By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 2: East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Rosetta M. Kurbah on Monday said that more than 500 youths from the district have joined the armed forces since the launch of the annual recruitment awareness initiative in 2023, with over 300 candidates joining the Border Security Force (BSF).
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a career guidance programme held at Soso Tham Auditorium, Kurbah expressed satisfaction with the growing response from local youths preparing for the upcoming Agniveer (Indian Army) and Agniveervayu (Indian Air Force) recruitment drives for 2026.
She said that over 900 candidates registered for the awareness session, with a notable presence of parents, reflecting increased interest in defence careers.
Highlighting the importance of the armed forces in ensuring national security, the Deputy Commissioner encouraged more youths from the district to come forward and utilise the opportunities.
Kurbah said that recruitment rallies will be held in Shillong to ensure accessibility for the aspirants from across the region. She added that the success of earlier guidance programmes was evident, as more than 700 candidates from the region joined the Agniveer and BSF in 2025.
During the session, Director of the Army Recruiting Office, Shillong, Vinay Kumar, provided aspirants with a detailed roadmap for the Agniveer recruitment process for 2026. He urged candidates to complete their registrations as soon as possible, noting that the registration window will remain open until April 1.
An Air Force representative outlined employment opportunities under the recruitment initiative and said that candidates aged 17½ to 22 years are eligible, with educational qualifications ranging from Class 8 to Class 12, depending on the category. He added that multiple entry categories are available, including technical posts for Class 12 candidates and nursing assistant roles, while opportunities are also open to women candidates.
Officials said that the selected candidates will undergo a multi-stage selection process, comprising a Physical Fitness Test, Physical Measurement Test, and Medical Examination. The online entrance examinations are scheduled between June 1 and June 15.
For women candidates, the baseline height requirement is 162 cm, with a relaxation of 4 cm for candidates from the Northeast, the Gorkha and the Garhwali communities. The physical fitness test includes a 1.6 km run to be completed within 7 minutes 30 seconds for Group I and between 7 minutes 31 seconds and 8 minutes for Group II. Addressing the aspirants, A. Muralidharan, Wing Commander and Commanding Officer of the Army Selection Centre Guwahati, announced that the upcoming Agniveervayu recruitment rally will be conducted in Shillong for candidates from all the north-eastern states.
He said that the rally is scheduled for March 20 at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters, Nonglyer. Candidates must have passed 10+2 or an equivalent examination with at least 50% aggregate marks and 50% in English. The minimum height requirement is 152 cm for male candidates and 147 cm for female candidates from the Northeast.
Muralidharan also stated that under the Agniveervayu scheme, up to 25% of the selected candidates may be enrolled into the permanent cadre based on performance.
Other officials present at the programme included Additional Deputy Commissioner Shanborlang Warjri and Zila Sainik Welfare Officer (retd), Lt. Col. Sebastian Marbaniang.
