Uttar Pradesh Government Allocates 20% Police Recruitment Quota for Agniveers

Uttar Pradesh's New Initiative for Agniveers

The Uttar Pradesh state government announced on Tuesday a decision to allocate a 20% reservation for Agniveers in direct recruitment for various positions within the state police. This resolution was made during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna addressed the media following the meeting, stating that this initiative aims to provide significant employment opportunities for Agniveers upon completing their four-year tenure under the Agnipath scheme.

Khanna emphasized the importance of this decision, noting that the reservation will encompass various categories, including general, SC, ST, and OBC. He clarified that if an Agniveer belongs to the SC category, the reservation will be applicable within that group, and similarly for OBC.

Additionally, he mentioned that Agniveers will benefit from an age relaxation of up to three years for these positions. The recruitment will cover four roles: constable police, constable PAC, mounted police, and fireman.

Khanna remarked, “Many states and central forces have already initiated reservations for Agniveers. For instance, Haryana and Odisha have implemented a 10% reservation for former Agniveers. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet's approval of a 20% horizontal reservation is a commendable and generous step.”

He further noted that the first group of recruits under this scheme is expected to emerge in 2026. Khanna reiterated that this initiative not only acknowledges the service of Agniveers but also ensures their continued contribution to the nation's security framework after their military service.

The Agnipath scheme was introduced by the Centre in 2022 to recruit personnel for short terms in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, aiming to lower the age profile of these services.