Somehow most of us feel that “tattoo” and “Indian Army” are like the two poles of the Earth. While they exist on the same planet, they can never come together. This is because of the organization’s strict policy about tattoos that prevents young men and women from donning the OGs. However, with the Agniveer new tattoo policy, things are taking a turn.
It is quite likely that a similar change might be seen for officer’s selection as well. Hence, whether you’re applying as an Agniveer or an officer, we bring you the latest changes in the Indian Army’s policy for tattoos.
Why Does Army Allow Tattoos?
You might ask, “Are tattoos really allowed in the Indian Army?” If the answer is in affirmative, why does the organization allow these in the first place. Therefore, before we elaborate on the Agniveer new tattoo policy, it is important to know the basics.
The Indian Army understands that India is a diverse land with numerous cultures and people. Being a pan-India organization, it tries to respect this diversity by making certain special provisions for some communities. The tattoo policy is one such provision.
Generally, tribal communities of India have tribe-specific tattoos which form an essential part of their tribal identity. Hence, to avoid any discrimination, the Indian Army permits Agniveer aspirants from tribal communities/tribal areas to have permanent body tattoos under the Agniveer new tattoo policy.
Who Are Agniveers?
While most of us know who Agniveers are, for the unaware, these are personnel who are recruited as sepoy through recruitment rallies conducted by the respective AROs. These aspirants are inducted under the Tour of Duty or Agnipath scheme of recruitment, under which they serve in the Indian Army for a period of four years.
After the completion of their four years of service, about 25% of soldiers are retained, whereas the remaining carry the military ethics and values in the civilian world. The idea is to have a young and future-ready force that contributes effectively to the modernization of the organization.
Please bear in mind that when we talk about the Indian Army Agniveer new tattoo policy, we are only referring to those aspirants who wish to join as sepoys. If you are applying for officer’s entry or as an Agniveer in Indian Navy or IAF, there are no changes to the current tattoo policy for you.
What is the Agniveer New Tattoo Policy?
Now, let us understand what the Agniveer new tattoo policy is. The Indian Army announced this new policy on its official Instagram handle recently. You can rely on the portal for more such information.
According to the official source, candidates from tribal communities or tribal areas can have a permanent body tattoo based on their respective customs and traditions. For example,
If you belong to tribe X which mandates having a peacock feather as a body tattoo, you will be allowed to appear for the rally owing to your tribal traditions.
However, for this, you need to mandatorily submit two documents when you appear for the recruitment rally, which are:
- Self-Certification Certificate (Appendix E-I)
- Tribal Tattoo Permission Certificate signed by the DC/DM/SDM of your area (Appendix E-II)
These two documents act as a confirmation that your permanent body tattoo is an intrinsic part of your tribe’s traditions and hence, you should be allowed to appear for the recruitment process.
Are Religious Tattoos Allowed?
Apart from the Agniveer new tattoo policy for tribal communities, it also recognized the religious sentiments of people from different religious communities. Hence, the policy also mentions religious tattoos in detail.
As per the post, religious body tattoos are permitted only on the following parts of the body:
- Inner side of the forearm (from elbow to wrist)
- Back or dorsal side of the hand
Tattoos anywhere other than these two parts are strictly prohibited. For example, if you have a tattoo on your neck or leg, you cannot sit for the process at all.
Final Thoughts
The Indian Army respects the diversity that India contains, hence, its Agniveer new tattoo policy is a testament of the same. If you aspire to become a part of the organization but are worried about a permanent body tattoo, do not rely on sources that are not credible. Always go through the official notification and be thorough with the latest information from official sources.
