Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approves 20% reservation for former Agniveers in police recruitment

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath chairs a Cabinet meeting at Lok Bhavan, in Lucknow, on June 3, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI

The U.P. government on Tuesday (June 3, 2025) approved a proposal to provide 20% reservation to former Agniveers for recruitment to various posts in the Uttar Pradesh Police. The horizontal reservation will apply in direct recruitment as Police Constable, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), Mounted Constable, and Fireman.

“The main 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 reservation will be applicable across all categories — General, SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), and OBC (Other Backward Class) —within their respective groups. For example, an SC Agniveer will get the benefit within the SC category, and similarly for OBC and other groups,” Suresh Kumar Khanna, U.P. Finance Minister, said after the State Cabinet meeting.

The U.P. government also said that former Agniveers applying to these posts would be eligible to a three-year age relaxation. The first batch of recruitments under the policy is expected to be initiated in 2026, coinciding with the return of the first batch of Agniveers.

“This decision not only honours the service of Agniveers but also ensures their continued contribution to national security in a new capacity,” the State government said in a statement. 

The Agneepath scheme, introduced by the Union government, enables youth to serve in the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy as Agniveers for a period of four years. 

In July 2024, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared that the State government would provide reservations to Agniveers in government services. “When Agniveers return after their service, the Uttar Pradesh government will provide these youth the facility of adjustment in the police service and PAC on a priority basis,” Mr. Adityanath had said. 

Published - June 03, 2025 09:13 pm IST