CRPF considers bringing back lance naik and naik ranks after thirty years

The Central Reserve Police Force is considering the reintroduction of the military ranks of lance naik and naik, which were abolished thirty years ago. The move aims to address severe promotion delays and accommodate Agniveers retiring from the Army. CRPF headquarters has directed field formations across the country to hold stakeholder meetings and gather personnel views within two days.

The lance naik and naik ranks were eliminated in 1997 through a Ministry of Home Affairs order and merged into constable and head constable ranks, though they remain active in the Army. Currently, the CRPF faces acute promotion stagnation, with constables waiting twenty-two to twenty-five years on average for their first promotion, compared to the traditional timeline where the first promotion happened in five years. This stagnation has caused grievances among the jawans.

Reintroducing these two ranks aims to provide additional promotions before the head constable level, which officials expect will boost morale and resolve grievances. Additionally, the change is intended to make CRPF service more attractive for retiring Agniveers from the Army, whose first batch will retire later this year and become eligible to join Central Armed Police Forces. CAPFs currently use an ad hoc arrangement for a senior constable rank insignia, but lack a naik rank arrangement.