In a major policy initiative aimed at ensuring post-service career opportunities for personnel recruited under the Agnipath scheme, the Government of India has announced 50% reservation for retired Agniveers in the recruitment of Constable (General Duty) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Rifleman posts in the Assam Rifles.
The announcement was made by Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 21 July 2026.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), a new category of Ex-Agniveers has been created specifically for recruitment to these posts. The move is intended to provide a structured pathway for Agniveers transitioning from military service to careers in India’s internal security forces.
Under the new provisions, 50% of all vacancies for the posts of Constable (GD) in the CAPFs and Rifleman in the Assam Rifles will be reserved for eligible retired Agniveers. The reservation is expected to significantly enhance employment prospects for Agniveers after they complete their four-year tenure in the Armed Forces.
In addition to reservation, the government has approved relaxation in the upper age limit for Ex-Agniveers. Eligible candidates will receive a three-year relaxation beyond the prescribed maximum age. Furthermore, recognising the unique circumstances of the inaugural batch recruited under the Agnipath scheme, the government has granted an additional age relaxation of five years beyond the prescribed upper age limit for the first batch of Ex-Agniveers.
The Ministry has also announced substantial concessions in the recruitment process. Retired Agniveers will be exempted from the Physical Standards Test (PST), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), and the written examination while applying for Constable (GD) and Rifleman posts in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles. These exemptions acknowledge the military training, discipline, and operational experience gained by Agniveers during their service in the Armed Forces.
To further strengthen the transition of Agniveers into civilian and security-sector employment, the Ministry of Home Affairs has established a dedicated Ex-Agniveer Wing. The new wing will coordinate and facilitate the future progression, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities of Ex-Agniveers across various organisations under the Ministry.
The government also clarified that the first batch of Agniveers has not yet completed its four-year term of engagement, meaning recruitment under these new provisions will commence once the first batch becomes eligible for discharge and transition into civilian employment.
The latest announcement reinforces the government’s commitment to providing meaningful career opportunities to Agniveers after military service. Since the launch of the Agnipath scheme in 2022, the Centre has introduced multiple initiatives to facilitate the absorption of Ex-Agniveers into central police forces, state police organisations, public sector undertakings, and private industry.
With the introduction of a dedicated Ex-Agniveer recruitment category, substantial reservation, age relaxations, and exemptions from several stages of the recruitment process, the government aims to ensure that trained military personnel continue contributing to national security while building stable careers in the country’s internal security apparatus after completing their service in the Armed Forces.
