Deaths of candidates while running during recruitment physical tests: What compensation does the government provide?

Physical tests for the 2025 Uttar Pradesh Home Guard recruitment are currently underway, featuring a running component for candidates; similarly, running tests are being conducted as part of the physical assessment for Delhi Police recruitment. Both recruitment drives are currently making headlines—not so much for the physical tests themselves, but due to the deaths of candidates during the running events. Incidents involving the deaths of two candidates during these running tests have come to light. Following these tragedies, the families of the deceased are devastated, while other candidates are left with many questions.

In this context, let us explore whether the government provides compensation if a candidate dies while running during a recruitment physical test. We will also look into the specific cases of candidate deaths during the UP Home Guard and Delhi Police recruitment running tests.

**Death of Shivam Yadav (Bareilly) during UP Home Guard recruitment run**
A case involving the death of Shivam Yadav from Bareilly during the UP Home Guard recruitment run has been reported. According to reports, Shivam Yadav had traveled to Moradabad for the Home Guard recruitment physical test. He collapsed suddenly when he was just 500 meters away from completing the 4,800-meter run. He had already completed 11 of the 12 designated laps for the recruitment run but collapsed before finishing the final lap and subsequently passed away. Shivam Yadav held an engineering degree.

**Death of Saurabh Kumar during Delhi Police recruitment run**
A similar incident involving a candidate's death during a physical test run has been reported from Delhi. On Monday, 23-year-old Saurabh died during the running event for Delhi Police recruitment. Reports indicate that Saurabh Kumar had arrived at the Delhi Police Academy in Wazirabad to participate in the recruitment examination. He collapsed suddenly during the run and was taken to the hospital, but he passed away before arrival.

**Does the government provide compensation for candidate deaths during recruitment runs?**
The deaths of candidates during the running events of the UP Home Guard and Delhi Police recruitment physical tests have become a subject of widespread discussion. The biggest question regarding this is whether the government provides compensation to the dependents of candidates who die during recruitment runs. The answer is usually found in the recruitment advertisement itself, where the recruiting agency clarifies that it will not be held liable for any harm or loss occurring during the recruitment process. Consequently, compensation is not provided under standard rules.

**How ​​compensation can be obtained**
While compensation is not mandated by standard rules for deaths occurring during physical test runs, the families of the deceased candidates can still receive compensation through other avenues. Let us look at how families can secure compensation in such situations.

**State government may announce compensation**
In such instances, the state government may provide compensation to the families of the deceased candidates. The government can announce compensation in the form of an ex-gratia payment. A case of this nature occurred in Jharkhand in 2024; following the deaths of candidates during the Excise Constable recruitment run, the state government awarded ₹4 lakh in compensation to the families of each deceased candidate.

**Appealing to the Human Rights Commission and the Courts**
Additionally, the families of the deceased can appeal to the Human Rights Commission and the courts for compensation. However, they must highlight any negligence or lapses on the part of the recruiting agency. For instance, the Odisha Human Rights Commission once directed that compensation of ₹10 lakh be paid to the families of deceased candidates in such a case.

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