10,145 vacancies in BSF till July 1, 2024 MoS Nityanand Rai in Rajya Sabha
In a recent update, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai disclosed to the Rajya Sabha that as of July 1, 2024, the Border Security Force (BSF) is grappling with a significant number of vacancies. The total number of unfilled posts stands at 10,145, highlighting a pressing issue within one of India’s crucial border guarding agencies.
Breaking down the numbers, Rai revealed that 387 positions are for gazetted officers (GOs) in Group 'A', 1,816 for subordinate officers (SOs) in Group 'B', and a substantial 7,942 for other ranks (ORs) in Group 'C'. This shortage comes at a critical time when the BSF is responsible for securing India's extensive borders, including 3,323 kilometers with Pakistan and 4,096 kilometers with Bangladesh.
Rai’s statement was in response to queries from CPI MP Sandosh P and CPI (M) MP AA Rahim, who sought detailed information about the BSF’s current staffing situation. Over the past five years, between 2020 and 2024, the BSF has created 7,372 new posts. This figure includes 7,210 positions in 2024 alone, 54 in the previous year, and 108 in 2021, though no new posts were created in 2020 and 2022.
Despite these additions, the BSF has struggled to meet its full sanctioned strength. As of July 1, 2024, the BSF’s strength stands at 255,663 personnel against the sanctioned number of 265,808. Within this total, there are 5,145 GOs, 36,528 SOs, and 213,990 ORs.
Addressing the challenge, the government has introduced special recruitment measures for ex-Agniveers, the first batch of whom will have a five-year age relaxation beyond the standard limit and be exempted from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET). Furthermore, 10% of the vacancies will be reserved for these ex-Agniveers, reflecting a targeted effort to integrate this group into the BSF workforce.
Additionally, the establishment of the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB) aims to support retired Central Armed Police Forces personnel, their families, and the next of kin of deceased or disabled members, emphasizing the government's commitment to the welfare of its security forces.
This extensive vacancy issue underscores the BSF’s ongoing need for efficient staffing solutions to maintain effective border security operations and adapt to the evolving demands of national defense.