Maharashtra makes first 282 Navy Agniveers police constables, no exam needed

Maharashtra has appointed its first batch of 282 former Navy Agniveers as police constables, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday, the first intake under the state’s new policy for soldiers and sailors leaving the four-year Agnipath scheme.

The Centre sent the state a list of Navy Agniveers from Maharashtra who have completed their service, and appointment orders have now been issued. Of the 282, 150 served as Seaman Deckside and 132 as Seaman Engineside.

“We had decided in the state cabinet to provide reservation in government jobs to the Agneepveers fighting for the country,” Fadnavis wrote on X. “My heartfelt best wishes to all of them in their new roles.”

The state cabinet approved the policy on 29 September. It sets aside 10% of Group-C uniformed posts, including in the police, fire services and coastal security, as a horizontal reservation for former Agniveers. They can join without sitting a competitive exam or going through fresh training, and the upper age limit has been relaxed for them.

Former Navy Agniveers will also be placed directly in the state’s coastal security wing. To take in everyone who wants to join, the government has relaxed the usual caps on sanctioned posts as a special case, and the scheme also covers the fire department and prison security.

“Every Agniveer who wishes to transition into state government service will be absorbed directly,” Fadnavis said.

Under the Agnipath scheme, introduced in 2022, recruits serve four years, after which most leave the armed forces. Several states have since announced quotas and age relaxations to give them a second career.