Cabinet clears bill to streamline appointments in para forces

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill aimed at streamlining appointments and cadre management in the central armed police forces (CAPF). The move is a part of efforts to provide statutory clarity on the role of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation while addressing the long-standing service concerns of CAPF cadre officers.

The proposed legislation is expected to define a structured framework for appointments across senior ranks and is likely to earmark a fixed percentage of posts for IPS officers on deputation.

The bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament in the coming days. The move seeks to balance the operational requirements with the career progression demands of CAPF cadre.


The decision comes in the backdrop of a Supreme Court ruling last year which held that Group A executive cadre officers of the CAPF qualify as organised group A services (OGAS), a status that entitles them to improved promotional avenues and financial benefits comparable with other organised services.

The apex court had also directed the government to progressively reduce IPS deputation in the CAPF up to the rank of IG. At present, IPS officers occupy a significant share of senior leadership positions in CAPF through an executive order. About 20% of posts at the rank of deputy inspector general and 50% at the rank of IG are reserved for IPS officers on deputation.

Sources indicated that the new law would institutionalise a clear service structure for CAPF officers while maintaining a defined space for IPS officers at senior operational levels. The Ministry of Home Affairs, which functions as the cadre-controlling authority for IPS and CAPF, has been working on the framework to harmonise the competing service claims.