The Punjab Government has drafted a rehabilitation policy for Agniveers completing their four-year tenure, proposing job reservations in select government departments. The policy comes as the first batch of Agniveers is set to conclude service by the end of this year.
Key provisions of the policy
According to government sources, the policy envisions 20 per cent reservation in posts of guards in the Department of Mines and 10 per cent reservation for constables in the Punjab Police, Home Guards, and forest guards in the Department of Forests and Wildlife. The Department of Personnel, in association with the Department of Defence Services Welfare, has prepared the policy and sent it to the Chief Secretary for concurrence. Once approved, it will be forwarded to the Cabinet for final clearance.
Comparison with other states
While Punjab finalises its policy, several other states have already announced similar measures. Haryana has fixed 20 per cent horizontal reservation in direct recruitment for uniformed state organisations, including police, forest guards, mining guards, and jail warders. Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh have also announced similar 20 per cent quotas. Various central government ministries have created quotas for Agniveers in the Central Armed Police Forces and other establishments, along with skill development programmes and qualification certification.
Background of the Agnipath scheme
Under the Agnipath scheme implemented in 2022, Agniveers are recruited for a four-year period including basic training. Of these, 25 per cent are absorbed into the permanent cadre, while the rest are released from service. The Indian Air Force initiated training of the first batch on December 30, 2022, followed by the Indian Army and Navy in January 2023.
Punjab's contribution to armed forces
Punjab is the second-largest contributor of manpower to the armed forces after Uttar Pradesh. Recruitment from the state often exceeds its prescribed quota, and vacancies allotted to other states that remain unutilised are frequently filled by candidates from Punjab.
Defence Secretary's remarks
Speaking at the Defence Skills Conclave organised by the Punjab Government in Chandigarh recently, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said, "Punjab, with its strong military tradition, could take the lead in tapping the skills of Agniveers by offering them institutional pathways to transition into the defence manufacturing ecosystem as supervisors, equipment maintainers or entrepreneurs."
