CRPF to restore Lance Naik and Naik ranks after three‑decade gap

CRPF to bring back Lance Naik and Naik ranks after three decades, ministry order says. The two posts were removed in 1997 by a Ministry of Home Affairs directive, though they still exist in the Indian Army. The force has asked its lower units to hold special sainik sammelans to collect stakeholder views, with feedback to be compiled at sector level and sent to headquarters by October 18 for the competent authority. Under the current hierarchy, a constable normally reaches Lance Naik after five years, Naik after ten years and Head Constable after twenty years. In practice, promotion to the first rank now takes 22‑25 years on average, causing grievance among jawans. Officials say reinstating the two ranks will add two promotion steps before reaching Head Constable, easing frustration and lifting morale. The change also aims to make CRPF service attractive to Agniveers, the four‑year soldiers from the Agnipath scheme whose first batch will retire this year and can join Central Armed Police Forces. CAPFs currently allow constables to wear a non‑sanctioned senior constable insignia, treated as equivalent to Lance Naik, but there is no provision for a Naik rank. Adding the official Naik rank will give Agniveers a clear career path within the force.

Context

The CRPF is India’s largest paramilitary organization under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Ranks like Lance Naik and Naik are standard in the army, so their reintroduction aligns CRPF’s structure with broader defence services.