In a major policy initiative aimed at honoring military service and securing post-defense livelihoods for armed forces veterans, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, sanctioned a 20 percent horizontal reservation for former Agniveers across major state uniformed forces. The decision directly integrates skilled defense personnel into the Prison Administration and Reform Department as well as the Transport Department, ensuring smooth career transitions for candidates who conclude their four-year military tenure under the central Agnipath scheme. To facilitate seamless induction into civil administrative machinery, the state government has additionally authorized a critical three-year relaxation in the upper age ceiling for eligible applicants, ensuring that their dedicated service years enhance their career prospects rather than restricting them.

Lateral Entry Rules: 20% Horizontal Quota for Jail Warders and Enforcement Constables

Under the newly approved recruitment framework, former Agniveers will receive 20 percent horizontal reservation within their respective social categories for direct recruitment posts of Enforcement Constable in the Transport Department. The same 20 percent horizontal reservation formula applies to direct recruitment vacancies for Jail Warders within the state's correctional facilities. Because the policy functions as horizontal accommodation, qualifying Agniveer candidates will be adjusted seamlessly within their general, other backward class, scheduled caste, or scheduled tribe categories. This targeted reservation, backed by the 3-year age buffer, ensures that disciplined military veterans gain a robust platform to reinforce law enforcement, transport vigilance, and correctional security operations throughout Uttar Pradesh.

Healthcare and Financial Shield: ₹5-Lakh Cashless Ayushman Cover for PRD, Anganwadi, and Midday Meal Workers

Broadening its social security footprint in the same high-level meeting, the Yogi administration unveiled comprehensive healthcare and economic safety nets for grassroots workers, including Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD) volunteers, council midday meal cooks, and Anganwadi workers and helpers. Alongside an honorarium increase designed to buffer daily household budgets, the Cabinet extended free, cashless medical insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year per family under the Ayushman Bharat health card mechanism. Recognizing that low-income public facilitators often face severe debt when confronting critical medical emergencies, this integrated welfare architecture delivers financial stability, medical protection, and peace of mind to millions of frontline grassroots service providers across the state.