The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, that is likely to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha next week, states that in all CAPFs, 50% of the total posts in the rank of Inspector General, at least 67% posts in the rank of Additional Director General and all posts in the rank of Special Director General and Director General shall be filled by Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation. Till now, such postings were done based on executive orders, and the Bill will codify the provisions.
The Bill seeks to negate a May 23, 2025 Supreme Court judgment which asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to “progressively reduce” IPS deputation in CAPFs up to the rank of I-Gs in the next two years.
Retired CAPF officials have opposed the Bill stating that the government is discriminating against cadre officers who won the case after 10 years of litigation to overcome career stagnation. Due to absence of senior level posts, it takes an officer who joins as an Assistant Commandant in CAPFs, at least 15-18 years for her/his first promotion.
The Bill circulated among Rajya Sabha members late on Friday said the CAPFs perform functions of national security in close coordination with State authorities and in the interest of maintaining Centre-State relationship, the IPS officers are necessary for effective functioning of these forces. It said that “it is considered necessary to enact an umbrella law to regulate the recruitment and conditions of service of Group A General Duty Officers and other officers appointed to the CAPFs with a view to ensure legislative clarity, preserving its operational distinctiveness, and harmonising judicial directions with administrative and federal requirements.”
