In a decisive move aimed at creating meaningful post-service career pathways for Agniveers, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a 20% reservation in direct recruitment to the state police and fire services for individuals completing their four-year military tenure under the Agnipath scheme. The government issued the official order on June 6, 2025, marking a significant step in honouring the service and skillsets of former soldiers.
The decision, approved by the UP Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, ensures that the discipline, training, and operational experience gained during military service are effectively integrated into the state’s civil security framework.
The reservation will be applied horizontally, cutting across all existing categories—General, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). For instance, an ex-Agniveer belonging to the SC category will be eligible for reservation within the SC quota, in line with prevailing reservation norms.
Eligible roles under this provision include recruitment as police constables, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constables, mounted police, and firemen. To further ease the transition from military to civilian employment, the government has also extended a special age relaxation of up to three years on the upper age limit for these positions.
This policy comes at a crucial time, as the first batch of Agniveers—recruited under the Agnipath scheme in 2022—will complete their service in 2026. Of these, approximately 75% are expected to exit military service with a Seva Nidhi package, but without pension benefits, prompting the need for robust re-employment avenues.
Uttar Pradesh’s 20% reservation policy sets a new benchmark nationwide, surpassing the 10% reservations announced in states like Haryana and Odisha, and reinforces the state’s commitment to seamlessly reintegrating former Agniveers into mainstream society.
This initiative is seen as both strategically forward-looking and socially responsible, aligning with the broader national vision of recognising and rewarding the dedication of India’s youth who serve under the Agnipath defence recruitment model.
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