Overview
- The Centre issued a gazette notification that brought the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 into force on October 8, 2026, making the statute operational nationwide.
- The Act replaces fragmented service rules with a single framework for recruitment, promotion, deputation and conditions of service across the five CAPFs and specifically fixes deputation shares for IPS officers in senior ranks.
- Under the law, 50% of inspector general posts, at least 67% of additional director general posts and all special director general and director general posts are to be filled by IPS officers on deputation.
- Serving and retired CAPF cadre officers have filed writ and contempt petitions arguing the Act circumvents the Supreme Court’s May 23, 2025 order to progressively reduce IPS deputation, and the challenges are listed for joint hearing before a special bench on October 15, 2026.
- The government says the Act 'expressly empowers' it to set recruitment and deputation rules and stresses IPS deputation aids Centre–state coordination, while petitioners warn the law will block promotion paths for thousands of cadre officers—an advocacy group estimates about 13,000—and the October 15 hearing will shape immediate implementation and careers.