Over 19,500 vacancies at junior levels in Raj Police, reveals assembly data

Jaipur: Rajasthan police is facing a shortage of personnel at ground level, with more than 19,500 posts lying vacant across sub-inspector (SI), assistant sub-inspector (ASI), head constable (HC) and constable ranks, according to data presented in the state assembly. The information was shared by the state govt last week in response to a question raised earlier by Congress MLA Pramod Jain Bhaya.The data shows that out of 93,388 sanctioned posts in these categories, only 73,856 are currently filled, leaving 19,532 positions vacant — roughly 21% of the sanctioned strength. The data presents the status as of Jan 2026.The shortage is most visible at the constable level, which forms the backbone of day-to-day policing. Of the 63,958 sanctioned constable posts, 55,193 are filled, leaving 8,765 vacancies — about a 13.7% shortfall.There are also gaps at the supervisory levels. Out of 3,533 sanctioned SI posts, only 1,809 are occupied, leaving 1,724 vacant — nearly a 49% vacancy rate. In the ASI category, 5,884 posts are vacant against 11,408 sanctioned positions — around 51.6% vacancies. Similarly, 3,159 head constable posts remain unfilled, with 11,330 personnel in place against a sanctioned strength of 14,489 — a gap of about 21.8%.The figures point to a widening gap between sanctioned strength and actual deployment, placing significant pressure on existing personnel. Experts say such shortages can lead to overworked staff, slower response times and delays in investigations. Routine policing duties such as patrolling, crime prevention and case follow-ups are likely to be affected, particularly in rural and high-crime areas.Reacting to the data, Bhaya criticised the state govt, saying that claims of reduced crime do not match the ground reality. “Every day we hear of serious crimes against women, children and traders. Even official figures suggest that organised crime has increased. The fact is, there are not enough police personnel to properly investigate cases or patrol areas,” the Congressman said. He added that the shortage reflects larger governance issues and is contributing to public distress.Home department or police officials have not yet issued a response. However, the data highlights an urgent need for recruitment and strengthening of manpower to improve policing effectiveness and public safety across the state.