The Rajya Sabha passed the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill 2026 by voice vote on March 26, 2026, amid a walkout by Opposition parties. The bill amends the service rules and cadre management of five Central Armed Police Forces — 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 most significant provision of the bill mandates that 50% of Inspector General (IG) posts in the CAPFs be reserved for IPS officers on deputation. Furthermore, all Director General (DG) posts in these forces will henceforth be filled exclusively through IPS deputation, ending the direct promotion route for CAPF cadre officers to the top post.
Proponents of the bill argue that IPS officers bring broader administrative experience and inter-agency coordination capabilities needed at senior leadership levels. However, CAPF cadre officers and some Opposition members contend that this undermines the morale of career CAPF officers who have spent decades in service and blocks their upward mobility.
The Opposition, led by the Congress and other parties, walked out of the House during the bill's passage, protesting what they called insufficient consultation with stakeholders and disregard for the concerns of CAPF personnel. The government defended the bill as part of broader reforms to strengthen the command structure and operational effectiveness of India's internal security forces. The bill now awaits Presidential assent to become law.