In a major relief for lakhs of aspirants, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a significant one-time relaxation in the upper age limit for a massive police recruitment drive in the state. The decision, notified through an official government order, grants a three-year age concession across all candidate categories.
Details of the Age Relaxation and Vacancies
The relaxation applies to the proposed direct recruitment for constable-level and equivalent positions within the Uttar Pradesh Police and its allied forces. According to the government order dated January 5, 2026, this move operationalises a decision following the recruitment advertisement issued on December 31, 2025.
A total of 32,679 posts are slated to be filled under this recruitment exercise, marking it as one of the largest police recruitment initiatives in the state in recent years. The breakdown of vacancies is as follows:
- Constable Civil Police (Men & Women): 10,469 posts
- Constable PAC/Armed Police (Men): 15,131 posts
- Special Security Force Constable (Men): 1,341 posts
- Constable for Women Battalions: 2,282 posts
- Mounted Police Constable (Men): 71 posts
- Jail Warders (Men & Women): 3,385 posts (3,279 for men, 106 for women)
Revised Age Limits and Official Rationale
The revised upper age limits now stand as follows: Candidates from the General category and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) can now apply up to 25 years, increased from the previous limit of 22 years. For candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the age limit has been extended to 30 years, up from 27 years.
Officials stated that the decision was taken under Rule 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Relaxation of Age Limit for Recruitment) Rules, 1992. The primary aim is to provide relief to candidates who had crossed the prescribed age limit due to delays in recruitment processes over the past few years.
Impact and Government's Vision
"With this relaxation, many aspirants who were earlier rendered ineligible due to age constraints will now get a fair opportunity to compete in the recruitment process," an official said. The move is expected to benefit a vast number of youth who have been preparing for these examinations.
The government believes this step will ensure greater participation, maintain transparency and inclusivity, and ultimately strengthen the police force by inducting motivated and trained young personnel. "By granting age relaxation in such a large-scale recruitment process, the govt has sent a clear message that it is responsive to the concerns of aspirants," the official added.
The decision is reportedly being widely welcomed by police recruitment aspirants across Uttar Pradesh, many of whom had been demanding such an age relaxation for several years. This recruitment drive is poised to open doors for thousands who had nearly lost hope due to age barriers.
