Abhishek Kumar | Dehradun4 hours ago
The biggest question for young people recruited under the Agnipath scheme has always been about their careers after four years of service. The Uttarakhand government is now preparing to address this concern.
The state is going to create the country’s first Agniveer Employment Cell (ARC), through which Agniveers returning from the army will be connected to five major career options, including government jobs, central security forces, private companies, tourism-disaster management, and self-employment. The government will start the system of online registration, skill mapping, and placement before the first batch returns in December 2026.
Colonel (Retired) Ajay Kothiyal, Chairman of the State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Advisory Council, providing information about the Agniveer Employment Cell.
Preparations to be completed before the first batch returns
On December 31, 2026, the first batch recruited under the Agnipath scheme will return after completing four years of service. After this, approximately 25 per cent of Agniveers will join the regular army, while the remaining 75 per cent of youth will have to search for new careers. Keeping this in mind, the Uttarakhand government is preparing an Agniveer Employment Cell following directives from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
According to Colonel (Retired) Ajay Kothiyal, Chairman of the State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Advisory Council, the employment cell arrangement will be implemented before the return of the first batch, so that the process of online registration and employment linkage of Agniveers can begin as soon as they return from the Army.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the creation of a separate employment cell for Agniveers at the Agniveer Dialogue program organised at Kuanwala Ground in Dehradun.
Now know in detail about five career options
1. Government jobs: Opportunities will increase with 10% reservation
After completing four years of service, government jobs will be the first major option for Agniveers. The Uttarakhand government has already decided to provide 10 per cent horizontal reservation to Agniveers in state government jobs. Additionally, they will be given priority in recruitments for state police and other security-related departments.
The Agniveer Employment Cell will provide information about these recruitments, eligibility, and application processes on a single platform, so that the youth don’t have to run around to different departments.
2. Benefits in central security forces and defence sector
The second major option for Agniveers will be jobs in central security forces and the defence sector. They will benefit from the discipline, weapons handling, security management, and field experience gained during their four years of service in the army in these recruitments.
The objective of the employment cell will also be to provide timely information about such opportunities and connect eligible youth with the application process.
3. Growing demand for trained youth in the private sector
The government’s plan is not to limit Agniveers only to government jobs. Coordination will be done with private companies to provide employment opportunities in more than 50 sectors, including security services, hotel industry, logistics, manufacturing, infrastructure, industrial units, and corporate sector.
The discipline, leadership ability, and decision-making skills developed during four years of military service are considered great strengths for private companies.
4. Opportunities will also open up in tourism and disaster management
In Uttarakhand, both tourism and disaster management are sectors where there is a constant need for trained human resources. The training of Agniveers can prove useful in areas such as Chardham Yatra, trekking, adventure activities, rescue operations, and disaster response.
The employment cell will coordinate with relevant departments and institutions to provide opportunities to youth in such sectors as well.
5. Self-employment and entrepreneurship will also become an option
If an Agniveer wants to start their own business instead of a job, the employment cell will also guide them towards self-employment. In the future, arrangements can also be developed for training and connecting with government schemes to start security agencies, adventure tourism, fitness centres, trekking services, logistics, or other small enterprises.
How the Employment Cell Will Work
The Agniveer Employment Cell will not just be an office providing job information. It is being developed as a digital platform where the entire process from registration to skill mapping, training and employment of Agniveers returning from the army will be completed at one place.
According to Colonel (Retired) Ajay Kothiyal, Chairman of the State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Advisory Council, this system will be implemented before the first batch returns.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami taking selfies with people during the Agniveer Samvad program organised at Kuanwala Ground in Dehradun.
Registration will create a digital skill bank
Under the employment cell, every Agniveer will be registered online. During the four years of military service, which trade they worked in, what technical and practical skills they acquired, leadership abilities, disaster management, security operations or other special training – a digital record of all these will be prepared.
This record will function as a ‘Skill Bank’ going forward. This will make it easier for government departments and private companies to find trained candidates according to their requirements.
Through the Agniveer Employment Cell, Agniveers will get facilities from registration to skill mapping, training and employment on a single platform.
Jobs will be determined through skill mapping
The qualifications and experience of all Agniveers will not be the same. Someone will be trained in technical trades, while someone will have experience in vehicle operation, communication systems, security management or disaster relief.
The employment cell will do skill mapping of each Agniveer and, based on that, it will be decided which sector job they are most suitable for. This will enable qualified candidates to get opportunities according to their capabilities.
Additional training will also be provided if needed
If additional technical training is required for a job in any department or private company, the employment cell will also arrange for it. For this, 10 to 15-day capsule courses and skill upgradation programmes will be conducted.
Its objective is to reduce the gap between the training received in the army and the needs of industries, so that Agniveers can be directly prepared for employment.
The entire system will operate under the CM Office’s supervision
The Agniveer Employment Cell will operate directly under the supervision of the Chief Minister’s Office. Through this, coordination will be done between various government departments, skill development agencies and private companies. Currently, a blueprint for the portal, office, operational system and departmental coordination is being prepared.
Why is Uttarakhand’s model important?
After the implementation of the Agnipath scheme, the biggest question has been what will be the future of the 75 per cent Agniveers who exit the military after completing four years of service. The central government has made announcements regarding priority and reservation in various government departments, central security forces, and public sector undertakings, but no such dedicated mechanism has been developed in the states yet.
Uttarakhand is now trying to address this gap. If the Agniveer Employment Cell starts on schedule and through it youth get employment in government departments as well as private companies, then this model can become an example for other states too.
However, its success will be determined not just by the creation of an employment cell, but by how many industries connect with it, how many youth actually get jobs, and how fast and transparent the placement process remains.
