UP Grants Reservation For Agniveers In Police Jobs. Check Out Quota

The move, the first of its kind in the country, will apply to the recruitment of constables, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel, mounted police, and firemen.

File photo of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Source : PTI

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved 20 per cent horizontal reservation for former Agniveers in direct recruitment for various posts in the state’s police and emergency services.

The move, the first of its kind in the country, will apply to the recruitment of constables, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel, mounted police, and firemen. In addition, eligible applicants will receive a three-year relaxation in the upper age limit. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

With this, the UP government has become the first state in the country to extend such a provision, ensuring trained, disciplined, and motivated personnel for the state’s security forces while fulfilling its commitment to Agnipath recruits. The first batch is expected to join in 2026.

Earlier, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that the Agniveers who return after serving the country will be given weightage in UP Police and PAC force.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the move was aimed at providing meaningful post-service opportunities to Agniveers, who have completed their four-year term under the Agnipath scheme.

"This is a significant decision. The reservation will be applicable across categories — general, SC, ST, and OBC. If an Agniveer belongs to the SC category, the reservation will apply within SC; if OBC, then within OBC,” the minister said.

He added that special age relaxation of up to three years will also be provided to Agniveers applying for these posts. There are four categories--constable police, constable PAC, mounted police and fireman --in which recruitment will be made.

The first batch of recruits under this system will come out in 2026, he said. "Several states and central forces have already taken initiative to provide reservation to Agniveers. States like Haryana and Odisha have offered 10 per cent reservation to former Agniveers. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has now approved 20 per cent horizontal reservation, which is a bold and generous initiative,” Khanna said.

“This not only recognises their service but ensures they can continue contributing to the nation’s security infrastructure after their military stint,” he said. The Centre introduced the Agnipath scheme in 2022 for short-term induction of personnel in the Army, Navy and Air Force with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services.