The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Tuesday approved a proposal granting 20% reservation in police recruitment for former Agniveers who complete their four-year service under the Agneepath scheme.
The reservation will be horizontal, applying across all categories — General, Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) — within their respective quotas. For instance, an SC candidate who is a former Agniveer will receive the benefit within the SC quota.
The reservation will be implemented in direct recruitment for the posts of Police Constable, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), Mounted Constable, and Fireman.
“The main objective of this decision is to ensure meaningful post-service employment opportunities for Agniveers, who complete their four-year tenure under the Agneepath scheme,” said Suresh Kumar Khanna, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister, after the Cabinet meeting at Lok Bhavan.
In addition to the reservation, former Agniveers applying for these posts will be eligible for a three-year relaxation in the upper age limit. The first round of recruitment under this policy is likely to begin in 2026, in line with the return of the first batch of Agniveers.
“This decision not only honours the service of Agniveers but also ensures their continued contribution to national security in a new capacity,” the State government said in an official statement.
The Agneepath scheme, launched by the Union government, allows youth to serve in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as Agniveers for a period of four years. In July 2024, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced the State’s commitment to providing employment opportunities to Agniveers in government services, particularly in the police and PAC.
