MHA approves first ever cadre review of BSF personnel

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the first ever cadre review of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel.

The BSF said in a statement on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) that the Government of India had approved the cadre review of BSF Group B and C employees, spanning from Constable to Inspector, and its implementation had already begun. “The implementation will cover a total immediate promotions of 23,710 personnel. 8,116 promotion orders in different ranks have already been issued today,” the BSF said.

Since the inception of the force in 1965, this is the first time that such a review is being carried out, a BSF official said. In the absence of the review, many Constables retired from service after just one or two promotions, against the projected five promotions up to the rank of Assistant Commandant in few cases.

BSF is deployed along the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders. It is also deployed for internal security duties and operations in State affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

The review is expected to improve promotion avenues from Constable to Inspector, providing significant respite to personnel from existing stagnation, thereby enhancing overall morale and professional development of the force’s personnel, the BSF said.

To address the issue of stagnation among the junior ranks in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), the MHA in May sanctioned the process of granting the next senior “honorary rank” to retiring CAPF personnel. The insignia would entail no financial benefits, the MHA had said in an order. The honorary senior rank would be accorded to Constables, Head Constables, Assistant Sub-Inspectors, and Sub-Inspectors on the day of their retirement.