Shortage of IPS officers a national issue: Kiren Rijiju

NEW DELHI: The Home Ministry today expressed concern over shortage of IPS officers in the country dubbing it as a "national issue".

"Shortage of IPS officers is a national issue. The Home Ministry is taking care to sort out the issue," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said replying to a supplementary during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha.

The minister said to fill up the vacancies, intake through annual civil services examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission has been increased to 150. Second mode of recruitment to IPS by promotion of SPS officers to IPS has been accelerated.

"A Limited Competitive Examination, as the third mode of recruitment to IPS officers has also been introduced. However, a large number of court cases have been received in this ministry, UPSC, DoP&T and MoD challenging various aspects of the scheme of this mode of recruitment," he said.

The Minister also said that one-third of the position are filled from the "inner quota", police officials from states itself.

He also said shortages existed in the police ranks in states.