Plan to add 6,000 new positions in APF underway

Kathmandu, November 27 — A proposal has been made to conduct an Organization and Management Survey (O&M) to increase positions in the Armed Police Force (APF). The APF headquarters submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has forwarded it to the Ministry of Finance for their consent.

Currently, the APF has more than 37,000 sanctioned positions. Once the Ministry of Finance provides its consent, a committee led by Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi will conduct the O&M survey and forward the approval request to the Cabinet as per the legal procedure.

The APF is internally preparing to add approximately 6,000 new positions. Officers have stated that the addition would enable the establishment of more Border Out Posts (BOPs).

Under the Reform Plan, there is a target to increase the number of BOPs to 500.

At present, there are 10 BOPs in the north border with China and 244 in the south border with India. APF Deputy Spokesperson Shailendra Thapa told Ratopati that increasing BOP numbers along the borders is essential. He added, "If additional positions are approved, we can strengthen the BOPs."

The APF also proposed that increasing positions is necessary to enhance disaster management efforts effectively.

Race to add an AIG position

DIG Kishor Pradhan is lobbying to create an additional Additional Inspector General (AIG) position in the APF. Pradhan is currently stationed at No. 9 Pashupati Brigade in Balambu. A high-ranking APF official informed Ratopati that Pradhan is advocating for new positions to secure a promotion to AIG.

If he is not promoted, Pradhan will retire in February, 2025 after completing his five-year term. This has prompted him to push for decisions at power centers to expand positions.

Currently, the APF has three AIGs who oversee the Border, Operations, and Human Resource Departments. Pradhan's proposal includes splitting the Human Resource Department to establish a separate Administration Department.

Under IGP Shailendra Khanal's tenure, the number of AIGs was reduced from five to four. APF officials argue that such decisions regarding AIG numbers should not be made arbitrarily.