Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has approved 33% reservation for women in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) at constable-level positions.
There will be 33% reservation for women at constable-level posts in Central Reserve Police Force and Central Industrial Security Force, and 14-15% reservation at the constable level in border guarding forces i.e. Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Indo Tibetan Border Police, starting immediately, according to an official statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Committee on Empowerment of Women in its Sixth Report had advocated elevating representation of women in paramilitary forces.
The reservation is, however, limited to only constable-level position.
There are 9 lakh troops in all these forces combined, of which women constitute a mere 20,000.
In 2015, 33% positions in the Delhi Police were reserved for women; six other Union Territories also passed this proposal and women were also allowed for combat roles in the Indian Air Force.
The Delhi Police employed only 9.27% women when the regulation was passed.
