New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, introducing significant changes in the Indian Police Service (IPS) deputation structure to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
The proposed bill will now be introduced during the current session of Parliament. The move comes amid ongoing legal and administrative debates over career progression and promotions within the CAPF cadre.
One of the major highlights of the proposed restructuring is the creation of 33 Additional Director General (ADG) posts for IPS officers at the Centre for the first time, while reducing the number of posts at some senior ranks.
Changes in IPS Deputation Posts
According to the latest report of the Ministry of Home Affairs dated March 9, 2026, the number of sanctioned IPS deputation posts at the Centre has been revised.
Latest Sanctioned IPS Deputation Posts (2026)
- Director General (DG): 15 posts – unchanged
- Special Director General (SDG): 14 posts – reduced
- Additional Director General (ADG): 33 posts – increased
- Inspector General (IG): 150 posts – reduced
- Deputy Inspector General (DIG): 256 posts – unchanged
- Superintendent of Police (SP): 229 posts – increased
The changes indicate a shift in the leadership structure within the CAPFs, with more emphasis on the ADG and SP levels.
Evolution of IPS Deputation Structure
The structure of IPS deputation posts has undergone several revisions over the past two years.
March 1, 2024 Report
- DG – 15
- SDG – 12
- ADG – 25
- IG – 149
- DIG – 256
- SP – 228
June 2025 Report
- DG – 15
- SDG – 12
- ADG – 26
- IG – 150
- DIG – 254
- SP – 221
December 2025 Report
- DG – 15
- SDG – 17
- ADG – 30
- IG – 158
- DIG – 256
- SP – 225
March 9, 2026 Latest Revision
- DG – 15
- SDG – 14
- ADG – 33
- IG – 150
- DIG – 256
- SP – 229
These revisions reflect the government’s efforts to restructure leadership positions within CAPFs and balance cadre management requirements.
Supreme Court Verdict Behind Policy Move
The legislative move is also linked to a significant judgment delivered by the Supreme Court of India on May 23 last year.
The court ruled that the government should gradually reduce the number of IPS deputation posts up to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) level in CAPFs within two years.
It also directed that the Organized Group A Services (OGAS) pattern be implemented in the forces not only for Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU) but for overall cadre management.
The court further ordered that a cadre review of the CAPFs be conducted within six months.
Government’s Review Petition Rejected
The Central Government had filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging the ruling. However, the petition was dismissed.
Subsequently, a notice was issued in a contempt case, increasing pressure on the government to address the issue.
Officials indicate that the proposed CAPF bill is part of the government’s attempt to address the implications of the court ruling while restructuring the administrative framework of the forces.
Long-Standing Promotion Concerns Among CAPF Officers
Promotion-related grievances have been a long-standing issue among cadre officers in the CAPFs.
According to former S. K. Sood, former Additional Director General of the Border Security Force, many officers have faced delays in career progression.
He noted that thousands of officers in the Central paramilitary forces are dissatisfied with perceived disparities in promotions and financial benefits.
Some junior officers reportedly wait more than 15 years for their first promotion, a situation that has led to repeated legal battles.
Promotion Gap Between IPS and CAPF Cadre Officers
The disparity between IPS officers and CAPF cadre officers has also been highlighted.
An IPS officer generally reaches the rank of Inspector General (IG) after around 20 years of service, while cadre officers in the forces often reach only the Commandant rank during the same period.
Even reaching the ranks of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) or Inspector General (IG) can take over 35 years of service for cadre officers, making career progression significantly slower.
In some forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF), the first promotion can take more than a decade and a half.
Delay in Service Rules Under OGAS
In 2008–09, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued directions to formulate service rules for Central Armed Police Forces under the OGAS framework.
However, according to cadre officers, these service rules have still not been implemented.
Many officers had hoped that the Supreme Court’s ruling would bring relief and lead to reforms in cadre management.
However, the introduction of the new bill has triggered fresh debate over career progression, representation and parity between IPS deputation officers and CAPF cadre officers.
