In a move to provide increased representation to women in paramilitary forces, the government has approved 33% reservation for women at the constable rank in the CRPF and CISF and 14-15% reservation in the BSF, SSB and ITBP.

Of the 9 lakh personnel in these forces, at present 20,000 of them are women. The CRPF has around 6,300 women in its ranks.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement said, "With a view to enhancing representation of women in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has approved the 33% posts at Constable level for being filled up by women.

The 33% reservation of Constable level posts in CRPF & CISF and 14-15% posts at Constable level in border guarding forces i.e. BSF, SSB & ITBP will start immediately to begin with. This reservation would be horizontal."

The government's approval comes following a recommendation by the Committee on Empowerment of Women in its Sixth Report that there is an "urgent need to provide due representation to women in paramilitary forces".