Odisha Police faces shortage of 33,000 personnel; massive recruitment drive planned

Bhubaneswar, July 8: Odisha Police is grappling with a shortage of nearly 33,000 personnel, Director General of Police (DGP) Y. B. Khurania said on Wednesday, highlighting the urgent need to expand the force to meet the growing policing requirements of the State.

Speaking to reporters in Cuttack, the DGP said the current police strength is inadequate when compared to Odisha’s rising population and remains below the recommended police-to-population ratio. He pointed out that Odisha has fewer police personnel than several other states, making it increasingly challenging to maintain effective law and order, ensure public safety and deliver efficient policing services.

To bridge the manpower gap, Khurania said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has recently approved the creation of 17,000 new posts in the Odisha Police. Along with the 16,000 existing vacancies, the total number of posts to be filled through recruitment has now reached around 33,000.

The DGP expressed optimism that the recruitment process would begin soon and significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the police force. He said the induction of additional personnel would reduce the workload on existing officers, improve emergency response, enhance crime prevention and ensure better policing in both urban and rural areas.

Khurania also noted that the large-scale recruitment drive would create employment opportunities for thousands of young aspirants preparing for police jobs across the State. He emphasised that strengthening the police force is essential as Odisha continues to modernise its policing system, adopt new technologies and improve public service delivery. Filling the vacant posts, he added, will help the department respond more effectively to emerging security challenges while ensuring safer communities throughout the State.