New Delhi: The government revealed in the Rajya Sabha that there are currently over 93,000 unfilled positions within the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Assam Rifles.

In a written response, Nityanand Rai, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, provided details on the vacancies across various paramilitary forces. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) leads with 27,400 vacant roles, closely followed by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) with 28,342 openings.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has 14,531 vacancies, while the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has 12,333, and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has 6,784 unfilled positions. The Assam Rifles accounts for 3,749 vacancies, bringing the total to 93,139.

Addressing concerns regarding the impact of these vacancies on law enforcement and internal security, Rai assured that the forces are effectively managing their duties.

He emphasized that the personnel are performing their roles professionally by maximizing the use of available resources.

Rai noted that the recruitment process for filling these vacancies is ongoing, facilitated by agencies such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC).

To speed up recruitment, several initiatives have been implemented, including annual recruitment drives for Constable (General Duty) positions via the SSC, appointing a nodal force to oversee recruitment for critical ranks, and employing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology during physical assessments to enhance the selection process.

Additionally, the government has shortened the duration of medical evaluations and reduced cut-off marks for candidates in categories experiencing shortages to ensure sufficient recruitment, according to Rai.

Regular meetings of departmental promotion committees are also being held to address promotional vacancies and expedite the process of increasing manpower.

In response to another inquiry, Rai shared statistics regarding resignations within the CAPFs.

The data indicates a rising trend in resignations since 2021, with 2,333 resignations recorded in 2025, compared to 1,255 in 2021.

The figures show 1,183, 2,037, and 2,724 resignations in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively.

Moreover, the data reveals a decrease in suicides, fratricides, and voluntary retirements among paramilitary personnel.

The number of suicides fell to 158 in 2025 from 143 in 2021, while fratricide incidents decreased from 11 in 2021 to 4 in 2025. Voluntary retirements also dropped significantly from 10,828 in 2021 to 4,291 in 2025.

When asked about the potential restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and other benefits for CAPF personnel following a 2023 Delhi High Court ruling classifying them as Armed Forces of the Union of India, Rai stated that the matter is currently under judicial review by the Supreme Court.

Regarding welfare initiatives for CAPF members, Rai mentioned the establishment of the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB) to support the welfare and rehabilitation of retired personnel and their families, including the next of kin of deceased or disabled members.

WARB has appointed Central Welfare Officers (CWOs), State Welfare Officers (SWOs), and District Welfare Officers (DWOs) across various states and union territories.