Mumbai, September 30, 2026 — The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a policy to induct former Agniveers into the state police and other uniformed services without requiring them to sit for fresh recruitment examinations or repeat basic training.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, announced the decision after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He said the first batch of Agniveers recruited under the Centre’s 2022 Agnipath scheme is completing its four-year tenure and returning from the armed forces.
“The Centre has stipulated that 25 per cent of Agniveers would continue in the armed forces, while the remaining 75 per cent should be absorbed in various forces of the central and state governments,” Fadnavis told reporters. “Maharashtra has decided that Agniveers (not retained in the armed forces) will be accommodated in police and similar posts available in the state government forces.”
Under the policy, former Agniveers who are domiciled in Maharashtra will receive 10 per cent horizontal reservation in Group-C uniformed posts. They will be exempted from the written recruitment examination. Their military training will be recognised in place of the usual initial training modules, although post-specific instruction may still apply. For example, those joining the fire services may complete an accelerated programme in place of the full three-year course. A four-year relaxation in the upper age limit has also been approved.
The reservation and absorption provisions cover a wide range of posts, including:
- police constables and driver constables in the Maharashtra Police and State Reserve Police Force;
- prison constables;
- firemen and rescuers under the Directorate of Civil Defence and municipal corporations;
- Home Guard personnel;
- constable-sailors in the State Intelligence Department;
- jawan and jawan-cum-driver posts in the State Excise Department; and
- forest guards.
Agniveers discharged from the Indian Navy will be given priority for induction into the state’s coastal security wing. The government has indicated that sanctioned-post limits may be relaxed as a special measure to accommodate eligible Navy personnel. If existing vacancies prove insufficient, additional posts may be created.
Of the first batch completing service, approximately 2,496 Agniveers are from Maharashtra. The government has stated that every eligible candidate who wishes to join state service will be absorbed.
Fadnavis said the policy is intended to utilise the discipline, physical fitness and operational experience acquired during military service. “Every Agniveer who wishes to transition into state government service will be absorbed directly into our police and uniformed services without exam or training barriers,” he said.
A detailed government resolution setting out seniority, promotion, recognition of skills and remaining procedural matters is expected to follow. The move aligns with the Centre’s request that states create post-service pathways for the 75 per cent of Agniveers who will not be retained in the regular armed forces.
