According to a recent report by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), there is a significant deficiency in the police organizations across India, with 5.28 lakh posts remaining vacant. This high vacancy rate calls for urgent police reforms in order to bridge the gap and improve the efficacy of the law enforcement system in the country.
Overview of Key Findings
The BPR&D’s study observes that out of the total 23,79,728 sanctioned posts in police forces across all states, only 18,51,332 are currently occupied. This leaves a wide gap between the sanctioned and actual strength of the police force. This vacancy can be attributed to several reasons such as slow recruitment processes, retirements, and untimely deaths.
States with High Shortage of Police Personnel
The states that showed a higher shortage of police personnel include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Interestingly, Nagaland was the only state where the actual strength of the police force surpassed the sanctioned strength.
A glance at States with High Vacancy Rate
| State | Sanctioned Strength | Vacant Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Chhattisgarh | 71606 | 11916 |
| Odisha | 66973 | 10322 |
| Assam | 65987 | 11452 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 87882 | 10044 |
About the Bureau of Police Research and Development
The BPR&D operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs with the primary objective of modernizing the police force. It actively engages in policing issues, promoting systematic and timely study of related problems. Over time, it has established divisions for Research, Statistics, Publication, Development, and Training.
Key Functions of BPR&D
BPR&D handles issues related to Correctional Administration Work, thus addressing problems related to prisons and implementation of deemed prison reforms in a cohesive manner. The National Police Mission also comes under the administrative control of BPR&D. This mission is responsible for transforming the police forces into an effective instrument for maintaining internal security and preparing them to face future challenges by providing necessary material, intellectual and organizational resources.