Answer by Commander Rathore: We must answer the question as a leader who is logical and not as a critic.
Sir, the candidates appearing for various posts in the police department are not suitably prepared which results in the recruitment of candidates who just manage to clear the bare minimum criteria. There are losses at the police training academy due to injuries and demotivated candidates who cannot keep up with the training.
If I take the example of the shortfall of constables. Most of those who make it to constable are not suitably motivated and do not work hard to keep themselves physically fit and pass relevant courses for promotion to the rank of assistant sub-inspector creating vacancies and motivation for others to join as constables. For example, 86% of the state police comprise the constabulary. Constables are typically promoted once during their service and normally retire as head constables. There are 35% unemployed graduates in India, if some of them join as constables, they will create a more competent force, get promoted, and motivate others to join the police force.
An inefficient recruitment and administrative setup which does not have the foresight to conduct timely recruitment of existing vacancies is another reason.
I agree that the United Nations recommended standard is 222 police per lakh persons but well before we reach that figure, we need to fill existing vacancies and be an efficient force. The existing police force works with 2/3 of their existing numbers due to leave, sickness, and deputation to courses.
Remember, you have to answer like a motivated candidate who has done consistent hard work and will continue to work hard in various courses and will keep himself fit for further promotion. You do not have to be a critique of the system (you are not a journalist).
Note: Good to know details so that you can answer probing questions.
- The Police is a state subject. I am taking the example of UP: -
- The UP police recruitment and promotion board invited applications for 49,568 vacancies for constables. More than 19.3 lakh candidates applied for the post. Only 1.23 lakh cleared the written examination out of which 49568 cleared the first round of physical tests.
- While state police forces are responsible for maintaining law and order and investigating crimes, central forces assist them with intelligence and internal security challenges (e.g., insurgencies). Expenditure on police accounts for about 3% of the central and state government budgets.
In 2022, the police-public ratio in the country stood at 152.80 per lakh persons.
- The state with the highest number of police personnel was Nagaland, according to the ministry, with around 1189.33 police personnel per lakh of the population, as against the sanctioned 1212.39 personnel.
- Bihar recorded the lowest police-public ratio, with only 75.16 police personnel per lakh of the population. The ministry said that the other two states with low police-public ratios were West Bengal (97.66) and Rajasthan (120.39).
- In Uttar Pradesh, the sanctioned strength of police per lakh population is 181.75 and the actual strength is 133.86.