Senior state ministers and BJP legislators have formally requested Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to raise the upper age limit for general category candidates in the current police recruitment drive. In a joint letter, State Minister (Independent Charge) Dr Arun Kumar Saxena, and MLAs Dr Shalabh Mani Tripathi, Anil Kumar Tripathi and Dinesh Rawat urged that the maximum age be increased from 22 to 25.
The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board last Thursday advertised 32,679 vacancies for constable and equivalent posts. The advertisement sets the maximum age for general category applicants at 22, a cutoff that the ministers say excludes many aspirants who have been preparing for years.
Why the call to change the Uttar Pradesh police age limit?
The ministers argue that many young candidates have trained physically and mentally for these positions over a long period. They say the 22-year ceiling will render a substantial number of hopefuls ineligible and impose emotional and financial strain on their families. The letter notes that in the earlier recruitment of 60,244 constables the government granted a three-year relaxation, which allowed older candidates to participate.
“Setting the maximum age at 22 has left many committed youths outside the recruitment process,” the legislators wrote, adding that a parity with the earlier relaxation would be fair and practical. The appeal also references a promise the chief minister reportedly made at a public outreach in Gorakhpur on 18 November 2025, when he indicated that applicants would receive a three-year concession.
Political leaders beyond the ruling party have already weighed in. Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav expressed support for the candidates’ demand on the social platform X, saying delays in the recruitment process had rendered some aspirants ineligible. Opposition leaders framed the issue as one of administrative delay and its human consequences.
The board’s advertisement for 32,679 posts has set off fresh debate over eligibility criteria. Recruitment officials have not yet issued a public response to the ministers’ letter, and it remains unclear whether the government will accede to the request before the selection process advances.
What applicants and families say
Prospective recruits and their families have voiced concern over the narrow age limit. Many describe years spent preparing for physical tests and written examinations, often alongside holding informal jobs to support training. For those slightly above 22, the current rule represents both a personal setback and an economic blow for households that invested in the candidate’s preparation.
Administrative timelines and the pace of recruitment drives are likely to shape the final outcome. If the state government chooses to extend the age limit to 25, thousands more applicants could become eligible, mirroring the earlier large-scale intake where a relaxation was permitted.
For now, candidates are awaiting an official decision from the state government and the recruitment board. Any change will have immediate implications for the ongoing selection process and for the many young people who have long planned careers in law enforcement.
Key Takeaways:
- Ministers call for raising the Uttar Pradesh police age limit from 22 to 25 for general category candidates.
- The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board has advertised 32,679 constable and equivalent vacancies.
- Ministers cite a previous three-year relaxation and a CM promise as reasons to extend the Uttar Pradesh police age limit.
