NEW DELHI: Over 93,000 posts across five central armed police forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles, amounting to around 8.7% of their combined sanctioned strength, were vacant as of Jan 1, 2026, the home ministry informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.As many as 28,342 posts (17.7%) are vacant in CISF, 27,400 (9%) in CRPF, 14,531 (5.6%) in BSF, 12,333 (13.2%) in ITBP, 6,784 (7.2%) in SSB and 3,749 (6%) in Assam Rifles, junior home minister Nityanand Rai said in written reply to a question. Answering a separate question relating to CAPFs, Rai told the RS on Wednesday that 749 CAPF personnel had committed suicide between 2021 and 2025, 9,532 had resigned and 24 were killed in fratricide incidents. Also, 46,529 CAPF personnel took voluntary retirement in the same five-year period, though the annual figure declined from a high of 11,256 in 2022 to 4,291 in 2025.Rai said the CAPFs and Assam Rifles have been directed to undertake recruitment against the vacant posts in non-general duty cadres in a time-bound manner. Also an MoU has been signed with the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for yearly recruitment for the post of constable (general duty) in a time-bound manner, he added.Cutoff marks for shortlisting of candidates for constable/general duty have also been lowered where required.