1.11 lakh vacancies in paramilitary forces: Government estimate

Amid the Opposition raising questions about vacancies in security forces against the backdrop of Pahalgam terror attack, a government estimate has showed that Assam Rifles and five paramilitary forces, including BSF and CRPF, together have 1.11 lakh vacancies and the government is in the process of inducting 43,130 personnel into the forces.

There are 10.59 lakh sanctioned strength in Assam Rifles, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP and SSB and 9.47 lakh are presently in these forces as on January 1 this year. Assam Rifles, BSF, ITBP and SSB are mainly on border duties.

The data was shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs and form part of a report tabled in Parliament during the Budget Session. The report said 43,130 personnel are “currently” undergoing recruitment and joining process.

According to official statistics, the highest number of vacancies are in CISF at 43,250 followed by CRPF at 34,860 and BSF 14,367. Assam Rifles have 3,769 vacancies while ITBP has 10,249 and SSB 5,189.

While the Opposition has raised questions about the vacancies, government officials had made it clear that vacancies had not impacted the preparedness of the security forces.

The MHA has also told the Parliamentary panel that representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in these forces stands at 1,61,410 and 1,06,657 respectively.

Women personnel constitute 42,470of the total workforce. Despite efforts to enhance women's representation, the report showed that their numbers remain relatively low.

In 2.58 lakh-strong BSF, there are only 11,404 women while in 2.96 lakh-strong CRPF, it is 10,086. CISF has 10,629 women as against a total of 10,629 personnel.

Assam Rifles has 2,513 women out of 61,767-strong workforce while ITBP has 3,722 women out of 88,610 personnel and SSB 4,116 out of 92,690 personnel.