Maharashtra Police has finally ended the long wait for vacant positions. Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved the recruitment of a total of 15,631 positions in the police force and prison department’s constable category, opening new opportunities for youth in the state. The cabinet formally approved this recruitment on August 12, 2025. The recruitment process has begun. Notably, candidates who exceeded the age limit in 2022 and 2023 have been given one final opportunity through this recruitment process. This has provided many candidates the chance to fulfill their “khaki uniform dreams” once again.
This decision by the Devendra Fadnavis government has generated new enthusiasm among youth in the state. From major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) to rural police units across the state, preparations for the recruitment process have begun. This recruitment will fill various positions including police constable, police constable driver, armed police constable, bands man, and prison constable. These include both regular positions in the police force and those that become vacant due to retirement. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had stated during the monsoon session of the state legislature in 2025 that the state would conduct recruitment for 13,560 vacant positions under the Maharashtra State Police Recruitment (Police Constable Recruitment 2025). Accordingly, the state government has released an advertisement for 15,631 positions.
10% Reservation for Youth from Maratha Community in SEBC Quota
Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis has maintained the principles of social justice and equal opportunity in this recruitment by providing reservations for various social groups. Following the announcement made by the Mahayuti government in 2024, 10% reservation has been provided to candidates from the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category. This has provided a golden opportunity for youth from the Maratha community by reserving 10% positions in police recruitment. With the Mahayuti government implementing SEBC reservation in Maharashtra, the path has opened for qualified youth from the Maratha community to enter government service.
5% Reservation for Athletes in Police Recruitment
Additionally, as per the government order dated July 1, 2025 passed by the Devendra Fadnavis government, skilled athletes in the state have been provided 5% reservation in government jobs as well as police recruitment. This decision has given athletes in the state the opportunity to secure positions in the police force based on their sporting prowess. Athletes who have shown remarkable performance in individual as well as team competitions will receive preference in this recruitment. With the Devendra Fadnavis government’s decision, a new path from “athlete to khaki” has opened for enthusiastic youth.
How Many Vacant Positions by December 2025?
In Maharashtra’s police department, approximately 12,702 positions in the police constable category will become vacant during the period from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. The police constable driver category will have 478 vacant positions. Similarly, 1,652 positions in the armed police constable category of the State Reserved Police Force will become vacant. There will be 19 vacant positions in the police constable bands man category. Regarding these positions, the police department has decided to fill 61 positions in the police constable category for bands man posts. The prison constable category will have 554 vacant positions. Keeping in view the need to quickly fill these vacant positions in various cities and districts of the state including Mumbai, the state government has released an advertisement for 15,631 positions. The last date to apply for police recruitment is November 30. Candidates can submit online applications by then.
Previously, the state government released an updated service structure for filling vacant police positions. As per the guidelines in the service structure, the police recruitment includes reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Denotified Tribes (Group A), Nomadic Tribes (Groups B, C, D), Other Backward Classes, Special Backward Categories, SEBC, EWS, and General category. Additionally, in light of social awareness, 1% of the total vacant positions in police recruitment have been reserved for women athletes, project-affected persons, earthquake-affected persons, ex-servicemen, part-time graduates, police employees’ dependents, and orphan candidates. This demonstrates the government’s inclusivity.
In this entire police recruitment process, the Home Department has issued orders to conduct recruitment at the local level, giving priority to the principles of transparency, quality, and justice. Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis has committed to making the state police force more efficient, modern, and filled with the energy of youth. This decision will not only provide employment opportunities to thousands of unemployed youth, but will also strengthen the state’s security system. This police recruitment, based on the values of social inclusion, justice in reservations, and equal opportunity, stands as an excellent example of the state government’s progressive and inclusive approach.
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