Police Reforms in India | 03 Dec 2025

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

At the 60^th All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of police in Raipur, held on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions’, the Prime Minister stressed the urgent need to improve public perception of the police by enhancing their professionalism, sensitivity, and responsiveness. 

What are the Major Challenges Facing Police Forces in India? 

• Colonial Legacy of the Police Act of 1861: The police system still operates under the shadow of archaic colonial law that leads to frequent excessive use of force, especially including tear gas, rubber bullets, and baton charges.  
  • According to the Status of Policing in India Report, 2025, even for minor offences like theft, 30% of personnel supported third-degree (custodial torture). 
• Public Perception and Trust Deficit: Many marginalized communities, such as Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities, fear the police due to historical discrimination and brutality.  
  • This erosion of trust weakens community intelligence and crime prevention, making successful outreach models like Janamaithri (Kerala) and Mohalla Committees (Maharashtra) rare exceptions rather than the norm. 
• Excessive Police Workload:  India faces a major police personnel shortage, resulting in excessive workloads and weakened law enforcement.  
  • Against the UN norm of 222 officers per 100,000 people, India has only 154.84, far below global standards. 
  • About 24% of officers work over 16 hours daily, 44% work over 12 hours, and the average workday is 14 hours.  
    • Many also handle multiple duties—including law enforcement and election work—without adequate rest or fair compensation. 
• Poor Infrastructure and Technology: Many police personnel lack adequate training in modern investigation, forensics, and cybercrime, leading to poor investigations, wrongful arrests, and growing case backlogs. 
  • This problem is compounded by a severe shortage of forensic scientists—India has only 0.33 per 100,000 people, compared to 20 to 50 in many foreign countries. 
• Political Interference: The political executive’s control over transfers, suspensions, and promotions undermines police operational autonomy, leading to partisan use rather than impartial law enforcement.
  • A 2019 study found that 72% of police officers faced political pressure while investigating cases involving influential persons. 

What are the Key Committee/Commission Related to Police Reforms in India?

What Reforms are Needed to Improve the Effectiveness of Policing in India? 

• Implement Court Directives Fully: Enforce fully the Supreme Court’s 7 Directives (2006) by creating independent State Security Commissions (SSC) with majority non-political members to set policy and prevent misuse.  
  • Establish effective Police Complaints Authorities (PCA) at state and district levels with statutory powers to investigate misconduct independently. 
• Strengthen Internal Accountability: Empower the Police Establishment Boards (for transfers/postings) and introduce performance audits based on objective metrics like public satisfaction, crime prevention, and investigation quality—not just crime rates. 
• Functional Specialization: Separate the Investigation wing from Law & Order at all police stations to enable specialized detectives and improve conviction rates. Upgrade cybercrime units and forensic labs nationwide, and implement a nationwide NATGRID to connect security agencies’ databases for counter-terrorism. 
• Institutionalize Community Policing: Establish structured police-public partnerships for collaborative problem-solving, intelligence gathering, and building trust with marginalized communities.  
  • Adopt a Police-as-Service model with Citizens’ Charters and social media to ensure service standards and transparent grievance redressal. 
• Addressing New-Age Challenges: As per Padmanabhaiah Committee recommendations: 
  • Create specialized units for financial fraud, cyberterrorism, organized crime, and narcotics with pan-India coordination, and  
  • Ensure inter-agency data-sharing and joint operation protocols among state police, central agencies, and intelligence bureaus. 

Conclusion 

Police reform in India requires moving beyond colonial structures. Full implementation of the Supreme Court's Prakash Singh directives, functional autonomy, technological modernization, and a shift to community-oriented service are essential to transform policing into a professional, accountable, and trusted institution for a "Viksit Bharat."