A detailed report from June 2025 has highlighted a significant shortfall in central deputation of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, exposing operational vulnerabilities in major national agencies. Of the 678 IPS posts sanctioned for central deputation, a notable 212 remain unfilled — raising concerns over the effectiveness of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and several Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
Severe Shortage at SP and DIG Levels
The most critical gaps exist at mid-ranking levels essential to daily operations and field investigations:
DIG Rank: 63 vacancies out of 254 sanctioned posts
SP Rank: 123 vacancies out of 221, marking a 55% shortfall
IB (SP Level): 51 out of 83 posts unoccupied
IB (DIG Level): 37 out of 63 positions vacant
Agencies such as IB and CBI — which rely heavily on specialized personnel for intelligence and investigative work — are most affected.
CBI’s Capacity Under Pressure
In particular, the Central Bureau of Investigation is facing a pressing staffing crisis:
SP Level in CBI: Only 18 out of 73 approved posts are filled
Vacancy Rate: A staggering 75% shortfall
Such deficits pose risks to case progress, operational agility, and overall institutional credibility.
Top-Tier Deputation Remains Stable
While mid-level postings suffer acute shortages, senior appointments remain largely filled:
Director General (DG): All 15 positions filled
Special DG (SDG): All 12 posts occupied
Additional DG (ADG): 24 filled out of 26
Inspector General (IG): 126 out of 150 positions occupied
This uneven distribution underscores the urgency to address mid-level reluctance in taking up central roles.
Historical Vacancy Trends
The report outlines a pattern of recurring shortfalls over the years:
March 1, 2024
DIG: 70 out of 256 vacant
SP: 132 out of 228 vacant
March 3, 2023
DIG: 77 out of 255 vacant
December 2021
DIG: 118 of 252 vacant
SP: 104 of 203 vacant
In several instances, vacancies were temporarily covered by CAPF officers rather than IPS, limiting core expertise.
2020 Agency-Specific Breakdown
BSF (DIG): 22 of 26 posts vacant
CRPF (DIG): Only 1 filled out of 38
CBI (DIG): 20 of 35 vacant
CISF (DIG): 16 of 20 vacant
IB (DIG): 28 of 63 vacant
IB (SP): 49 of 83 vacant
Why IPS Officers Hesitate
The persistent vacancy rate reflects declining interest among SP and DIG-ranked IPS officers to opt for central deputation, particularly within intelligence and investigative domains.
Policy Measures to Boost Deputation
In response, the Government has taken the following steps:
Former Officers’ Appeal: In 2021, 17 retired IPS officers urged serving colleagues to consider central roles as vital contributions to national security.
Tenure Policy Enforcement: Officers refusing approved deputation face a five-year bar on central and international assignments (Para 17, IPS Tenure Policy).
Panel Requirement Removed: To accelerate appointments, the Union Home Ministry abolished the time-consuming panel selection process for DIG-level deputation.
Conclusion: A Persistent Structural Challenge
Despite efforts to streamline procedures and encourage participation, central deputation at SP and DIG levels continues to suffer. With vacancy rates exceeding 30% overall — and hitting 75% in vital investigative posts — the shortfall presents a strategic risk to India’s internal security, law enforcement coordination, and the functionality of its premier intelligence services.
