1st batch of Agniveers retiring soon: What's the retirement money, career options and benefits they will get

Around 18,300 Agniveers recruited in the first batch under the Centre’s Agnipath scheme are expected to leave the armed forces by December 31, 2026, after completing their four-year tenure. As the first major group prepares to transition out of military service, government recruitment opportunities, state-level reservations and jobs in other uniformed organisations are among the options available to them.

The Indian Navy will begin releasing personnel from the first batch in phases from mid-November, followed by the Indian Air Force and the Army, officials said. Around 75% of the first batch is expected to leave service, while the remaining personnel may continue in the regular cadre under the scheme’s retention provisions.

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What job opportunities are available to ex-Agniveers?

The Centre has introduced a 50% reservation for ex-Agniveers in recruitment to Constable (General Duty) posts in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Rifleman posts in Assam Rifles. Eligible candidates will also be exempt from the written examination, Physical Standard Test (PST) and Physical Efficiency Test (PET).

The recruitment provisions also include a three-year relaxation in the prescribed upper age limit. Candidates from the first batch will receive an additional five-year age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit.

Other potential employment avenues include state police forces, Indian Railways, the Coast Guard and 16 defence public sector undertakings. The availability and terms of recruitment will depend on the relevant organisation’s rules and notifications.

Which states have announced job reservations for Agniveers?

Several states have announced reservations, recruitment preferences or other employment measures for ex-Agniveers. The provisions differ by state and department.

• Maharashtra: The state has appointed 282 Navy Agniveers as police constables and announced recruitment-related quotas in its police forces.
• Assam: The state has approved a 12% horizontal reservation for eligible local Agniveers across 11 categories of government and police-allied posts, including Assam Police, Fire and Emergency Services, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Forest and Excise departments.
• Gujarat: The state has announced job quotas and priority in recruitment to armed police and the State Reserve Police (SRP).
• Haryana: The state has prepared direct employment opportunities and joining letters for outgoing Agniveers in state and uniformed services, under a 10% to 20% quota framework.
• Uttar Pradesh: The state has announced weightage and recruitment preferences in the police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).
• Uttarakhand: The state has provided for around 10% reservation in uniformed and police services.
• Madhya Pradesh: The state has introduced job reservations in the police and armed forces.
• Chhattisgarh: The state has added reservations for constable and forest guard recruitment.
• Odisha: The state has provided for a 10% quota and a five-year age relaxation in uniformed services.
• Arunachal Pradesh: The state has approved a 20% reservation in recruitment to various uniformed services.
• Sikkim: The state has announced a 20% reservation for Agniveers among 400 new vacancies in the Sikkim Police.
• Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi: These states have introduced or proposed recruitment preferences and reservation policies covering areas such as police, forest, jail and fire services.

Chandigarh approves 20% reservation in three departments

In Chandigarh, Governor and Union Territory Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has approved a 20% horizontal reservation for ex-Agniveers in direct recruitment to Group C Jail Warder posts in the Prisons Department.

The reservation will also apply to eligible posts in the Chandigarh Fire Services and Forest Department. Approval has additionally been granted for a 20% horizontal reservation for ex-Agniveers in direct recruitment to Constable (Executive and Wireless) posts in the Chandigarh Police.

Centre asks states to reserve 20% jobs

In March 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote to state governments urging them to reserve 20% of jobs for Agniveers after they complete their four-year tenure, an official told PTI.

The Centre’s proposal covered posts such as forest guards, mining guards, police constables, firemen, mounted police personnel, jail warders, Special Police Officers and State Disaster Response Force personnel.

The proposal was intended to support the transition of Agniveers into civilian employment after their military engagement ends. However, the implementation of such reservations depends on decisions and recruitment rules in individual states.

When was the Agnipath scheme launched?

The Centre launched the Agnipath scheme in June 2022 to recruit young personnel into the Army, Navy and Air Force for a four-year term. Recruits under the programme are known as Agniveers.

The prescribed age range at the time of the scheme’s launch was 17.5 to 21 years. The upper age limit was temporarily relaxed to 23 years for the first recruitment cycle following the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the first batch approaches the end of its tenure, the focus is shifting to how those leaving the armed forces can use their training and experience to pursue careers in other uniformed services and government departments.