Key Highlights
- Uttar Pradesh approves a 20% horizontal reservation for former Agniveers in police recruitment.
- The reservation spans the General, SC, ST, and OBC quotas, preserving existing category structures.
- Eligible ex‑Agniveers receive a three‑year extension in the standard age limit.
- Implementation will start in 2026, coinciding with the first graduating batch of the Agniveer scheme.
- Seats covered include Constable, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), Mounted Constable, and Fireman.
Detailed Insights
The Cabinet’s decision underscores Uttar Pradesh’s commitment to honour the disciplined service of Agniveers by securing them meaningful civil service entry points. By granting a horizontal reservation, the state balances recognition of military training with the need to maintain equitable access across existing social categories.
The Agniveer mission, launched by the Union Government in 2022, recruits young adults aged 17.5 to 21 for a four‑year stint in the Army, Navy or Air Force. Post‑service, the majority are discharged, but a 25% selection pool remains eligible for further recruitment under the Seva Nidhi package. The reserve provision for police recruitment was a promise made by CM Yogi Adityanath in July 2024 and is now realised through the Cabinet resolution.
Beyond employment, the reservation is designed to infuse the police force with discipline, leadership and tactical skills acquired during military tenure. The three‑year age relaxation further expands the eligible pool, acknowledging the rigorous training period that may have otherwise disqualified candidates from standard age limits.
Key Concepts
- Agniveer – A young alumnus who completes a four‑year term of service in the Indian Armed Forces under the Agneepath scheme.
- Horizontal reservation – An additional quota that operates within existing category divisions, ensuring that it does not replace or augment any single group’s share.
- Age relaxation – A concession that extends the upper age threshold for qualifying candidates, in this case by three years for former Agniveers.