The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026, which provides a common framework for recruitment and conditions of service of Group-A general duty officers and other officers in the CAPFs, came into force on Thursday, according a government notification.
The notification came at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a bunch of petitions filed by thousands of CAPF officers challenging the validity of the law that was passed by the Parliament in April. The cadre officers of these forces have petitioned the top court, including by filing a contempt petition, that the Act continues to restrict their career progression in comparison to the Indian Police Service (IPS) officers brought on deputation. The Act comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s May 2025 judgment on the deputation of IPS officers in the CAPFs. In October last year, the apex court dismissed the Centre’s plea seeking a review of its 2025 verdict. A group of retired CAPF officers had also approached the Supreme Court with a contempt plea against then Home Secretary Govind Mohan over alleged non-implementation of the apex court’s October 2025 order.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026, the Central Government hereby appoints the 08th day of October, 2026, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” said the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Centre recently told the apex court through an affidavit that the appointment of Group ‘A’ general duty officers in the respective CAPFs is now regulated by the CAPF (General Administration) Act. They have also asked the apex court to direct the Union government to implement its May 2025 judgement that said that the deputation of IPS officers up to the rank of inspector general in the CAPFs should be “progressively reduced” over a period of two years in order to give more opportunities to cadre officers whose delayed promotions can “adversely” impact the morale of these forces.
