State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 05 Jun 2025

Horizontal Reservation for Agniveers in UP

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a 20% horizontal reservation to former Agniveers in various positions within the state police force. 

• In addition to reservation, the government has also provided a 3-year age relaxation to facilitate their recruitment.

Key Points 

• The Agnipath Scheme: 
  • About: 
    • The term "Agniveer" translates to "Fire-Warriors" and is a new military rank. 
    • It is a scheme of recruiting army personnel below officer ranks such as soldiers, airmen, and sailors who are not commissioned officers to the Indian Armed Forces. 
    • They are recruited for a period of 4 years, after which, up to 25% of these recruits (called Agniveers), can join the services on a permanent commission (another 15 years), subject to merit and organisational requirements. 
    • At present, all sailors, airmen, and soldiers, except the technical cadre of the medical branch, are recruited to the services under this scheme. 
  • Eligibility Criteria: 
    • Candidates between the age of 17.5 years to 23 years are eligible to apply (the upper age limit was increased from 21). 
    • Girls under the given age limit are open for agnipath entry, while there is no such reservation for women under this scheme. 
  • Pay & Benefits: 
    • Death on Duty: The family gets a combined sum of Rs 1 crore, which includes both the Seva Nidhi package and the soldier's unserved salary. 
    • Disability: An Agniveer can receive compensation up to Rs 44 lakh depending on the severity of the disability. This amount is provided only if the disability is caused by or worsened due to military service. 
    • Pensions: Agniveers won't receive a regular pension after their 4-year service, unlike soldiers in the traditional system. 
      • Only the 25% who get selected for permanent commission will be eligible for a pension. 
  • Goal of Agnipath: 
    • This scheme aims to maintain a youthful profile in the armed forces while optimising the force structure, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability in defence spending. 

Reservation 

• Reservation is a form of affirmative action, created to promote equality among marginalized sections, so as to protect them from social and historical injustice. 
• Generally, it means giving preferential treatment to marginalised sections of society in employment and access to education. 
• It was also originally initiate to correct historical injustice of discrimination and to give a boost to disadvantaged groups. 
• In India, people have been historically discriminated against on the basis of caste. 
• Vertical Reservation: 
  • Reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes is referred to as vertical reservation. 
  • It applies separately for each of the groups specified under the law. 
  • Example: Article 16(4) of the Constitution contemplates vertical reservation. 
• Horizontal Reservation: 
  • It refers to the equal opportunity provided to other categories of beneficiaries such as women, veterans, the transgender community, and individuals with disabilities, cutting through the vertical categories. 
    • The horizontal quota is applied separately to each vertical category, and not across the board. 
  • Example: Article 15 (3) of the Constitution contemplates horizontal reservation.