CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) conduct a route march in the polling station area of Nadia. File. | Photo credit: ANI
The Central Armed Police (General Administration) Bill, 2026 is likely to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (March 25) after it was not passed for two days despite being initially brought up for consideration on March 23, a government official said. Eight hours have been set aside for the introduction and discussion of the bill in the upper chamber since Wednesday, a member of parliament from one of the opposition parties confirmed.
The bill, which has been criticized by opposition members and former officials, says that in the CAPF, 50% of the total posts in the rank of Inspector General, at least 67% of posts in the rank of Additional Director General and all posts in the rank of Special Director General and Director General will be filled by commissioned officers of the Indian Police Service (IPS). Retired officials say the bill is unfair as it goes against the Supreme Court’s May 23, 2025 judgment, which granted Organized Group A Service (OGAS) status to CAPF officers and asked the government to gradually reduce the IPS representation in the CAPF to the rank of IG over the next two years.
Until now, these broadcasts have been made by executive order, and the bill will codify the provision.
Trinamool Congress member Derek O Brien raised the issue ahead of Zero Hour on March 23 in the Rajya Sabha, saying that while the CAPF bill was introduced, members “did not receive a 48-hour advance notice”. After that the TMC members staged a strike.
At around 2pm the same day, the MP raised the issue again when he asked “what happened between 11am and 2pm” that the Home Office had decided not to introduce the bill in the house and an appropriations bill was being considered instead.
Retired CAPF officials have opposed the bill, saying the government is discriminating against cadre officers who won the case after 10 years of litigation to overcome career stagnation. Due to the absence of senior level posts, an officer who joins as an Assistant Commandant in the CAPF needs at least 15-18 years before being promoted for the first time. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the cadre control authority of CAPF and IPS. There are about 13,000 CAPF officers in the security forces like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB and CISF.
Several opposition members from the Samajwadi Party, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the bill.
Published – 24 March 2026 22:59 IST
