UPSC told to tap paramilitary forces for fresh IPS officers from next year

There is resistance in UPSC,IPS for 'emergency' recruitment,which last happened after 1962 war.

After consultations for over a year,the government has ordered the Union Public Service Commission to carry out emergency recruitment starting next year,of two batches of 70 each,to the Indian Police Service from within the officers of central paramilitary forces.

This will be over and above the 100-150 IPS officers who are hired through the normal civil services recruitment route. The shortage of IPS officers has become a matter of urgent priority due to increased deployment in Naxal-affected areas.

The last such emergency recruitment was in the wake of the 1962 India-China war when several officers drafted into the military cadre were inducted into the civil services under a scheme that continued till 1973.

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This decision hasnt come easy. There was resistance from within the IPS,and the UPSC too. Their argument: any mode of recruitment other than through the civil services exam could dilute quality within the service. The UPSC argued for increasing vacancies within the exam rather than hold an in-house recruitment process.

But the idea,sources said,was to induct trained manpower into the IPS cadre after a proper screening exam this would help meet the immediate need of inducting officers into Naxal areas.

An initial proposal was to open this exam to even young Army officers but it is now restricted to paramilitary officers under 35. This would mean that officers of the rank of Deputy SPs and Assistant Commandants can have a shot at the IPS. The UPSC is working to finalise details of the exam requirements for these officers. The emphasis will be on quick recruitment rather than a protracted process as is followed for the civil services.

In 2009,the Kamal Kumar committee had estimated the shortage of IPS officers at 414 243 against those under the promotion quota. This was the basis on which the emergency recruitment drive was first contemplated.

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