Modernisation of Police Forces: Most Important Topic for 2023 NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.

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  • Police and law and order fall under the category of subjects within the domain of the State as per Entry 2 of List II of the VIIth Schedule in the Constitution of India. Thus, the principal responsibility for managing these subjects lies with the State Governments.
  • However, the States have not been able to fully modernize & equip their police forces Upto the desired level due to financial constraints. It is in this context that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been supplementing the efforts & resources of the States, from time to time, by implementing the Scheme for Modernisation of State Police Forces (MPF Scheme) since 1969 - 70.

Continuation of MPF Scheme for a Period of Five Years

  • The Government has approved the proposal for continuation of the Scheme of Modernization of State Police Forces (MPF Scheme) for five years from 2012 - 13 to 2016 - 17 under ‘Non-Plan’ & ‘Plan’ , with an allocation of ₹ 8628.43 crore under ‘Non-Plan’ (including ₹ 432.90 crore for Mega City Policing for Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bengaluru) & ₹ 3750.87 crore in the ‘Plan’ .
  • The actual allocation of funds to State Governments under the Scheme, both under ‘Non-Plan’ & ‘Plan’ , would, however, depend upon the budgetary resources made available by the Ministry of Finance & Planning Commission in each financial year. The allocation of available funds amongst the States under the Scheme shall be made by MHA on pro-rata basis, in terms of the distribution ratio approved for this purpose.

Objectives

  • The objective of the scheme is to gradually reduce the dependence of the State Governments on the Army & the Central Armed Police Forces to control internal security & law and order situations by equipping the State Police Forces adequately & strengthening their training infrastructure.
  • The focus of the scheme is to strengthen police infrastructure at cutting edge level by construction of secure police stations, training centres, police housing (residential) , equipping the police stations with the required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment & forensic set-up etc.

Components

  • The items required by the State Police under the components, ‘mobility’ , ‘weapons’ , ‘equipment’ , ‘training equipment’ , ‘forensic equipment’ , etc. shall be funded under ‘Non-Plan’ . The construction ⟋ upgradation of police stations ⟋ outposts, police lines, police housing, construction of forensic science laboratories & training infrastructure (buildings) shall be funded under ‘Plan’ components of MPF

Funding Pattern

  • Under the Scheme, the States are grouped into two categories, namely Category ‘A’ & Category ‘B’ for the purpose of funding both under ‘Non-Plan’ and Plan. Category ‘A’ States, namely, J&K & 8 North Eastern States including Sikkim will be eligible to receive financial assistance on 90: 10 Centre: State sharing basis. The remaining States will be in Category ‘B’ & will be eligible for financial assistance on 60: 40 Centre: State sharing basis.