Mumbai/Nagpur, October 23, 2026: The Maharashtra government has appointed the first batch of 282 Navy Agniveers, all residents of the state, as police constables, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Friday. The appointees comprise 150 Seaman Deckside and 132 Seaman Engineside personnel. Appointment orders have been issued following receipt of the initial list from the central government.
In a post on X, CM Fadnavis stated: “Great News! We had taken the decision in the state cabinet to provide reservation in government jobs to the Agneepveers fighting for the country. Accordingly, necessary changes have been made in the rules, and now approval has been granted to appoint 282 Agneepveers. The first list of 282 Navy Agneepveers who are residents of Maharashtra state had been received by the state government from the central government.
Accordingly, 282 Agneepveers—150 Seaman Deckside and 132 Seaman Engineside—have been appointed as Police Constables, and the respective orders have also been provided to them. My heartfelt best wishes to all of them in their new roles!”
The appointments implement the state cabinet’s decision of September 29, 2026, which approved a 10 per cent horizontal reservation for Maharashtra-domiciled former Agniveers in Group-C uniformed posts. These include positions in the Maharashtra Police, State Reserve Police Force, fire services, coastal security, prisons, Home Guards, and related cadres.
Eligible Agniveers are absorbed through direct recruitment without appearing for competitive examinations or repeating basic training, with provisions for age relaxation and other concessions. Navy personnel are prioritised for the state’s coastal security wing, and sanctioned-post limits may be relaxed as a special measure to accommodate them.
Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis confirmed that the first batch received from the Navy has been fully integrated into the coastal security wing. He noted that their extensive training, including service on borders and in challenging terrains, would strengthen coastal security and prove mutually beneficial.
He further announced that opportunities would be extended to Agniveers from the Army and the Indian Air Force: “Moving forward, we will certainly provide opportunities for Agniveers from the Army and the Air Force to join our police force as well.” The government has decided that any Agniveer wishing to transition into the Maharashtra Police will be inducted.
The move addresses post-service employment under the Agnipath scheme, launched by the Centre in 2022. Under the scheme, recruits serve a four-year tenure, after which approximately 25 per cent are retained in the armed forces and the remaining 75 per cent are released. Maharashtra has indicated that of the first batch of Agniveers completing their tenure, around 2,496 are from the state.
The policy aligns with similar measures in other states, including Assam (12 per cent reservation in certain constable-level posts) and Gujarat (direct recruitment into the police with a 20 per cent reservation). It aims to utilise the disciplined training and skills of former Agniveers in state uniformed services while providing a structured second-career pathway.
