Several States Announce Post-Retirement Reservation For Agniveers

Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat governments declared special provisions for Agniveers. These special provisions are in the form of reservation and age relaxation in state services.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas declared that former Agniveers will be granted reservation in government jobs in Uttarakhand. 

Addressing a programme Dhami said legislation will be brought to extend the reservation. "We will make provisions and bring an Act to give reservation to them in government services. We are working on this plan. We will make use of their skills and discipline in various government departments," he said. The chief minister also said that the aid extended to the kin of martyrs will be increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.

This declaration came also from Odisha, which stated 10% reservation for Agniveers in state's uninformed services and five years of age relaxation. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi made the declaration. "Our soldiers are our pride. Agniveers, who are trained by our defense forces, are qualified to serve the nation in various security-related sectors," he said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Agniveers who return after serving the country will be given weightage in UP Police and PAC force. "The country will get trained and disciplined young soldiers in the form of Agniveers," he added.

"The UP government has also said as the Agniveer scheme progresses and when these youth return after their service, we will provide facility and weightage for their adjustment in UP Police and PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) force. We will get trained and disciplined youth as Agniveers. Our government is fully committed to this," Adityanath further stated.

In Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also came up with a similar scheme. "As per the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MP government has decided to give reservation to Agniveers in police and armed forces," Yadav told reporters.

In Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the state would provide reservations for Agniveers from the state in recruitments for police constables and forest guards, among other posts. “The state government will soon issue necessary guidelines to provide a fixed reservation to Agniveers,” he said.

As far as Gujarat is concerned, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said his government will give priority to Agniveers in the recruitment of armed police as well as the State Reserve Police Force (SRP).

In a post on X (formally Twitter), Patel said, "The misinformation being spread by the opposition regarding the scheme is both absurd and condemnable. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many new reforms are taking place in the Indian Army and internal security system. Agnipath scheme is also one such initiative."