CAPF Bill Protest: Families of serving paramilitary personnel and veterans gathered at Rajghat on Thursday to register a formal protest against the recently passed CAPF (General Administration) Bill, 2026. The demonstrators, a significant number of whom were women, called for the total withdrawal of the legislation and an overhaul of the current promotion systems.
The protest represents the grievances of approximately 10 lakh personnel across the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). These forces currently face severe stagnation, with many officers and jawans waiting between 15 and 17 years for a single promotion.
Ranbir Singh, General Secretary of the Alliance of All Ex-Paramilitary Forces Welfare Association (AAPWA), stated that the peaceful demonstration was a necessity after repeated attempts to meet with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah went unanswered. The association is demanding that the government grant Organised Group A Service (OGAS) benefits in their true spirit and restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all CAPF officers.
Retired Additional Director General H R Singh noted that the CAPF Bill was passed despite a May 2025 Supreme Court ruling intended to improve service prospects for cadre officers. Veterans and serving personnel argue the new Bill is “oppressive” and “discriminatory,” as it fails to curtail Indian Police Service (IPS) deputations as directed by the apex court last year.
While the government maintains the Bill creates a unified legal framework for all service conditions, cadre officers claim it protects the interests of IPS officers on deputation at the expense of internal career progression. The protesters have confirmed that their demonstrations will continue until their grievances regarding the 2026 legislation and promotion stagnation are addressed.
