More than 93,000 posts vacant in paramilitary forces: Govt informs Rajya Sabha

The Union government has informed Parliament that more than 93,000 positions remain unfilled across the Central Armed Police Forces and the Assam Rifles.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on March 11, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai presented force-wise vacancy figures for the paramilitary organizations.

The data shows that the Central Industrial Security Force currently has 28,342 vacant posts, the highest among the forces, followed by the Central Reserve Police Force with 27,400 vacancies.

Other forces also reported significant shortages. The Border Security Force has 14,531 vacant positions, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police has 12,333, and the Sashastra Seema Bal has 6,784. The Assam Rifles accounts for another 3,749 unfilled posts, taking the overall vacancy count to 93,139.

Replying to concerns about whether these vacancies affect operational capacity in areas such as law enforcement, internal security, and disaster response, Rai said the forces continue to function effectively.

“Forces are discharging all duties in a highly professional manner through optimal utilization of available resources,” he said.

The minister explained that recruitment in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles is conducted on a continuous basis. Hiring is carried out through agencies including the Union Public Service Commission and the Staff Selection Commission.

He said the government has introduced several steps to accelerate the recruitment process.

These include conducting annual recruitment for Constable General Duty posts through the Staff Selection Commission, designating a nodal force to coordinate recruitment for specific ranks, and using radio frequency identification technology during physical tests to streamline candidate evaluation.

According to Rai, efforts have also been made to shorten the duration of medical examinations. In categories where the number of applicants is insufficient, the cutoff marks for shortlisting candidates have been reduced to ensure that vacancies are filled.

The government is also holding regular meetings of departmental promotion committees to address vacancies through promotions and strengthen manpower levels, he added.

In response to another question in the Rajya Sabha, Rai shared data on personnel leaving the forces.

The figures show that resignations have increased over the past few years, reaching 2,333 in 2025 compared with 1,255 in 2021. The number of resignations was 1,183 in 2022, 2,037 in 2023, and 2,724 in 2024.

The data also reflects changes in other service-related indicators. Cases of fratricide declined from 11 in 2021 to 4 in 2025, while voluntary retirements fell from 10,828 to 4,291 during the same period. Suicides were reported at 158 in 2025 compared with 143 in 2021.

Responding to a question about the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for CAPF personnel after a 2023 Delhi High Court ruling that described them as “Armed Forces of Union of India,” Rai said the issue is currently being examined by the Supreme Court. “The issue/matter is presently sub-judice and is pending adjudication before the Supreme Court of India.”

On welfare measures for personnel, the minister said the Ministry of Home Affairs has established the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board to support retired CAPF personnel and their families, including Next of Kin of deceased or disabled personnel.

He added that the board has appointed Central Welfare Officers, State Welfare Officers and District Welfare Officers in states and union territories to assist in implementing welfare and rehabilitation programs.