Kamal Ghorui
The bill seeks to earmark a minimum 50% IG-level posts, 67% ADG-level posts and all DG and special DG-level posts in CAPFs for deputation (Representative image)
NEW DELHI: Citing the need to retain deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to the Central armed police forces (CAPFs) for operational efficiency through better Centre-state coordination, the home ministry is set to move a bill in Parliament earmarking a minimum 50% inspector-general (IG) level posts, 67% additional director general-level posts (ADG) and all director-general (DG) and special DG-level posts in CAPFs for deputation.TOI was the first to report on March 11 that the Union cabinet had approved the draft CAPF (General Administration) Bill, 2026, which provides for continuing with the deputation of IPS officers to CAPFs.The recruitment and service conditions of Group A General Duty officers and other officers/members of CAPFs are currently regulated by rules issued through an executive order. “In recent years, due to absence of an umbrella law, regulatory provisions have evolved in a fragmented manner, resulting in several litigation on service-related matters and leading to some functional and administrative difficulties….There is a need to lay down an umbrella law to regulate the recruitment, deputation, promotion and other conditions of services of Group A general duty officers and other officers…to ensure legislative clarity, preserving their distinct operational and functional requirements and harmonising judicial directions with administrative and federal requirements,” it is underlined in the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.The bill effectively blunts the Supreme Court order passed in May last year confirming ‘organised services’ (OGAS) status for group A CAPF officers for all purposes and directing the govt to progressively reduce deputation posts of IPS officers in the senior administrative grade (SAG) up to the rank of IG in CAPFs. As per current recruitment rules for CAPFs, 20% of the posts at DIG level and 50% at the IG level are deputation posts for IPS officers.The CAPF (General Administration) Bill does not retain the 20% deputation quota for DIG-level posts.The May 2025 ruling by SC was seen as a potential career boost for around 13,000 CAPF cadre officers, who had been complaining of discrimination on account of IPS officers occupying the senior-level posts.Noting that IPS officers serving on deputation are an integral part of CAPFs, the bill’s text underlines how CAPFs perform duties relating to national security and anti-insurgency in coordination with the state authorities. “In the interest of maintaining Centre-state relations by ensuring close coordination between the Union and the states for effective operational functioning, it is essential to maintain the existing system of deputation of the IPS officers in CAPFs,” it notes.
