The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs to raise 35 new battalions, News18 has learnt. According to a top-level official, the proposal, sent a few weeks ago, is under “active consideration”. If the government approves the proposal, the total strength of the CRPF will go up by almost 35,000 troops.
Primary focus would be on having more specialised units with particular emphasis on Jammu and Kashmir, sources told News18. “Since Naxalism is shrinking, it is expected that the government’s focus would shift to wiping out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. The proposal talks about raising new General Duty Battalions,” a senior official familiar with the proposal told News18.
Sources added that many proposals are already in the pipeline, awaiting decisions at the ministry level. Former DGs, too, had sent in multiple proposals that are pending. A senior official said that CRPF D-G Anish Dayal chaired a meeting on Wednesday during which he spoke about the possibility of getting 35 new battalions, which would strengthen the CRPF in the future.
The force is facing a major stagnation issue, wherein officers at the Assistant Commandant level have not seen a single promotion despite serving for more than 15 years. Many of them have left the job due to lack of growth prospects and joined the private sector.
In November last year, the Government of India approved the establishment of two Signal Battalion Headquarters for the CRPF, marking the first expansion in this capacity since 1988. The decision, based on a comprehensive proposal, aims to strengthen CRPF operations in the Northeast, specifically in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), after receiving a well-drafted proposal from the CRPF, forwarded the recommendation to the Ministry of Finance. The proposal outlines the creation of two Signal Battalion Headquarters and the augmentation of the existing five Signal Battalion Headquarters, involving the creation of 832 posts across various ranks.
According to the CRPF, the force comprises four zonal headquarters, 21 administrative sectors, two operational sectors, 39 administrative ranges, 17 operational ranges, 43 group centres, 22 training institutions, four composite hospitals (with 100-bed facilities), 18 composite hospitals (with 50-bed capacities), six field hospitals, three central weapon stores, seven ammunition workshops, 202 general duty battalions, six VIP security battalions, six mahila (women) battalions, 15 rapid action force (RAF) battalions, 10 CoBRA battalions, five signal battalions, and one Special Duty Group (SDG).
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