New law for CAPF officers’ recruitment and service takes effect:IPS officers can be deputed and promoted in 5 security forces; case against it in SC

The CAPF (General Administration) Act 2026 has come into force in the country. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the law took effect on October 8. The new law establishes a uniform framework for the recruitment, promotion, deputation and service conditions of Group-A General Duty and other officers in the CAPFs. The law has come into force at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing petitions filed by thousands of CAPF officers challenging its validity. Parliament passed the law in April. The law will govern the recruitment and service rules of officers in the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP and SSB. It also provides for the appointment of officers through deputation from the IPS. 5 security forces covered under the new CAPF law The Central Armed Police Forces Act covers the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The recruitment, promotion, deputation and other service conditions of officers in these five forces will now be governed by this law. In an affidavit recently filed before the Supreme Court, the Centre had said that the appointment of Group-A General Duty officers in the CAPFs would now be governed by the CAPF (General Administration) Act. The Centre had said the law gives the government the authority to determine the recruitment process. This includes recruitment through deputation and the service conditions of officers. Cadre officers raise objections Cadre officers of these forces have filed petitions in the Supreme Court. They have also filed a contempt petition. The officers say the law limits their career advancement opportunities compared with officers coming on deputation from the IPS. They have urged the Supreme Court to direct the Centre to implement its May 2025 judgment. In its May 2025 judgment, the court had said that the deputation of IPS officers to posts up to the rank of Inspector General in the CAPFs should be gradually reduced over two years. The court had said this would provide more opportunities to cadre officers. It had observed that delays in their promotions could have an “adverse” impact on the morale of the forces. New law provides for deputation Under the new law, 50% of the posts at the Inspector General rank will be filled through deputation from the IPS. At least 67% of the posts at the Additional Director General level are to be filled through deputation. Posts at the ranks of Special Director General and Director General will be filled only through deputation. Background to Supreme Court’s 2025 judgment The law comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s May 2025 judgment on the deputation of IPS officers in the CAPFs. Last October, the Supreme Court dismissed the Centre’s plea seeking a review of its 2025 judgment. The court had said that the number of posts earmarked for deputation up to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) level in the CAPFs should be gradually reduced over time. A maximum time limit of two years had been set for this. The court had also directed a cadre review. Common law replaces separate rules The statement of objects and reasons of the law says the functional and operational requirements of the CAPFs have increased. This has led to the development of separate organisational structures in these forces. It says that in the absence of an umbrella law in recent years, rules evolved differently across the forces. This resulted in several service-related litigations, creating certain difficulties in the functioning and administration of the forces. The law introduces a common legal framework for service matters concerning Group-A General Duty and other officers across the five CAPFs, replacing separate rules governing such matters. Retired officers had also filed contempt petition A group of retired CAPF officers had filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against then Home Secretary Govind Mohan. The group had accused him of failing to implement the Supreme Court’s October 2025 order. It had said that any legislative intervention affecting the command structure, service conditions and leadership opportunities in the CAPFs could affect institutional morale. It said this could also affect the operational capabilities of the forces responsible for the country’s internal and border security.