Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 26: In a landmark move, the Karnataka police department has announced a five-year relaxation in the maximum age limit for candidates applying through direct recruitment across all categories. The one-time measure will apply to all recruitment notifications issued between March 24, 2026, and December 31, 2027, aiming to provide relief to aspirants whose age limits were exceeded due to COVID-19 and administrative delays.
Dr M A Saleem, director general of police (DGP) of Karnataka, issued the official order granting the age relaxation, which is applicable to candidates from all categories — General, Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
“This age relaxation is a one-time measure,” said a senior police official. “It will apply only to recruitment notifications issued between March 24, 2026, and December 31, 2027. Candidates can now participate even if they had exceeded the maximum age limit under current rules.”
The measure offers a significant opportunity to candidates who were previously barred from applying due to age restrictions and applies equally to all categories, ensuring fairness and justice for aspirants affected by earlier delays. It covers various direct recruitment posts in the Karnataka Police Department, including police sub-inspector (PSI), police constable (PC), and other direct recruitment positions.
Recruitment processes in the police department were delayed in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other administrative reasons, causing many candidates to exceed the age limit. Recognising this, the state government has introduced this special measure to provide a fair opportunity to affected aspirants.
The decision offers thousands of young aspirants a renewed chance to serve in the police department. Candidates who had previously abandoned their ambitions due to age restrictions can now attempt recruitment once again. Officials expect a higher turnout in upcoming recruitment drives, making this a landmark decision in Karnataka’s police recruitment policy.