Paramilitary forces utilise only half of modernisation budget over 3 years
There has been a significant gap between the budgetary allocations for the modernisation of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the actual expenditure, with only about half the allocated funds being utilised over the past three financial years.
These forces are deployed across the country for border guarding duties and internal security tasks at a time when challenges in these domains are increasing and their commitments are expanding.
According to data shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs with Parliament on April 2, the combined revised estimates for the CAFPs modernisation from 2021-22 to 2023-24 stood at Rs 387.71 crore, while the actual expenditure during this period was only Rs 209.17 crore—about 54 percent of the allocation.
The initial budget estimates for 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 were Rs 281.51 crore, Rs 248.30 crore, and Rs 202.27 crore, respectively. However, the revised estimates were subsequently reduced to Rs 100.14 crore, Rs 154.40 crore, and Rs 133.17 crore, with actual expenditures at Rs 33.69 crore, Rs 77.68 crore, and Rs 97.80 crore.
The CAPFs function under the Ministry of Home Affairs. These include the Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and Shashtra Seema Bal, which are primarily border guarding forces; the Central Reserve Police Force and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which focus on internal law and order duties; and the Assam Rifles, which has a dual role of guarding the Myanmar border and conducting security operations in the northeast. In addition to these is the National Security Guard, a specialised counter-terrorism force.
With a combined strength of about 10 lakh personnel, these forces are also deployed for anti-Naxal operations, VIP protection, election duties, and disaster relief operations.
In response to a query from Member of Parliament Kunwar Ratanjeet Pratap Narayan Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that the government has approved Modernization Plan-IV for the CAFPs, with a total financial outlay of Rs 1,523 crore. This initiative follows Modernization Plan-III and aims to increase operational capabilities by transforming the CAPFs into technologically advanced, professional, well-trained, and well-equipped forces with state-of-the-art technology and armament.
