CRPF reviews rank structure to address long promotion delays
Representational image. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)
New Delhi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is reconsidering its rank structure, with the possible return of lance naik and naik under consideration nearly 30 years after their removal. The change could open up more opportunities for career progression among personnel, while also helping the force accommodate former Army Agniveers.
The force has begun seeking feedback from personnel across its field formations through meetings known as Sainik Sammelans. The exercise is expected to be completed within two days, according to officials cited in a PTI report. A final decision on restoring the ranks has not been announced.
One of the main concerns behind the proposal is the long wait for promotion among constables. Personnel currently take an average of 22 to 25 years to receive their first promotion, according to the report. Bringing back the two ranks could create additional steps in the hierarchy, though the effect on promotion timelines would depend on the rules and the number of posts available.
The ranks were removed from the CRPF in 1997 after a home ministry order that merged lance naik with constable and naik with head constable. Both ranks remain part of the Indian Army’s rank structure.
The review also comes as the first batch of Army Agniveers approaches the end of its four-year tenure in 2026. According to reports, restoring the ranks could help make the CRPF a more attractive option for those leaving the Army.
Former Agniveers already have a designated recruitment pathway into the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The home ministry has provided 50 per cent reservation for them in constable (general duty) vacancies in CAPFs and rifleman vacancies in Assam Rifles, along with age relaxation and exemptions from specified recruitment tests.
The proposed change has also raised questions about how additional ranks would work within the CRPF’s existing structure. The force has an interim arrangement under which constables wear insignia associated with a senior constable-level position equivalent to lance naik, but no similar arrangement exists for naik, according to the report.
According to media reports, Ranbir Singh, secretary general of the ex-paramilitary personnel association, said that restoring the ranks would be useful only if promotions were time-bound. A senior CRPF commandant also cautioned that the change must preserve discipline and operational efficiency, noting that a battalion of more than 1,000 personnel already has more than 20 subordinate officers.
The CRPF will seek comments before proceeding. The recommendation is still under deliberation, and its outcome will depend on the rules governing the ranks.
