On January 5, 2026, a wave of relief swept across Uttar Pradesh’s job-seeking youth as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a significant one-time relaxation in the upper age limit for police recruitment. The state government’s new directive grants a uniform three-year extension to the maximum age allowed for all candidates applying for 32,679 constable-level posts in the police and prison departments, according to multiple reports from The New Indian Express and official government releases.
This move, which follows the recruitment advertisement issued on December 31, 2025, is seen as a direct response to years of pent-up demand and frustration among aspiring candidates. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with administrative delays, had led to a long hiatus in recruitment drives, especially for posts like Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Jail Warder, which had not seen openings in nearly seven years. Many eligible hopefuls, particularly those from the General category, found themselves disqualified by age before ever getting a chance to sit for the exams.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a statement shared on social media and quoted by The New Indian Express, underscored the administration’s priorities: “The welfare of the youth of the state is our highest priority. In this context, a decision has been taken to provide a three-year relaxation in the maximum age limit for all categories of candidates under direct recruitment-2025 for a total of 32,679 Constable Civil Police and equivalent posts in the UP Police. This decision reflects respect for the aspirations and hard work of millions of young people in Uttar Pradesh. The UP government stands fully committed and confident in the dreams of its hardworking youth.”
The age relaxation applies uniformly to all categories—General, OBC, SC, and ST—ensuring that no group is left out of this opportunity. The upper age limit has been increased from 22 years to 25 years for male candidates, and from 25 years to 28 years for female candidates, with an extra three years added to the previous thresholds. This exceptional measure, granted under Rule 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Public Services (Relaxation in Age Limit for Recruitment) Rules, 1992, is designed to offset the impact of recruitment delays and maximize participation in what has become one of the state’s largest hiring exercises in recent memory.
The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) wasted no time in implementing the new policy. The online application portal went live on December 31, 2025, and will remain open until January 30, 2026. Candidates are required to complete a One Time Registration (OTR) on the board’s official website—uppbpb.gov.in—before submitting their applications. All eligibility details, selection process guidelines, syllabus, exam schedules, and category-wise vacancy breakdowns are available on the portal, ensuring transparency and accessibility for all applicants.
Eligibility criteria remain straightforward: any candidate who has passed class 12th can apply for a variety of posts, including Constable Civil Police, Constable PAC, Constable Special Security Force (SSF), Female Constable for Women Battalion, Jail Warden (Male and Female), and Mounted Police. The inclusion of both police and jail department posts is especially notable, reflecting the state’s commitment to filling critical vacancies across the board.
Of the 32,679 available positions, a substantial 30,291 are reserved for male candidates, covering roles such as Constable Civil Police, Constable PAC, SSF, Mounted Police, and Jail Warden (Male). For female candidates, 2,388 posts are on offer, including positions in the Female Battalion and as Jail Wardens. The largest chunk of vacancies—15,131 posts—belongs to the Constable PAC, followed by 10,469 for Constable Civil Police, 1,341 for Special Security Force, 2,282 for Female Battalion, 71 for Mounted Police, 3,279 for Jail Warden (Male), and 106 for Jail Warden (Female).
Category-wise, the vacancies are distributed among UR (Unreserved), EWS (Economically Weaker Sections), OBC (Other Backward Classes), SC (Scheduled Castes), and ST (Scheduled Tribes) candidates, ensuring representation and opportunity for all segments of society. The selection process itself is rigorous and multi-staged, consisting of an online written examination, document verification, a physical standard test (PST), a physical efficiency test (PET), and a comprehensive medical examination.
Those who make it through this demanding process can look forward to a salary ranging from Rs 21,700 to Rs 69,100, depending on the post. This pay scale, while competitive, is only part of the attraction. For many, the chance to serve in the police or prison departments represents not just a job, but a calling—an opportunity to contribute to public safety and order in one of India’s most populous states.
The backstory to this policy shift is as compelling as the announcement itself. For years, candidates—especially from the General category—had been advocating for age relaxation, staging protests on the streets and on social media. Even some BJP legislators and allied parties lent their voices to the cause, writing to the government on behalf of the aspirants. The pandemic only intensified these calls, as repeated delays in recruitment left thousands in limbo, aging out of eligibility through no fault of their own.
With the government’s new order, these grievances have finally been addressed. The uniform age relaxation stands as an acknowledgment of the extraordinary circumstances of recent years—recognizing that the usual timelines for education, preparation, and application were upended by forces beyond anyone’s control. The decision also signals a renewed commitment to youth empowerment, a theme that has been central to the Yogi administration’s public messaging.
For the state’s young people, the message is clear: the window of opportunity is open once again, but only for a limited time. The January 30, 2026, deadline for applications is fast approaching, and officials are urging eligible candidates to act quickly to avoid missing out. As the UPPRPB’s website hosts a steady stream of registrations, the anticipation is palpable—not just for the jobs themselves, but for what they represent: a chance to build a future, serve the community, and realize long-held dreams.
As Uttar Pradesh embarks on this large-scale recruitment drive, the hope among officials and applicants alike is that the new policy will not only fill critical vacancies but also restore faith in the fairness and responsiveness of the system. The coming months will reveal how many seize this rare opportunity—and how the state’s police and prison departments are transformed by the new wave of recruits.
