The Assam government has approved a 12% horizontal reservation for eligible former Agniveers in designated direct recruitment posts, with annual recruitment drives to begin in 2027, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on social media platform X on 27 October 2026. The decision was formalised in a notification from the Home (A) Department after the Assam Cabinet approved the measure on 4 October 2026.
“Those who served the nation with courage will have new avenues to serve Assam… This is about recognising service, valuing discipline and creating opportunities for those who deserve,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Who will be eligible
The notification sets out a strict eligibility framework. To claim the reservation an applicant must:
- be a permanent resident of Assam;
- have been enrolled under the Agnipath scheme into the Indian Army, Navy or Air Force;
- have completed the full four‑year term of engagement; and
- possess an official Agniveer certificate issued at discharge.
Posts and departments covered
The Home (A) Department notification lists designated posts across multiple state departments where the horizontal reservation will apply. The announcement names the following departments and services explicitly.
| Department / Service | Reservation type |
|---|---|
| Assam Police | 12% horizontal reservation |
| Forest Department | 12% horizontal reservation |
| Fire and Emergency Services | 12% horizontal reservation |
| State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) | 12% horizontal reservation |
| Prisons | 12% horizontal reservation |
| Home Guards | 12% horizontal reservation |
| Excise Department | 12% horizontal reservation |
The notification states the reservation will apply to direct recruitment vacancies in the designated posts and will be implemented through annual recruitment drives beginning in 2027. Further details on the specific posts covered, recruitment schedules and application procedures will be released under the applicable guidelines, the Home (A) Department said.
Context and implementation
The move is presented by the state government as an initiative to recognise the service and discipline of ex‑Agniveers and to expand their employment pathways within Assam’s public services. The notification frames the reservation as a horizontal category that will operate alongside existing reservation rules; the precise interaction with other categories and the procedures for verification of Agniveer certificates will be set out in subsequent recruitment rules and guidelines published by the state.
The announcement follows national‑level Agnipath arrangements under which recruits serve a four‑year engagement in the armed forces; the Assam notification limits the benefit to those who meet the residency and service conditions listed above.
