More than 1.09 lakh posts across India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Assam Rifles remained vacant as of 1 January 2025, even as the Centre said recruitment efforts were already underway for over 72,000 of them.
The information was placed before the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday by Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, in a written reply. The response followed a query on whether the government acknowledged the “huge vacancy” in India’s six central paramilitary forces.
In response, the minister replied in the negative but provided detailed data on sanctioned strength, actual manpower, and vacancies. He added that the strength of these forces had risen from 10,04,980 in 2021 to 10,67,110 as of 1 January 2025.
According to the figures, a total of 1,09,868 positions remain unfilled. However, 72,689 of these have already been notified for recruitment and the process is ongoing.
Rai explained, "Vacancies in CAPFs and AR arise on account of retirements, resignation, promotion, death, new raising of Battalion, creation of new posts etc. Filling up of vacancies is a continuous process."
The minister stressed that the Ministry of Home Affairs was taking “earnest steps” to expedite appointments. These include collaboration with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and internal recruitment boards of the forces themselves.
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He cited a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the SSC aimed at fast-tracking the recruitment of Constables (General Duty), one of the largest cadres within the forces.
Additionally, directions have been issued to all CAPFs and the Assam Rifles to ensure time-bound hiring for vacancies in Non-General Duty categories. The response also pointed to other measures such as more frequent meetings of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC), streamlined medical examinations, and relaxed cut-off marks for shortlisting candidates for certain roles.
"Timely meetings of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for filling up of promotional vacancies, reduction in time taken in the Medical Examination and lowering of cut-off marks for shortlisting of candidates for Constable and General Duty are some of the steps undertaken to expedite recruitment," the minister said.
The vacancy figures assume importance at a time when security challenges across the country remain high, particularly along border areas and in insurgency-affected zones. The Centre’s assurance of ongoing recruitment comes amid persistent demands from within the forces for faster promotions, better working conditions, and adequate staffing.
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