New Delhi: As many as 864 posts of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers are currently vacant across the country. IPS is one of the three All India Services constituted under Article 312 of the Constitution of India.

The IPS officers provide senior level leadership to police forces both in the states and at the Centre. The Police Division in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is responsible for the cadre management of IPS and policy decisions such as cadre structure, recruitment, training, cadre allocation, confirmation, empanelment, deputation, pay and allowances, disciplinary matters of IPS officers.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha recently, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed that as on January 1, 2022, the authorised strength of IPS officers is 4,984, against which 4,120 have been appointed. According to a media report, Rai said that the government had increased the recruitment to IPS (Direct Recruitment) from 150 to 200 from the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2020.

 According to Rai, as on date, a total of 226 posts in Central organisations — Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) — to be manned by IPS officers from Superintendent of Police (SP) to Director General (DG) level are vacant.

The Minister said that during this year, 144 IPS officers have applied for Central deputation. As many as 95 IPS officers at various levels have been appointed till date in CAPFs and CPOs, during this year. /BI/