India, July 23 -- The six paramilitary forces have a shortage of at least 1,09,868 personnel against its sanctioned strength, the home ministry informed the Parliament in reply to a question by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O Brien.

The reply by Nityanand Rai, minister of state for home in the home ministry, showed that the current shortage is the highest since 2021. To be sure, Rai in his reply denied that there is a huge vacancy and said that "presently 72,689 vacancies of various posts have been notified for recruitment, which are underway."

The six paramilitary forces mentioned in the reply are Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo Tibetan Border Po...