The Union Home Ministry has written to all state governments, urging them to provide a 20% reservation in employment for Agniveers who will complete their four-year tenure from next year.
The Agnipath scheme recruits youth into the armed forces on a four-year contractual basis. At the end of the term, 25% of those who perform well are retained as permanent soldiers, while the rest are released from service.
The Centre has already announced reservations for Agniveers in several central forces, including the Border Security Force. The latest communication seeks similar measures from states to support their rehabilitation and re-employment.
Former Himachal Pradesh Sainik Welfare director Brigadier Madan Sheel Sharma said the letter, sent by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, suggested reserving posts such as forest guards, mining guards, constables, firefighters, mounted police, prison warders, special police officers and roles in the State Disaster Response Force.
States such as Haryana and Uttarakhand have already announced reservations for Agniveers in police and other departments, he added.
