Executive Summary:
This document is the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1543 regarding resource shortages and working conditions within the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). The response affirms that CAPFs are regularly equipped with essential resources and modern equipment. It details measures taken to enhance the efficiency and well-being of CAPF personnel working in challenging conditions. The Modernization Plan-IV, effective from January 1, 2022, to March 31, 2026, aims to further improve CAPF capabilities.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Resource Availability:** CAPFs, including AR, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, NSG, and SSB, are equipped with essential resources and modern equipment as required.
* **Working Conditions and Efficiency Enhancement:**
* The government enhances CAPF personnel efficiency through various measures, considering challenging deployment conditions.
* Personnel are provided with adequate equipment, special clothing, food, residential quarters, and family accommodations.
* **Personnel Well-being Measures:**
* Monitoring of personnel's activities and mental health with timely grievance redressal.
* Emergency helicopter evacuation from field areas.
* Steps to reduce stress and provide financial/other support.
* Interviews and counseling upon return from leave/transfer to address domestic issues.
* Field officers monitor personnel's mental health and encourage communication of problems.
* Informal interactions between officers and troops, including sports participation and family welfare inquiries.
* Officers encourage personnel to voice grievances and ensure recreational activities.
* Continuous improvement of basic infrastructure and amenities.
* **Allowances and Concessions:**
* Various allowances granted, including Risk Hardship Allowance, Additional Free Railway Warrant/LTC, Additional HRA (Y class city) for personnel in Kashmir Valley, air travel for non-entitled personnel in Jammu & Kashmir, Dress Allowance, Compensation for Housing to PBORs, Composite personnel maintenance allowance, and Education concession.
* **Modernization Plan-IV:**
* A Central Sector Scheme (Modernization Plan-IV) is being implemented from January 1, 2022, to March 31, 2026.
* Objective: To enhance CAPF capabilities through advanced equipment in weaponry, communication, protective gear, surveillance, border guarding, training, armored vehicles, and special transport.
Impact Analysis:
* **CAPF Personnel:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from improved resources, equipment, working conditions, and welfare measures.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available resources and adhere to provided guidelines for optimal performance and well-being.
* **Ministry of Home Affairs:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overseeing the implementation and effectiveness of the outlined measures and the Modernization Plan-IV.
* *Action Required:* Ensure the effective execution of the Modernization Plan-IV and continuously monitor and improve the welfare and working conditions of CAPF personnel.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI NITYANAND RAI: Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs
Central Armed Police Forces: A collective term referring to various internal security forces in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Border Security Force: A Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) of India, primarily responsible for guarding India's borders.
Indo Tibetan Border Police: A Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) of India, specializing in border patrol duties along the Indo-Tibetan border.
Sashastra Seema Bal: A Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) of India, responsible for guarding the borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
Assam Rifles: A Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) of India, tasked with maintaining law and order in the Northeast region of India.
Central Industrial Security Force: A Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) of India providing security cover to various industrial undertakings, airports and other critical infrastructure across the country.
Central Reserve Police Force: A large Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) of India involved in internal security and counterinsurgency operations.
National Security Guard: A special force unit of India specializing in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations.
Kashmir Valley: A valley located in the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir: A union territory of India, formerly a state, located in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent.
Modernization Plan-IV for CAPFs: A Central Sector Scheme implemented from 01.01.2022 to 31.03.2026 to improve the efficiency and performance of CAPFs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1543
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025/ SRAVANA 7, 1947 (SAKA)
SHORTAGE OF CAPF SECURITY FORCES
†1543. SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) like-BSF, ITBP, SSB etc. are
facing shortage of essential resources and modern equipments;
(b) whether the personnel of the said forces are working under difficult
situations which affect their efficiency; and
(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve the condition of the
said forces and the present status thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a): No sir. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) [Assam Rifles (AR),
Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF),
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP),
National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB)] are equipping
their forces with essential resources and modern equipments on regular
basis as per their requirement.-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1543 FOR 29.07.2025
(b) & (c) While, CAPFs personnel are deployed for border guarding duties
in remotely located area with high altitude, mountainous, dense jungles,
inclement weather conditions, for internal security to aid State
administrations, counter-insurgency operations and for security and fire
protection of industrial undertakings and critical infrastructure across the
country, under extremely challenging and inhospitable conditions, the
Government always endeavour to enhance efficiency of CAPF personnel
through various measures. The Force personnel are provided with adequate
latest technological equipment, special clothing and food items in
accordance with the place of deployment, residential quarters, separate
family accommodation and barracks to improve housing satisfaction, which
assist troops in their functioning more efficiently and effectively. In
addition, following measures have also been taken by CAPFs for providing
better working conditions/ atmosphere to their personnel:
1) Activities and mental health of personnel are being monitored at
appropriate level and grievances, if any, are being redressed at the earliest.
2) Immediate evacuation by helicopters has been arranged in case of
emergency from field areas.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1543 FOR 29.07.2025
3) Various steps have been taken to reduce stress level among the Force
personnel and to provide them financial/other required support.
4) Interviews and counselling of personnel, on their return from
leave/reporting on transfer etc. by concerned Coy Commander / Unit
Commandant with a view to find out whether individual has any domestic
problem and to help them in sorting out problems, if any, to the extent
possible, are being conducted.
5) Field Officers use to keep a close watch on activities and mental health
of personnel under their command & to encourage them to come out with
their problems, so that the same can be sorted out.
6) Informal interactions of Officers with troops, participation in games &
sports with them & inquiring about their family welfare during routine visits
to Out- posts and Lines etc. have been conducted.
7) Officers are instructed to encourage personnel to come out with their
problems / grievances and also to ensure proper infrastructure for placing
recreational activities for benefit of the troops.
8) Constant efforts are being made to improve the basic infrastructure and
amenities, so as to improve the working conditions of the personnel.-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1543 FOR 29.07.2025
Government have also granted various allowances viz. Risk & Hardship
Allowance, Additional Free Railway Warrant/Leave Travel Concession (LTC),
Additional House Rent Allowance (HRA) @ Y class city (16%) to CAPFs
personnel posted in Kashmir Valley, Air Travel facility to non-entitled CAPFs
personnel posted in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Dress Allowance, Provision of
Compensation for Housing to Personnel Below Officer Ranks (PBORs),
Composite personnel maintenance allowance, Education concession to
CAPFs personnel etc.
Besides, a Central Sector Scheme namely, Modernization Plan-IV for CAPFs
(implementation period 01.01.2022 to 31.03.2026) has been implemented
with an objective to improve the efficiency and performance of each CAPF
by enhancing their capabilities through induction of latest and State of the
art equipment in the areas of weaponry, communication, protective gears,
surveillance and border guarding systems, training items, armoured
vehicles and special transport vehicles.
******