Amidst opposition’s opposition, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the ‘Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026’ in the Rajya Sabha. The bill aims to clarify appointment, deputation, promotion and service rules to the rank of IG and above in central paramilitary forces like BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF.
The opposition and retired officers are opposing this. The Bill states that out of the total posts of Inspector General (IG) rank in CAPF, at least 67% of the posts of Additional Director General rank and all posts of Special Director General and Director General rank will be filled by Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation.
Retired officers say the bill is unjust as it goes against the Supreme Court judgment of May 23, 2025, in which CAPF officers were granted Organized Group A Services (OGAS) status. The government was directed to gradually reduce the IPS deputation in CAPF to IG rank over the next two years. But if we understand this bill directly, the number of IPS officers in the Central Armed Police Force will increase. The increase in this number is the root of controversy.
What is CAPF bill, why controversy arose?
Central Armed Police Forces comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. There are 7 different forces involved in this. Like- Assam Rifles, National Security Guard (NSG), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Now out of these seven, there is only one Assam Rifles whose company and command to lead the units is with the Indian Army. The rest go to IPS officers and this is the root of the controversy.
Indicative photo (PTI)
It is being said that deputation of IPS officers in the Central Armed Police Forces should be ensured. Deputation means that when an IPS officer is selected, he gets the cadre. He has to work in the same cadre till his retirement. But during cadre duty, officers are also given a different kind of duty which is completely different from their regular work. For example, he is also sent to lead the contingent of BSF or CRPF.
The Supreme Court had said that the dominance of IPS officers is increasing in the leadership of CAPFs and due to this the career growth of CAPF officers has come to a standstill. This also reduces their morale. The central government was unhappy with this decision while the CAPF officers were happy with this decision.
The Supreme Court gave the order. After this, the government had no other option but to bring a law in Parliament. The government also did the same. Reiterating its old point and increasing the deputation quota, the Central Government introduced the bill. The government has sufficient majority in both the houses of the Parliament, so there will be no problem in passing the bill. This is the root of the quota dispute.
#WATCH | Delhi | On The CAPF (General Administration) Bill 2026, CRPF Addl DG HR Singh (retd.) says, A well and balanced judgment was given by the Supreme Court and the government regarding the CAPF after a long legal battle. We want to ask as to why its implementation is pic.twitter.com/aU3whBMOGT
— ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2026
What were the arguments in favor and against?
Regarding the bill, it has been claimed that through this the rules for deputation of IPS officers to the posts of IG and above will be decided. The rules for post sharing will be decided between IPS and CAPF cadre officers. The number of posts for IPS and CAPF cadre will be decided. There is an attempt to bring everything from service, promotion and posting to tenure under the law. At present these rules are being followed by executive orders or guidelines, they will be given legal form.
Through this bill, an attempt is made to end the dispute of supremacy that has been going on for years between CAPF and IPS officers. The cases reaching the court regarding IPS deputation have to be stopped.
IPS Association says that IPS should have administrative leadership because they have more extensive experience. At the same time, CAPF argues that they provide service to the service force, but IPS from outside sit on top posts, as a result, promotions come to a halt.
The government reverses its own policies. In 2019 and 2025, the Supreme Court observed that #CAPF ‘Injustice’ is happening. Minister Javadekar had said in the press conference after the cabinet meeting that he will not let this happen. Today again a systematic attempt is being made to increase ‘injustice’ in CAPF. pic.twitter.com/1JymJhEXmI
— Jitender Bhardwaj (@journo_jitendra) March 16, 2026
Retired officers associated with CAPF started protesting against the government bill. This protest reached Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The protesting retired officers say that when the Supreme Court has given the decision, then what is the need to overturn it? He also said that talks should have been held with Central Forces officers also.
Officials say that this will hamper the career growth of security forces officers. Their moral will be down. The Supreme Court had also accepted this point. The force personnel will feel cheated by giving command to IPS instead of CAPF officers.
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