NEW DELHI: Central paramilitary forces are facing an acute shortage of staff. More than 61,000 posts of personnel are lying vacant in six paramilitary forces in the country, according to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) data.
While the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has 18,460 vacancies, 10,738 posts are lying vacant in the Border Security Force (BSF). The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has the highest number of vacancies at 18,942. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has 5,786 posts lying vacant. There are 3,840 vacancies in the Assam Rifles and 3,812 in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
The vacancies arise due to retirement, resignation or death of personnel or creation of new posts and raising of new battalions. According to MHA, the vacancies are filled through various modes and is a continuous process, including direct recruitment, promotion and by deputation.
The combined strength of the paramilitary forces is around 10 lakh. The CRPF is primarily deployed for the assistance of state police forces in internal security, fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, and in anti-Naxal operations.
The BSF guards the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, while the SSB protects the borders with Nepal and Bhutan. The ITBP is deployed along the India-China border. The CISF guards the airports, nuclear and industrial installations, Delhi Metro etc. The Assam Rifles guards the Myanmar border.