Amidst a significant shortage of officers, central police organizations and central forces grapple with a total of 215 vacancies across various ranks, including Director General (DG), Additional Director General (ADG), Inspector General (IG), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and Superintendent of Police (SP). The most critical deficit is observed specifically at the DIG and SP levels, where a staggering 178 positions remain unoccupied.
As per the latest vacancy status report from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), of the total vacancies, 178 are concentrated at the level of DIG and SP ranks within central police agencies and organizations. Presently, only three officers of the ranks of DIG and SP are available for central deputation, leaving a substantial gap in critical leadership roles.
The “offer list,” updated as of November 21, reveals that 11 senior IPS officers have been cleared for central deputation by their respective state cadres and governments. Among them, one is a DIG-ranked officer, and two hold the SP rank. However, these numbers fall significantly short of addressing the prevailing shortage.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are particularly hard-hit by this scarcity, bearing the brunt of the maximum vacancies at the DIG and SP levels. Currently, the CBI has 44 vacant positions at this level, while the IB faces an even higher number, with 73 such positions remaining unfilled. Both organizations play pivotal roles in the country’s law enforcement and security.
The scarcity of police officers within central government organizations is not a recent issue, prompting the government to explore various solutions. Initiatives include the induction of officers from central police forces like the Border Security Force (BSF) into the CBI through a ‘lateral shift’ approach. Additionally, the government has revised IPS tenure rules, amending the policy to make officers with a minimum of five years’ service eligible for induction into organizations like R&AW, IB, NIA, and CBI. This strategic shift aims to address the persistent challenge of officer shortages and enhance the operational efficiency of these crucial agencies.
