CRPF considers restoring lance naik and naik ranks to modernise structure and absorb Agniveers

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is considering reintroducing the military ranks of lance naik and naik, nearly three decades after they were phased out, in a major effort to modernise command structures, elevate force morale, and integrate retiring Agniveers into national security duties.

The headquarters of the 325,000-strong force has instructed field formations across India to hold 'Sainik Sammelans'—stakeholder consultation meetings with jawans—to gather direct feedback on the proposal.

The ranks of lance naik and naik were originally merged into the standard police roles of constable and head constable under a Ministry of Home Affairs order in 1997. However, the operational demands on India's largest paramilitary force have highlighted the benefit of structured intermediate ranks. At present, a CRPF constable waits between 22 and 25 years on average for a first promotion to head constable. The proposed system creates a structured career ladder that rewards service sooner.

The initiative aligns directly with national efforts to strengthen security institutions while creating structured avenues for Agniveers. Army recruits serving under the four-year Agnipath scheme will soon begin completing their terms, becoming eligible to join the Central Armed Police Forces. Restoring these ranks provides a seamless transition for former soldiers, matching the rank hierarchy they experienced in active military service.

Currently, CRPF units rely on an ad hoc arrangement, placing a non-sanctioned senior constable insignia on uniforms as a proxy for lance naik, with no equivalent for naik. Official restoration will replace these temporary fixes with a clear, regimented command structure.

Ex-paramilitary representatives and field commandants noted that structured, time-bound progression will maintain unit discipline and bolster tactical efficiency across frontline deployments.