Key Highlights
- Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved a 20% reservation for ex‑Agniveers in male constable (executive) posts.
- The amendment relaxes the upper age limit by three years, with an additional five‑year concession for the inaugural batch.
- Ex‑Agniveers are exempted from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) owing to their prior military training.
- The move is expected to boost Delhi Police’s operational discipline and reduce retraining expenditures.
Detailed Insights
The Delhi Police (Appointment and Recruitment) Rules, 1980, have been amended to create a dedicated quota for former Agniveers—a cohort that completes a four‑year tenure in the armed forces under the Agnipath Scheme launched in 2022. Candidates aged between 17.5 and 21 years join the scheme, serve for four years, and may either transition into permanent defence roles or exit with certification and monetary benefits. Under the new provision, 20% of the vacancies for male constable (executive) positions are earmarked for these veterans.
In addition to the reservation, the revision provides a three‑year age relaxation beyond the standard upper limit of 25 years, while the first batch of Agniveers receives a five‑year relaxation. Recognising that Agniveers undergo rigorous military conditioning, the amendment waives the compulsory Physical Efficiency Test, thereby streamlining their entry into civilian policing.
Delhi Police presently maintains a sanctioned strength of 42,452 male constables, tasked with law‑enforcement, crime prevention, patrolling, and public‑order duties. Integrating a sizeable pool of disciplined, field‑ready ex‑militants is projected to enhance efficiency, curb recruitment costs, and offer a structured post‑service career pathway for Agniveers.
Key Concepts
- Ex‑Agniveer: A youth who has completed a four‑year service period under the Agnipath (Agniveer) scheme and is transitioning to civilian employment.
- Physical Efficiency Test (PET): A standard fitness assessment conducted for police recruitment, which ex‑Agniveers are now exempted from.
- Age Relaxation: An extension of the upper age limit for eligibility; three years for all ex‑Agniveers and five years for the inaugural cohort.
- Reservation Quota: A statutory allocation of job seats—in this case, 20%—reserved for a specific category of applicants.