Congress Promises Agniveer Jobs and OPS Restoration in Uttarakhand

Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has pledged that his party will provide government jobs to Agniveers and restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in Uttarakhand. Speaking at a public event on Saturday, August 8, 2026, Kharge expressed high confidence that the Congress would form the next government in the hill state. This announcement targets two of the most significant socio-economic concerns in the region, where military service and government employment are primary career paths for the local population.

The promise to accommodate Agniveers in vacant government posts is a direct attempt to capitalize on local dissatisfaction with the central government's Agnipath scheme. Uttarakhand contributes a disproportionately high number of soldiers to the Indian Army, and the temporary nature of the Agnipath recruitment has been a major point of contention among the youth. By offering permanent state government roles to those completing their four-year military tenure, the Congress seeks to position itself as a protector of the state's martial tradition and economic security. This move aligns with the party's national narrative against short-term military contracts.

The second pillar of Kharge’s promise involves the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, a policy that has yielded significant electoral dividends for the party in other states. Uttarakhand has a large population of retired and serving government employees who have been advocating for the return of the guaranteed pension system. Kharge emphasized that the Congress government would prioritize the welfare of state workers over fiscal conservatism. As the state moves toward its next assembly election cycle, these dual promises on employment and social security are expected to form the core of the opposition's campaign to unseat the incumbent administration.