New Delhi, Jul 12 (IANS): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, gave its approval to raise the retirement age of medical officers working with paramilitary forces under the Union Home Ministry.

The age limit for the general duty and specialist medical officers of the paramilitary forces has been increased from 60 to 65 years, a Home Ministry statement said.

"It would help in retention of officers in specialist and general duty medical cadre and thereby help in better patient care, proper academic activities in medical colleges and also in effective implementation of national health programmes for delivery of health care services," the statement said.

The paramilitary forces are Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).