7372 new posts were created in BSF in last five years: MoS Home Nityanand Rai

New Delhi [India], July 31 : Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said there were 10,145 vacant posts in the Border Security Force (BSF) as of July 1, 2024, while 7372 new posts were created in the BSF in the last five years.
He said that further, 54,760 personnel have been recruited in BSF in the last five years.
MoS Home Nityanand Rai speaking at Rajya Sabha said, "Creation of posts and Cadre restructuring is an ongoing process based on the operational requirement of the force. The sanctioned strength of BSF as of July 1, 2024, is 2,65,808 and the posted Strength is 2,55,663."
He said that the upper age limit shall be relaxable for up to three years for the candidates of Ex-Agniveers. Further, age relaxation of five years beyond the prescribed upper age limit will be given to the candidates of the first batch of the Agnipath Scheme. Ex-Agniveers shall be exempted from the Physical Efficiency Test (PET).
Replying to a question on the number of cases that have been registered in the country under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the details thereof, State- wise and the number of detention centres that have been established in the country under the said Act, the details thereof, State-wise he said that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles the data on crime and publishes the same in its annual publication 'Crime in India'. The latest published report is for the year 2022. As per the reports, the details of State/ Union territory-wise cases registered in the country under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 are in Annexure.
"2615 cases have been registered in the country under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), between 2020 and 2022. Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), there is no provision for the establishment of detention centres," MoS Home Nityanand Rai said.
Replying to a question whether Government has taken any steps to consolidate the efforts of the State Governments in providing modern equipments to the State Disaster Response Force he said that as per the National Policy on Disaster Management, raising and equipping of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rests with the State/ UT Governments concerned.
"The Central Government regularly follows up with the State/UT Governments regarding raising and equipping of the SDRF with adequate disaster response capabilities. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also conduct annual capacity building workshop for SDRF, in which this issue is discussed and its need is highlighted. To facilitate the State/UT Governments, the Central Government has also shared the list of disaster response equipments, with the request to equip its SDRF in line with the NDRF," he added.
Rai further said that the State Governments have also been advised to use preparedness and Capacity Building' window of their State Disaster Response Fund for equipping their SDRF besides, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also advises State/UT regarding raising and equiping their SDRFs.