Over 84,000 vacancies in CAPFs and Assam Rifles, govt taking steps to fill positions: MoS Home

New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday that as of July 1, 2024, there are 84,106 vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles (AR) against a total sanctioned strength of 10,45,751.
In response to a question from CVE Shanmugam, a member of the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, Rai said, "The number of vacancies as of July 1, 2024, in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles (AR) is 84,106, against the total sanctioned strength of 10,45,751. Filling vacancies is a continuous process."
"The Ministry has been taking and will continue to take earnest steps to fill up the vacancies expeditiously through UPSC, SSC, and the forces concerned. It may also be mentioned that 67,345 persons between April 2023 and February 2024 have been recruited," Rai informed the Upper House.
Nityanand Rai further added that 64,091 vacancies have been notified and are at different stages of recruitment. He emphasised that, given the size of the forces, the question of overtime doesn't arise due to the insignificant effective vacancies.
MoS Home further informed Rajya Sabha that the government has taken, inter alia, the following further steps to fill up the vacancies expeditiously in CAPFS & AR, including yearly recruitment for the post of constable (general duty), for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). For coordinating recruitment to General Duty posts, a Nodal Force each for recruitment in the ranks of Constable (General Duty), Sub-Inspector (GD) and Assistant Commandant (General Duty) has been nominated on a long-term basis.
Directions were issued to all Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles to undertake recruitment against vacant posts in non-general duty cadres in a time-bound manner, he said.
Rai further added that timely conduct of meetings of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) for filling up promotional vacancies. The time taken for the medical examination has been reduced to expedite the recruitment.
"A decision has been taken to reserve 10 percent of vacancies for ex-Agniveers in the recruitment to the post of Constable (General Duty)/Rifleman in the Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles. Further, a provision has been made for relaxation in the upper age limit and exemption from the Physical Efficiency Test," Rai added. (ANI)