The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a stern reminder to 24 states regarding the shortage of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers nominated for central deputation, resulting in numerous vacancies within the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
In a letter addressed to the concerned states, excluding Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, and the Union Territories, the MHA highlighted the pressing need for nominations of IPS officers to fill vacancies in various ranks, especially from Superintendent of Police to Inspector General, within Central Police Organisations (CPOs) and CAPFs.
As of June 3, there were 129 vacancies for Superintendent of Police (SP), 81 vacancies for Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and 25 vacancies for Inspector General (IG), against the sanctioned strength of 129, 256, and 147 posts, respectively.
This communication echoes a similar letter sent in December 2023, emphasizing the importance of states nominating an adequate number of IPS officers for central deputation. The letter underscored that 40% of senior duty posts in each cadre are designated as Central Deputation Reserve (CDR) posts, but some states have not been submitting sufficient nominations compared to CDR utilization.
IPS officers are recruited by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on behalf of the Centre and are placed under various state cadres. In February 2022, the MHA amended the IPS tenure policy, removing the mandatory requirement of empanelment of IPS officers at the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) level. Instead, officers with a minimum of 14 years of experience are now eligible for appointment at the DIG level by the Centre.
The suitability of officers for central deputation is assessed by the Central Police Establishment Board (CPEB), chaired by the Union Home Secretary. The recommended names of officers up to the Inspector General of Police level are then forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), led by the Prime Minister, for approval.
The MHA’s call to action highlights the critical need for states to promptly nominate IPS officers for central deputation, ensuring the effective functioning of CAPFs and CPOs across the country.
