CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026 Enforced: IPS Deputation Retained in Five Forces with Reserved Senior Posts

Key facts

• The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 came into force on October 8, 2026, to regulate recruitment, deputation, promotion and other service conditions for paramilitary officers, and empowers the central government to frame rules for officers of specified CAPFs.
• The Act retains IPS deputation in leadership positions of five CAPFs — BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP and SSB — reserving 67% of Additional Director General and 50% of Inspector General posts for IPS officers, while Special DG and DG posts are to be filled exclusively by deputation.
• In Sanjay Prakash & Others vs Union of India (2025), the Supreme Court ruled that CAPF Group A officers are an Organised Service, directed progressive reduction of IPS deputation to SAG posts up to IG rank within two years, and sought cadre review and service rules within six months.
• The CAPFs comprise the BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP, NSG and Assam Rifles, with the Ministry of Home Affairs as cadre-controlling authority for both IPS and CAPF officers, while Assam Rifles is administratively under the MHA but operationally controlled by the Ministry of Defence.
• Earlier, 20% of DIG posts and 50% of IG posts in CAPFs were reserved for IPS officers, and a CAPF officer takes on average 25 years to reach the rank of Commandant against an ideal 13 years.