ITBP faces 12,333 vacancies amid Arunachal border confrontations
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has 12,333 vacant posts against its sanctioned strength of 105,136 personnel, drawing attention to manpower shortages after its chief confirmed continuing face-offs with Chinese forces at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh.
Figures released by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs show that the force currently has 92,803 personnel, leaving approximately 11.7 per cent of its authorised positions unfilled. The disclosure has acquired significance following Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor's acknowledgement on October 22 that confrontations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remain unresolved.
Addressing personnel at an official ceremony in Alwar, Rajasthan, Kapoor confirmed that face-offs had occurred at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh and were continuing. His remarks constituted the first public acknowledgement by a senior security official of the reported confrontations.
Kapoor praised the newly established Shaurya Commando teams for their performance during these encounters. He said the specialised units had demonstrated their operational capabilities while handling difficult situations along the frontier.
The director general did not identify the precise locations of the confrontations, disclose the number of personnel involved or indicate whether the encounters had resulted in injuries. His statement confirmed continuing tensions but did not establish that armed clashes had occurred.
The Ministry of External Affairs subsequently attributed periodic disturbances along the border to departures by Chinese forces from established patrolling patterns.
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the situation along the LAC could become disturbed when Chinese personnel deviated from established arrangements. He emphasised that maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas remained essential for developing bilateral relations.
The government also maintained that diplomatic and military communication mechanisms were functioning to address differences and prevent misunderstandings between the two sides.
The developments follow tensions around Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district, where disagreements over patrolling access had prompted military discussions.
Corps Commander-level talks were held on September 6 at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point following exchanges between commanders responsible for the affected sector. No comprehensive official account of the outcome has been made public.
The manpower figures have meanwhile highlighted recruitment requirements across the country's central armed police forces.
Home Ministry data show that six organisations, including Assam Rifles, collectively have 93,139 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 1,072,692 personnel. Their combined actual strength stands at 969,645.
The Central Industrial Security Force accounts for 28,342 vacancies, while the Central Reserve Police Force has 27,400 unfilled positions against its sanctioned strength of 330,818. Its serving strength stands at 303,418.
The Border Security Force has 14,531 vacancies against an authorised complement of 271,877 personnel, with 257,346 currently serving.
The Sashastra Seema Bal has 6,784 vacancies, while Assam Rifles faces a shortfall of 3,749 personnel.
The figures underline staffing pressures across organisations responsible for border protection, internal security and other specialised duties.
However, the available statistics do not establish how many ITBP vacancies concern formations deployed in Arunachal Pradesh or whether individual operational units are functioning below their required strength.
The Home Ministry has maintained that recruitment is a continuous process and that steps are being taken to fill vacancies through the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission and recruitment arrangements managed by the respective forces.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has previously maintained that security organisations continue discharging their responsibilities through effective utilisation of available personnel and resources.
Kapoor's acknowledgement has also prompted political questions about developments along the China frontier.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sought clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the reported confrontations and the government's handling of border security.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh similarly questioned the government's public communication about the situation and demanded greater transparency concerning developments along the LAC.
Alongside the manpower issue, Kapoor outlined plans to strengthen the ITBP's operational capabilities through specialised training, improved equipment and greater deployment of unmanned systems.
He said drone platoons had been established in border battalions, with personnel undergoing training to operate the equipment.
The force is also developing capabilities involving surveillance drones, counter-drone systems and specialised high-altitude combat formations.
Kapoor indicated that modernisation remained necessary because some existing weapons and equipment required upgrading to meet changing operational demands.
The proposed modernisation programme involves expenditure of approximately ₹4,000 crore, including provisions for drone and counter-drone capabilities, subject to the applicable approval and procurement processes.
The ITBP chief also said specialised Shaurya formations were being expanded across border battalions as part of efforts to improve preparedness for difficult terrain and demanding operational conditions.
Figures released by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs show that the force currently has 92,803 personnel, leaving approximately 11.7 per cent of its authorised positions unfilled. The disclosure has acquired significance following Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor's acknowledgement on October 22 that confrontations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remain unresolved.
Addressing personnel at an official ceremony in Alwar, Rajasthan, Kapoor confirmed that face-offs had occurred at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh and were continuing. His remarks constituted the first public acknowledgement by a senior security official of the reported confrontations.
Kapoor praised the newly established Shaurya Commando teams for their performance during these encounters. He said the specialised units had demonstrated their operational capabilities while handling difficult situations along the frontier.
The director general did not identify the precise locations of the confrontations, disclose the number of personnel involved or indicate whether the encounters had resulted in injuries. His statement confirmed continuing tensions but did not establish that armed clashes had occurred.
The Ministry of External Affairs subsequently attributed periodic disturbances along the border to departures by Chinese forces from established patrolling patterns.
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the situation along the LAC could become disturbed when Chinese personnel deviated from established arrangements. He emphasised that maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas remained essential for developing bilateral relations.
The government also maintained that diplomatic and military communication mechanisms were functioning to address differences and prevent misunderstandings between the two sides.
The developments follow tensions around Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district, where disagreements over patrolling access had prompted military discussions.
Corps Commander-level talks were held on September 6 at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point following exchanges between commanders responsible for the affected sector. No comprehensive official account of the outcome has been made public.
The manpower figures have meanwhile highlighted recruitment requirements across the country's central armed police forces.
Home Ministry data show that six organisations, including Assam Rifles, collectively have 93,139 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 1,072,692 personnel. Their combined actual strength stands at 969,645.
The Central Industrial Security Force accounts for 28,342 vacancies, while the Central Reserve Police Force has 27,400 unfilled positions against its sanctioned strength of 330,818. Its serving strength stands at 303,418.
The Border Security Force has 14,531 vacancies against an authorised complement of 271,877 personnel, with 257,346 currently serving.
The Sashastra Seema Bal has 6,784 vacancies, while Assam Rifles faces a shortfall of 3,749 personnel.
The figures underline staffing pressures across organisations responsible for border protection, internal security and other specialised duties.
However, the available statistics do not establish how many ITBP vacancies concern formations deployed in Arunachal Pradesh or whether individual operational units are functioning below their required strength.
The Home Ministry has maintained that recruitment is a continuous process and that steps are being taken to fill vacancies through the Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission and recruitment arrangements managed by the respective forces.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has previously maintained that security organisations continue discharging their responsibilities through effective utilisation of available personnel and resources.
Kapoor's acknowledgement has also prompted political questions about developments along the China frontier.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sought clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the reported confrontations and the government's handling of border security.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh similarly questioned the government's public communication about the situation and demanded greater transparency concerning developments along the LAC.
Alongside the manpower issue, Kapoor outlined plans to strengthen the ITBP's operational capabilities through specialised training, improved equipment and greater deployment of unmanned systems.
He said drone platoons had been established in border battalions, with personnel undergoing training to operate the equipment.
The force is also developing capabilities involving surveillance drones, counter-drone systems and specialised high-altitude combat formations.
Kapoor indicated that modernisation remained necessary because some existing weapons and equipment required upgrading to meet changing operational demands.
The proposed modernisation programme involves expenditure of approximately ₹4,000 crore, including provisions for drone and counter-drone capabilities, subject to the applicable approval and procurement processes.
The ITBP chief also said specialised Shaurya formations were being expanded across border battalions as part of efforts to improve preparedness for difficult terrain and demanding operational conditions.