7 days ago
UP Cabinet okays 20% quota for ex-Agniveers in police, fire service hiring
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to provide 20% reservation to former Agniveers in direct recruitment to the state police force, including the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC), Mounted Police, and the Fire Services.
Like ex-servicemen, former Agniveers will also get a relaxation of three years in the upper age limit based on their service duration.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said the Agnipath Yojana launched by the Central government 'offers an opportunity for 'patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Army, Navy and the Air Force'.
'The primary objective of this decision is to ensure meaningful post-service employment opportunities for Agniveers who complete their four-year tenure under the Agneepath scheme. This not only recognises their service but ensures they can continue contributing to the nation's security infrastructure after their military stint. The reservation will be applicable across all categories — general, scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribe (ST), and other backward class (OBC). For example, an SC category Agniveer will get the benefit within the SC category, and similarly for OBC and other groups,' he added.
The first recruitment batch under this policy is expected to be initiated in 2026, coinciding with the retirement of the first batch of Agniveers.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath holds cabinet meeting in Lucknow.
— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2025
Several states and central forces have introduced reservation policies for Agniveers with Haryana and Odisha offering 10%.
At the time of the launch of the Agneepath scheme, Chief Minister Adityanath had assured that former Agniveers would be given preference in the state police force, including the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary.
The move by the Yogi government aims to not only provide career opportunities to former Agniveers but also to bolster the state's security forces with well-trained, disciplined, and motivated personnel, the government said.
The Agneepath scheme was introduced by the Central government in 2022 to serve in the defence services — Army, Air Force and Navy — as Agniveers for a period of four years.
The scheme includes six months of training, and upon completion, 25% of Agniveers are inducted into regular service based on performance, while the remaining 75% are encouraged to pursue other career opportunities.
Minister Khanna said that 10 of the 11 proposals presented before the Cabinet were given approval.
