will be developing customised courses for Agniveers recruited under the Agnipath scheme to enable them to finish their school education.

In a statement on Thursday (16 June), Department of School Education and Literacy, under the Education Ministry, said that the Agnipath scheme provides youths an opportunity to serve in the armed forces as “Agniveer” for a period of four years.

The Agniveers will be recruited between the ages of 17.5 to 21 years and candidates who are 10th or 12th pass can apply for the recruitment process, the department said.

"To support this initiative, the Department of School Education & Literacy through its autonomous institution, the National Institute of Open Schooling, is instituting a special programme in consultation with the Defence Authorities to enable those Agniveers who are 10^th class pass to further their education and obtain a 12th class pass certificate by developing customised courses that are not only current but very relevant to their area of service," it added.

This certificate is recognised for both employment and higher education purposes in the whole country, the department said, adding that it will benefit the Agniveers to gain adequate educational qualification and skills to take up productive role in society later in life.

"This special programme of NIOS will facilitate enrolment, development of courses, student support, provision of self-learning material, accreditation of study centres, personal contact programme, evaluation and certification," the department said..