Government Introduces 50% Reservation for Ex-Agniveers in SSC GD, CAPF and Assam Rifles Recruitment

The Government of India has created a separate category of Ex-Agniveers for recruitment to the posts of Constable (General Duty) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Rifleman in the Assam Rifles. This is a major career pathway for Agniveers after completion of their four-year tenure under the Agnipath Scheme and includes 50% reservation of vacancies, age relaxation and exemption from the Physical Standards Test (PST), Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and the written examination.

This was stated by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 21st July, 2026. Later, this was followed up with a formal MHA notification of new SSB recruitment rules, which puts the reservation into practice. This will have a direct impact on SSC GD aspirants in the future because the posts of Constable (GD) in CAPFs are filled through the SSC GD exam.

What Has the Government Announced?

The government has announced a new category “Ex-Agniveer” for recruitment to Constable (GD)/Rifleman posts in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. For the first time, the government has laid down a clear, force-wide reservation structure for personnel exiting the Agnipath Scheme. So the first batch of Agniveers has not yet completed its service term, which means the government has put in place this framework in advance and is ready to apply it the moment the first cohort becomes eligible,” the minister said.

Key Provisions for Ex-Agniveers

50% Reservation: Half of all vacancies in Constable (GD)/Rifleman recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles will be reserved for Ex-Agniveers.
Age Relaxation: 3 years’ relaxation in the upper age limit for all Ex-Agniveers. The first batch of ex-Agniveers gets an additional 5 years on top of that, taking their total relaxation up to 8 years.
Exemptions: Ex-Agniveers won’t need to appear for the PST, PET, or the written exam, since they’ve already been through equivalent training and screening during their service.
Dedicated Ex-Agniveer Wing: A separate wing has been set up under the MHA to coordinate the career progression of Ex-Agniveers into CAPFs and other opportunities.

Why This Matters for SSC GD Aspirants?

Constable (GD) posts in CAPFs and Assam Rifles are filled through the SSC GD Constable exam. With half these vacancies now set aside for Ex-Agniveers, the competitive landscape will shift once the first Agniveer batch becomes eligible.

A few things to keep in mind:

Future SSC GD vacancy notifications may show a specific Ex-Agniveer quota alongside the usual category-wise reservations.
General aspirants should watch the official SSC GD notification closely for the exact vacancy split once it’s released.
The exemptions given to Ex-Agniveers apply only to their reserved quota — the selection process for everyone else stays the same.

SSB Recruitment Rules 2026: How It Will Work

Following the Lok Sabha announcement, the MHA notified the Sashastra Seema Bal (Combatised General Duty) Group ‘C’ Posts Recruitment Rules, 2026, replacing the older 2011 rules. As per this notification, recruitment against Ex-Agniveer vacancies will happen in two phases:

Phase 1: The nodal force recruits specifically for the 50% vacancies reserved for Ex-Agniveers.
Phase 2: A regular open competitive exam fills the remaining 50%, plus any Phase 1 vacancies that stay unfilled.