The Rajya Sabha today passed the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, with a voice vote. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai had introduced the Bill last week, which aims to regulate the general rules governing the recruitment and conditions of service of Group A General Duty Officers and other officers in the Central Armed Police Forces.
The Bill has provisions that 50% of the total posts in the rank of Inspector General and a minimum of 67% of the posts in the rank of Additional Director General and all posts in the ranks of Special Director General and Director General shall be filled by Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on deputation.
Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that the bill is aimed at strengthening India’s internal security framework and bringing greater clarity and consistency to the service conditions of CAPF officers.
The Minister also thanked members for their participation and suggestions, saying the Bill should not be seen merely as a legislative proposal but as a major reform to make the country’s security architecture stronger, robust and more organised.
Mr Rai said the legislation seeks to address long-standing structural imbalances in the service conditions of officers and challenges in cadre management, while also improving operational efficiency.
Explaining the rationale behind the Bill, the Minister said the role and responsibilities of the CAPFs have expanded significantly over time, but service conditions across different forces continued to be governed by separate rules, directions and administrative measures.
He further added that CAPFs function through a distinct command-and-control structure spanning platoon, company, and battalion, and therefore, they require a structured and coherent service framework.
Speaking about the other provisions of the Bill, He said the Bill aims to provide a clear umbrella framework to govern recruitment, promotion, seniority and other service conditions of Group ‘A’ General Duty officers.
He said under the proposed law, the Centre will be empowered under Clause 3 to frame rules for regulating recruitment, promotion, seniority and related service matters in the CAPFs.
The minister emphasized that the Bill also removes inconsistencies in existing arrangements and ensures continuity of financial benefits.
Addressing concerns raised by opposition members, he categorically rejected the charge that the Bill undermines India’s federal structure or violates the spirit of the Constitution. He said, on the contrary, the legislation strengthens cooperative federalism by improving coordination between the CAPFs, state police and state administrations across the country.
The Minister also dismissed criticism that the Bill violates the principle of separation of powers or grants excessive authority to the government.
He said Parliament has full constitutional authority to legislate on such administrative matters, and the Bill only provides a legal framework using an established legislative technique to ensure clarity, consistency and coherence.
The Minister further assured the House that rules framed under the Act would be laid before Parliament, ensuring legislative oversight, accountability and transparency in implementation.
Earlier, initiating the discussion in the Upper House today, Saket Gokhale of TMC said that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are widely regarded as the first line of defence of the country.
He said CAPF personnel are deployed in extremely challenging conditions, including deserts, high-altitude snow regions, and other hostile terrains. Mr Gokhale said that these forces are often referred to as paramilitary forces because their roles and responsibilities closely resemble those of the armed forces rather than those of civilian police. He expressed concern over the policies of the bill, which placed IPS officers in top leadership positions within CAPF.
Brij Lal of the BJP said that the Bill proposes to establish a uniform and integrated framework for Group A General Duty officers in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). He said its objective is to bring uniformity in recruitment and service conditions, enhance legal empowerment, and reduce litigation related to service matters. Dr Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade of the BJP said this is not just a piece of legislation, but it is a decisive step to pull India’s security framework out of years of neglect. He said, for decades, successive governments led by the Congress left the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) operating under fragmented laws. He said there was no unified framework, no clear policy and only confusion, delays, and endless litigation.
