The government data, prepared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and accessed by The Secretariat, reveals that of the 1,00,204 vacant posts in the CAPFs and AR, there are 33,730 vacancies in CRPF; 31,782 in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF); 12,808 in Border Security Force (BSF); 9,861 in Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP); 8,646 in Sashastra Seema Bal and 3,377 in AR, as of October 30. 

Serving as India’s pivotal force in dealing with internal security challenges in all the three theatres — the "Naxal belt", the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, the CRPF, with 247 battalions, has a sanctioned strength of 3,13,678 personnel, but currently faces a shortage by over 10 per cent. 

Next to the CRPF is the CISF, which has a sanctioned strength of 1,77,713 personnel, with 74 formations including 12 reserve battalions and eight training institutes. It is facing a manpower crunch of 31,782. The CISF has a critical role of providing protection to vital installations of national importance across the country, including airports and Metro networks.  

Commenting on the prevailing manpower shortage in the CAPFs, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Nityanand Rai said the government is taking steps to fill the vacancies expeditiously, and asserted that it has created 71,231 new posts in the CAPFs and AR in the last five years.

The Minister said vacancies in CAPFs and AR arise on account of retirements, resignations, promotions, deaths, the raising of a new battalion and the creation of new posts. Filling the vacant posts is a continuous process, he added.

“The MHA has been taking, and will continue to take earnest steps, to fill up the vacancies expeditiously through UPSC, SSC and the forces concerned,” he said, adding that the government has taken several steps to increase intake, like a reduction in the time taken for medical examination to expedite recruitment, lowering the cut-off marks for short-listing candidates for Constable-GD (especially in categories where shortfalls have been observed).

Meanwhile, the MHA data also reveals that a total of 436 personnel of the CAPFs, like the CRPF and the BSF, have committed suicide in the last three years. Year-wise break-up reveals that a total of 135 personnel committed suicide in 2022, 157 in 2021 and 144 in 2020. 

However, the MoS (Home) contended that a task force has been set up to identify relevant risk factors and risk groups, and suggested remedial measures for prevention of suicides and fratricides in the CAPFs. 

Talking about the measures taken by the government for the overall well-being of CAPF personnel, the Minister said, “The MHA has made constant efforts so that CAPF personnel spend 100 days a year with their family, in order that their life balance is enhanced.” 

In line with the government’s policy to curb suicides and fratricides in the CAPFs, the CRPF has put in place Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), officials in the force said. As per the new norms, red flags will be raised if a person is absent from work, becomes aggressive during phone calls with family, is found involved in online gaming or gambling, or takes loans from co-workers, and also tracking of personnel’s Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL) report.

Commanders of different units will also have to keep a record of personal issues of their personnel and interact with them at regular intervals, officials said, adding that every unit has to form a committee at the company level, which will be responsible for conducting mandatory interviews of personnel when they return from leaves.

It should also be kept in mind that the personnel should feel valued as an important and integral part of the unit/company, and that they are coming back to his/her extended family after leave, the officials said, adding that commanders have also been asked to keep a close eye on the habits and addictions of jawans.