Haryana Cabinet Waives Exams, Physical Tests for Ex-Agniveers in Several Government Posts
The Haryana Cabinet on Saturday approved amendments to the State's Agniveer policy, a decision aimed at helping former Agniveers secure gainful employment in government departments by recognising the training, discipline and skills they acquired during their service.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who chaired the Cabinet meeting, said Ex-Agniveers will be exempted from all types of examinations prescribed for direct recruitment to Group-C posts covered under the policy. They will be considered for direct appointment against advertised posts, subject to the prescribed reservation and other applicable recruitment provisions, he said.
The Cabinet also approved an exemption from the Physical Screening Test (PST) and the Physical Measurement Test (PMT), as applicable, for Ex-Agniveers applying for certain posts, Mr. Saini said. These are Wildlife Guard in the Environment, Forest and Wildlife Department; Constable in the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB); Constable in the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF); and Fire Operator-cum-Driver in the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. The Chief Minister said these posts had recently been brought under the State's Ex-Agniveer reservation policy.
What the Agniveer policy covers
Agniveers are recruits inducted into the armed forces under the Agnipath scheme, announced in 2022. They serve for four years, after which up to 25 per cent of each batch can be retained in the regular cadre. The remaining personnel return to civilian life, and several States have since announced reservations, age relaxations and other measures to support their transition to other employment. The scheme itself has been the subject of public debate, including over the job prospects of those not retained after four years.
Haryana's policy is part of that wider effort. The amendments approved on Saturday seek to simplify recruitment for eligible Ex-Agniveers by removing written examination requirements for the specified Group-C posts and by waiving physical tests for posts newly included under the policy. As stated in the Cabinet's decision, the exemptions operate within the existing framework of reservation and other recruitment rules, and do not override the eligibility conditions that apply to public employment.
Funds for local bodies
The Cabinet separately approved the continuation of the recommendations of the Sixth State Finance Commission for the devolution of funds to rural and urban local bodies from the financial year 2026-27, until the recommendations of the next State Finance Commission become available. Devolution refers to the transfer of a share of State revenues to panchayats and municipal bodies so that they can carry out local functions. Continuing with an existing formula is common practice while a new Finance Commission finalises its recommendations.
What happens next
The amendments will take effect through the recruitment notifications issued by the concerned departments. Prospective applicants will need to check individual advertisements for eligibility conditions, age limits, and the number and category of posts on offer.
