The Uttar Pradesh Police Constable Recruitment 2026 has brought significant relief to thousands of aspirants. Home Guard volunteers applying for the 32,679 constable posts will now receive a three-year relaxation in the maximum age limit. The decision aligns with the age relaxation announced earlier for all categories by the state government on January five.
The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board clarified this update through its official website. There was earlier confusion regarding whether Home Guard volunteers would benefit from the revised age criteria. The recruitment board has now confirmed that Home Guard volunteers are eligible for the same three-year age relaxation. This clarification has removed uncertainty among applicants who serve or have served as Home Guards.
Major Boost Expected in Application Numbers
With the extension of the age limit across all categories, the UP Police Constable recruitment is expected to see a massive rise in applications. Initially, the number of applications was estimated to be around thirty lakh. After the age relaxation decision, officials now expect more than forty lakh applications.
The increased interest reflects the scale of the recruitment drive and the trust aspirants place in government jobs. The age relaxation has reopened opportunities for candidates who were earlier declared overage under previous criteria.
Revised Age Eligibility for Different Categories
Under the revised rules, candidates from the General and Economically Weaker Section categories who are below twenty five years of age can apply. Women candidates have also been granted a three-year relaxation in the maximum age limit.
Candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes can apply if they are below thirty years of age. Earlier, the recruitment advertisement had fixed the maximum age at twenty two years for General and EWS male candidates. For female candidates, the maximum age was twenty five years.
OBC, SC, and ST candidates earlier received a five-year relaxation. The new decision ensures broader inclusion and equal opportunity across categories.
Total Vacancies Under UP Police Constable Recruitment 2026
The recruitment drive covers multiple forces and departments within the Uttar Pradesh Police system. Out of the total 32,679 posts, a large number are reserved for constable positions in civil police and armed units.
The vacancies include 10,469 posts for Constable Civil Police. There are 15,131 posts for PAC Constables. Women PAC units account for 2,282 posts. The Special Security Force has 1,341 vacancies. Mounted Police has 71 posts. Jail Warder posts include 3,279 for men and 106 for women.
This large-scale recruitment is among the biggest police hiring drives in the state.
Educational Qualification and Preference Criteria
The minimum educational qualification required for UP Police Constable recruitment is passing the Class 12 examination. Candidates who have completed Intermediate level education are eligible to apply.
In cases where two or more candidates score equal marks, preference will be given based on additional qualifications. Candidates with DOEACC O Level certification may receive preference. Those holding NCC B certificates or having two years of service experience in the Territorial Army will also be considered favorably.
These criteria aim to recognize skill-based and service-oriented backgrounds.
Category Wise Vacancy Distribution
The recruitment board has released detailed category-wise vacancy data for different forces. In Civil Police Constable posts, unreserved category accounts for 4,191 posts. EWS has 1,046 posts. OBC candidates have 2,826 posts. SC category includes 2,198 posts, while ST category has 208 posts.
For PAC and Armed Police posts meant for male candidates, unreserved vacancies stand at 6,060. EWS has 1,512 posts. OBC has 4,083 posts. SC includes 3,176 posts, and ST has 300 posts.
The Special Security Force vacancies include 538 unreserved posts, 134 for EWS, 362 for OBC, 281 for SC, and 26 for ST candidates.
Women battalions in Lucknow, Badaun, and Gorakhpur together have 2,282 vacancies. These include 916 unreserved, 228 EWS, 615 OBC, 478 SC, and 45 ST posts.
Mounted Police has limited vacancies with 71 posts across all categories. Jail Warder male posts total 3,279, while female Jail Warder posts stand at 106.
Physical Standards for Male and Female Candidates
Physical standards remain a crucial part of the selection process. For male candidates from General, OBC, and SC categories, the minimum height requirement is 168 centimeters. Chest measurement without expansion should be at least 79 centimeters. With expansion, it should reach 84 centimeters.
For ST male candidates, the minimum height requirement is 160 centimeters. Chest measurement should be at least 77 centimeters without expansion and 82 centimeters after expansion.
Female candidates from General, OBC, and SC categories must have a minimum height of 152 centimeters. ST female candidates require a minimum height of 147 centimeters. The minimum weight requirement for female candidates is 40 kilograms.
Selection Process Explained
The selection process for UP Police Constable Vacancy 2026 includes multiple stages. Candidates must clear the written examination first. This is followed by the Physical Standard Test and document verification. After that, candidates must qualify the physical efficiency test, which includes a running test.
Only candidates who clear each stage successfully will be considered for final selection.
Written Examination Pattern and Marks
The written examination will be conducted for 300 marks. It will consist of 150 objective type questions. The paper duration will be two hours.
The syllabus includes General Knowledge, General Hindi, Numerical and Mental Ability, Mental Aptitude, Intelligence, and Logical Reasoning. Each correct answer will carry equal marks.
No Negative Marking in Exam
The state government has removed negative marking for the Constable and Jail Warder recruitment examinations. Earlier, wrong answers resulted in deduction of marks. For constable posts, two marks were awarded for correct answers, while half a mark was deducted for incorrect responses.
Under the new rules, candidates will not lose marks for wrong answers. This decision is expected to reduce exam stress and encourage attempts of all questions.
Minimum Qualifying Marks for Written Exam
The minimum passing percentage varies by category. Candidates from the unreserved category must score at least thirty percent. EWS and OBC candidates need a minimum of twenty five percent. SC and ST candidates must score at least twenty percent to qualify the written examination.
A Crucial Opportunity for Aspirants
The UP Police Constable Vacancy 2026 offers a major opportunity for lakhs of aspirants. The age relaxation, removal of negative marking, and large number of vacancies have made the recruitment process more inclusive. Candidates are advised to carefully review eligibility criteria and prepare thoroughly for the examination stages.
With application numbers expected to cross forty lakh, competition will be intense. Proper preparation and awareness of recruitment rules will play a decisive role in selection.
