Lucknow,

03 June (HS): The Uttar Pradesh government resolved on Tuesday to grant 20%

reservation for Agniveers in direct recruitment to various jobs in the state

police force.

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting

led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Finance Minister Suresh

Kumar Khanna said the decision intends to give significant post-service

prospects to Agniveers who have finished their four-year tenure under the

Agnipath initiative. This is an important decision. The reservation will be applied to all

categories: general, SC, ST, and OBC. If

an Agniveer falls into the SC category, the reservation will apply within SC;

if OBC, it will apply within OBC, he stated. He also stated that Agniveers

applying for these positions will benefit from a three-year age relaxation.

Recruitment

will take place in four categories: constable police, constable PAC, mounted

police, and fireman. The first group of recruits under this arrangement would

be released in 2026, he added.

Several

states and central forces have already taken the effort to establish

reservations for Agniveers. Former

Agniveers have been awarded a 10% reservation in states such as Haryana and

Odisha. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has

now authorized 20% horizontal reservation, which Khanna described as a brave

and generous step. This not only acknowledges their service, but also assures

that they may continue to contribute to the nation's security system when they

leave the military, he added. In 2022, the Centre established the Agnipath

initiative for short-term entry of individuals in the Army, Navy, and Air Force

to reduce the age profile of the three services.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi