People's DGP To India's Largest Paramilitary Force: CRPF Got Its Boss It Needs

Perhaps after a long wait of almost two years, India's largest paramilitary force, CRPF, has got an operationally driven chief at the helm. Assam DGP G.P Singh was appointed as CRPF DG on Saturday night. Singh's appointment is crucial when the force is battling and reeling at operational and strategic fronts. The force is progressively improving its striking capabilities, battling with remaining pockets of Maoists to achieve the Home Minister's Naxal-free vision by next year in March. On the other hand, the force is reeling with a lack of manpower, suicide cases and the need for operational optimization.

Over the past five years, the CRPF has recorded the highest number of suicides among all CAPF, surpassing 200 cases. The force is also grappling with a shortage of one lakh personnel. These structural challenges highlight the need for operational optimization to prepare the force for future security challenges. The MHA's ambitious modernization Plan IV for CAPF has been slow to progress. 

According to the MHA's annual report, the CRPF has only utilized a fraction of the 82 crore allocated for modernization. Despite increasing security concerns in some regions, the use of funds and programs in the CRPF is progressing at a slow pace. This is largely due to a lack of strategic foresight in the CRPF leadership, according to top sources.

G.P Singh, with immense strategic and operational experience from SPG to NIA and, especially  during heydays of insurgency in North East during the early 90s-2000s. The recent successes in Assam and strategic foresight of Assam Special Task Force(STF) under Singh's overall leadership along high emotional quotient strengthens his credentials for steering's CRPF's future and stand on the strategic promise of force in coming years