Shortage of 630 IPS officers recorded

INDIAN states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orrisa and Assam-Meghalaya have topped the chart of shortage of police officers in the country. According to statistics released by the ministry of home affairs, there is a shortage of 630 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in India now. Currently, India has 3,383 IPS officers against the authorized strength of 4,013.

Whereas there is a shortage of 76 such officers in Madhya Pradesh, the figure is 60 in Orissa. In Uttar Pradesh, out of an authorized strength of 404 IPS officers, there are currently 346 officers in the state, making a shortage of 58. The combined Assam-Meghalaya cadre has a shortage of 48 officers whereas in Andhra Pradesh, 41 IPS can be accommodated according to authorized strength. At present, 122 IPS officers of 2009 batch are undertaking training at NPA.

In order to increase the number of IPS officers, recommendations of Kamal Kumar Committee, have been taken seriously. The strength and composition of the state cadres has already been reviewed and the total cadre strength was raised to 4730. The annual batch size of regular recruits has been increased to 150 from 130 earlier, from 2009 onwards, according to minister of state for home affairs Ajay Maken in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Police modernization plans get extension till Oct, 2011

The government approved the extension of two earlier plans to modernize a number of security forces. It had approved a 5 year plan (2002-07) for modernization of six Central Para Military Forces Assam Rifle (AR), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Forces (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Security Guard (NSG) at an estimated const of Rs 3740.71 crore in February 2002. Separately, the government had also approved a three-year plan (2005-08) for modernization of Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) at an estimated cost of Rs. 444.43 crores in April, 2005. Now both these plans are extended up to October 31, 2011.

Action and Appointments

a) BK Gupta, a 1975 batch AGMU cadre IPS, presently posted as Director General (Prisons), has been appointed to the post of Commissioner of Police, Delhi.

b) Current Commissioner of Police, Delhi YS Dadwal, a 1974 batch AGMU cadre IPS has been appointed as Director General, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) with effect from the date of his taking over the charge of the post and till his superannuation on October 31, 2011 or until further orders.