New Delhi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) may have suffered a devastating loss of 40 of its men in the Pulwama suicide car-bombing, yet its strength is set to grow by the thousands.
The process to recruit 22,000 new personnel, in various ranks, has been initiated by the Union Public Service Commission and the Staff Selection Commission. In fact, the computer-based written exams had begun three days before the attack.
The CRPF, which according to government data, had 22,980 empty posts on January 1, is expected to fill nearly all vacancies in the next few months.
Security personnel are being brought on board as part of a recruitment drive launched by the home ministry to fill 76,578 vacancies in all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
Of these, 54,953 vacancies are for the post of constable (general duty). Direct recruitment for this post is being done by the SSC, which over a period of one month beginning February 11 will be conducting computer-based written examinations.
CRPF to get maximum constables
The CRPF is likely to get 21,566 constables followed by the BSF (16,984), SSB (8,546), ITBP (4,126) and Assam Rifles (3,076).
As many as 1,073 vacant posts of sub-inspector would also be filled up. Of these, 274 would be recruited in the CRPF. Here, the BSF would get a maximum of 508, the SSB (206) and ITBP (85). The process of direct recruitment via a written examination for these posts would be initiated by the SSC from March 12.
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The CRPF, along with other CAPFs, would also get some officers of the rank of assistant commandant through another drive being conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. While written tests for 466 vacant posts have already been held, the physical and medical examination of the shortlisted candidates are scheduled to be conducted by the Sashastra Seema Bal from February 25.
Incidentally, while the CRPF has a total of 22,980 vacant posts, the BSF follows close behind at 21,465, SSB (18,102), CISF (10,415), ITBP (6,643) and Assam Rifles (4,432).
According to the government, these vacancies have arisen due to a variety of reasons ranging from retirement, resignation, death and creation of new posts.
The issue of large-scale vacancies in the CAPFs had come to light in July 2018 when in a written reply in parliament, Union minister of state for home, Hansraj Ganga Ram Ahir disclosed there were over 76,000 vacant posts in various CAPFs. The shortage was highest in the CRPF at over 22,000. It had a sanctioned strength of 3,24,093 personnel.
Likewise, BSF had 19,320 vacancies, SSB 19,175, ITBP 6,398 vacancies, CISF 5,165 vacancies and Assam Rifles 3,774.
Ahir also disclosed that a decision has been taken to recruit 54,953 jawans. The SSC had a day earlier advertised these posts. Out of them, 21,566 positions were in the CRPF. Following this, Union home minister Rajnath Singh had assured that the appointments would be made soon.
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Recruitment process comes at a crucial time
The recruitment process appears to have come at a time when the CAPFs are facing heightened challenges.
In September, CRPF director general Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar spoke about how his force was focussing on better equipping the personnel to combat the security challenge in Jammu and Kashmir in general and the Valley, in particular. “We have gone in for better protection, full body protectors for our people, use of less lethal weaponry so that there is less collateral damage and the number of casualties and serious injuries on our side and the public is less.”
Pulwama exposed chinks in the armour
However, as the Pulwama suicide bomb attack showed, the force clearly failed in strategising the safe movement of its personnel. Following the attack, Bhatnagar said the force is working on shoring up its anti-improvised explosive device capabilities by having better detection and prevention equipment. Simultaneously, bomb disposal capabilities would also be improved through better training.
As the force is also tweaking its standard operating procedures to meet the new challenges, it is also expected to need more personnel for the extra duties that would be involved. In that respect, the latest recruitment drive is likely to impact the CRPF more than any of the other CAPFs.