New Delhi: The Modi government’s plan to merge the recruitment exam for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) with the civil services could lead to an end to the long-standing animosity between the forces, and finish the culture of silos in which IPS and CAPF officers work, several officers said.
According to a PTI report, the Centre is finalising a proposal to change the scheme of the UPSC test for recruitment of entry-level paramilitary forces’ officers in order to merge it with the coveted civil services examination that selects IAS and IPS officers.
As of now, CAPF officers above the level of assistant commandants are recruited through the Central Armed Police Forces (assistant commandants) Examination conducted by the UPSC. This exam is separate from the Civil Service Examination (CSE) also conducted by the UPSC.
The proposal comes almost a year after CAPFs — the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) – were granted the Organised Group A Service status by the Supreme Court.
The OGAS status allows these forces better prospects for promotion, pay, command and deputation of its officers at par with their IPS counterparts.
“It would be a very good move if the government goes through with this proposal… Just like they merged all the railway services to end the culture of working in silos, this sort of merger can go a long way in ironing out differences between CAPFs and IPS officers,” a senior CAPF officer said. “At the end of it, most of the hostility of IPS officers towards CAPF officers comes from the fact that they see us as inferior.”
“If we are selected through the same exam, this twice-born attitude of the IPS will be addressed,” the officer added.
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The tussle
Much to the chagrin of the CAPF officers, IPS officers, deputed to the paramilitary forces, have long argued that they are more equipped to lead the CAPFs as they have come to the service through a highly competitive exam.
While they have used this argument to bat for continued deputation of the IPS in CAPFs — the matter is still sub judice – the government’s proposal to induct CAPF officers through the same exam as the IPS could put an end to this tussle.
Retired IPS officer Neeraj Kumar also said that the proposal is a welcome one. “It is a good idea… If CAPF officers are recruited through the same exam as IPS, they can be promoted to the IPS at some point also,” Kumar, who retired as the commissioner of Delhi police, said.
“Since the civil service exam is such a highly competitive one, CAPF officers who come through it will have the requisite rigour and quality,” he added. “In the long-run, it will end these hierarchies between forces and services.”
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The silo culture
The resolve to end the culture of working in silos is something that the Modi government has spoken of several times. Addressing the fresh batch of civil servants in Gujarat last year, PM Narendra Modi had said, “The presence of silos and hierarchy does not help our system. Whoever we are, wherever we are, we have to work together for the nation.”
Then again while merging all eight railway services into one, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had said that the move was necessitated due to all the railway services working in silos, and in turn, hampering the growth of the railways as an organisation.
However, serving IPS officers have raised several concerns regarding the proposal.
“Our worry is not that IPS deputation will be affected by this proposal – that matter is still sub judice – but there are other issues,” said a senior IPS officer. “To begin with, CAPFs are given several immunities under military style laws… Are they ready to give them up?” he asked. “They cannot be both military and civil servants.”
Also read: UPSC to hold exclusive Railway Service Exam from 2021 after merger of services
Stupid CAPF officers disclose their idiotic dreams :- i.e
1) CAPF must be IPS free police organisation.(Impossible as per constitution)
2) CAPF Organisation may treated as military organisation for Military treatment in Internal
security of Nation among civilian.(Impossible in Indian Democracy)
3) Once CAPF may declared as Para Military Force so that MHA may loose it to forwarding it’s all
forces under Defence Ministry for Military purpose instead of ongoing utilisation in Internal
Security Policing purpose in disturbed states of union. (Impossible among worldwide community)
But their silly foolish evil motive dreams are illogical, impossible straight against Human Rights as well as dangerous for innocent Civil people of nation. Even there is no logic to convert Police force into Military Force leading cruelty on civilians imposing Military Affairs with own people in nation.
Stupid CAPF officers wants and dreams :-
1) their police organisation without a IPS cadre police officer in it.
2) CAPF Organisation may treated as military treatment in Internal security of Nation among civilian.
But both of their dreams are impossible and against Human Rights as well as dangerous for innocent Civil people of nation.
Both services have their own exclusive rigours and profile . Unlike CAPF, Police service is soft and suitable for civilian set up . They are mostly unfit in CAPF as evident from strange policies and orders they frame. Merging the services will creat more problems then solution. Let CAPF. Be a separate service.
Statement of retired IPS is not in right context . The CAPF officers proved their capability and highest level of professionalism time and again . Whatever recruitment process is suited best ,may be adopted by government.
Stement of retired IPS is not in right contect . The CAPF officers proved their capability and highest level of professionalism time and again . Whatever recruitment process is suited best ,may be adopted by government.
After reading the arguments of IPS officers here it seems that they had stopped to upgrade their intellectual abilities for quite a long time..
I don’t think it’s a good step… Paramilitary forces should not be merged with police services… Though calf AC can be promoted as ips rank.. but merging them will be not good.. bcz there are so many aspirants who Just want to serve in paramilitary and on other hand some wants to join civil services only