Will Yogi govt's Agniveer quota in police jobs boost BJP's nationalistic appeal?
Uttar Pradesh is now the first state to offer 20 per cent horizontal reservation to former Agniveers in police recruitment, a move the BJP government says fulfils its promise to reintegrate trained military youth into mainstream employment.The Yogi Adityanath cabinet earlier this week cleared the proposal, extending the reservation to posts such as police constable, PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) personnel, mounted constable and fireman. The government says this aims to provide career opportunities to former Agniveers while bolstering the state's security forces with well-trained and motivated personnel.advertisementState finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stated that the primary objective was to ensure meaningful post-service employment for Agniveers who complete their four-year tenure under the military's Agnipath scheme. He said the reservation will be applicable across all categories (General, SC, ST and OBC) within their respective groups. For example, an Agniveer from SC category will get the benefit within the same category, and so on.Khanna also announced that former Agniveers applying for these posts will be eligible for a three-year age relaxation. The first batch of recruitments is expected to be initiated in 2026, coinciding with the return of the first batch of Agniveers.
The Agnipath scheme, introduced by the central government in 2022, allows youth to serve in the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy as Agniveers for a period of four years. The scheme includes six months of training; upon completion, 25 per cent of Agniveers are inducted into regular service based on performance while the remaining 75 per cent are encouraged to pursue other career opportunities.advertisementBeyond a welfare measure, the decision also appears to be a calculated step to reinforce political credibility, manage public sentiment and respond to national security narratives, particularly in the context of recent tensions with Pakistan. It could also be seen as the government fulfilling its promise, as chief minister Yogi Adityanath had assured priority for Agniveers in the state police and PAC at the launch of the Agnipath scheme in 2022. This decision fulfils that pledge.The timing of the announcement, amidst rising border tensions and a surge in nationalist sentiment, is equally crucial. The Agnipath scheme, despite Opposition protests over its short-term nature and lack of guaranteed post-service opportunities, was positioned by the Centre as a patriotic initiative to rejuvenate the armed forces.By integrating trained Agniveers into the police, the UP government signals alignment with this nationalistic vision, a stance that resonates deeply with the BJP's core voter base. The move also helps tackle the longstanding challenge of unemployment among the youth. UP's 20 percent reservation, higher than other states like Haryana and Odisha (10 per cent), positions it as a leader in supporting Agniveers.Politically, the decision allows the BJP to seize control of the narrative around youth welfare and national service. Opposition parties, especially the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, have consistently targeted the BJP on issues like job creation and the Agneepath scheme's perceived flaws. By rolling out one of the most extensive reservation benefits for Agniveers in the country, the UP government seeks to not only neutralise that criticism but set a benchmark, and that too just in time for the assembly elections in 2027.advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine
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