The Ministry of Home Affairs has disclosed that more than 93,000 vacancies exist within the five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Assam Rifles as of January 1, 2026. This figure represents approximately 8.7% of the total sanctioned positions in these forces. Junior Home Minister Nityanand Rai provided this information in a written response to a query posed in the Rajya Sabha.
Details of Vacant Positions Across Forces
The report specifies the distribution of vacant posts among the various forces. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has the highest shortfall, with 28,342 vacancies, making up 17.7% of its authorized strength. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sees 27,400 positions unfilled, equating to 9% of its total. In the Border Security Force (BSF), 14,531 posts remain vacant, which is 5.6% of the authorized strength. Similarly, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has 12,333 vacant positions, representing 13.2% of its workforce, while the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has 6,784 vacancies, which is 7.2%. The Assam Rifles faces 3,749 unoccupied positions, account for 6% of its total capacity.
Personnel Challenges Detailed
Rai further elaborated on personnel challenges within the CAPFs, revealing that from 2021 to 2025, there were 749 suicides among CAPF members. During the same five-year period, 9,532 personnel resigned, and 24 lost their lives in fratricide incidents. The report notes a significant trend in voluntary retirement, with 46,529 personnel opting for this route. Although the number peaked in 2022 at 11,256, it noticeably decreased to 4,291 by 2025.
Measures to Address Recruitment
To mitigate these staffing shortages, the Home Ministry has mandated that the CAPFs and Assam Rifles expedite recruitment for the vacant positions in non-general duty roles. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been established with the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to facilitate annual recruitment for the position of constable (general duty) in a structured timeframe. Additionally, it has been indicated that the cutoff marks for candidate shortlisting for these positions will be adjusted downwards where necessary to enhance recruitment efficacy.
