The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is grappling with the most significant manpower shortage among India's six Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), according to a recent disclosure by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Parliament.
The CISF, responsible for the security of vital industrial installations and airports, has a current strength of 151,925 personnel against a sanctioned strength of 186,924, resulting in an 18.7% deficit. This shortage is part of a broader trend across the CAPFs, which collectively face a 9.1% manpower shortfall.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the largest CAPF, has the second-highest deficit at 9.9%, followed by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at 8.9%, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at 5.9%, and both the Assam Rifles (AR) and the Border Security Force (BSF) at 4.5%.
To address this widespread shortage, the government has been actively recruiting new personnel. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, revealed that 67,345 recruits were inducted between April 2023 and February 2024, and an additional 64,091 vacancies are currently in various stages of the recruitment process.
In an effort to expedite recruitment, the government has implemented several measures, including an agreement with the Staff Selection Commission for yearly recruitment of general duty constables, faster recruitment for non-general duty positions, and more efficient departmental promotions. The time required for medical examinations has also been reduced.
The manpower shortage across the CAPFs raises concerns about the forces' ability to effectively fulfill their mandates, which include border security, counter-insurgency operations, and maintaining internal security. The government's ongoing efforts to recruit and retain personnel are crucial to ensuring the operational readiness of these forces.
