The Kerala Cabinet has approved a major revision of police recruitment rules, increasing the proportion of women appointed as civil police personnel from 10 per cent to 30 per cent.
The decision, taken at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, changes the male-to-female recruitment ratio from 9:1 to 7:3. Under the revised arrangement, 30 of every 100 new civil police appointments will be reserved for women, compared with ten under the existing system.
The government accepted a proposal submitted by State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar, who had recommended the change to address the substantial gender imbalance within Kerala Police. The measure forms part of the Congress-led United Democratic Front government’s programme to increase women’s participation in public services.
The revised recruitment pattern will apply to appointments of Civil Police Officers (CPOs), a major entry-level category within the police establishment. It represents a threefold increase in women’s share of appointments, although the proportion of women already serving in the force will rise gradually as additional personnel are recruited.
Women currently constitute approximately nine to ten per cent of Kerala Police personnel. The recruitment change is intended to move the force towards the broader objective of achieving roughly one-third female representation, an ambition outlined by senior police officials during consideration of the proposal.
The Kerala Public Service Commission, which conducts recruitment to the police service, currently maintains separate selection lists for male and female candidates. Under the existing vacancy allocation system, one of every ten CPO positions is earmarked for women.
The approved formula changes that distribution to seven vacancies for men followed by three for women within each group of ten appointments. The arrangement will substantially increase opportunities for female candidates seeking entry into the civil police service.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had supported the proposed revision during its consideration, emphasising the need to expand women’s representation across different areas of public employment, including policing.
Inspector General of Police Harshita Attaluri, serving at police headquarters, had also highlighted the limited presence of women in the force. She identified increased female recruitment as an important element of efforts to improve representation and strengthen the police organisation’s capacity to respond to different sections of society.
The decision has particular significance for police duties involving women and children. Female officers undertake responsibilities that include recording statements from women complainants, assisting survivors of sexual offences and participating in investigations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
Women personnel are also deployed in policing initiatives such as Pink Patrol and women’s helpline services, which provide assistance and support in matters involving safety, harassment and other complaints.
A larger intake of female officers could increase the number of personnel available for these responsibilities, while also expanding their participation in routine law enforcement, investigations and police station duties.
The Cabinet’s approval follows several weeks of administrative consideration. Chandrasekhar had forwarded his recommendation to the Additional Chief Secretary responsible for the Home Department, proposing the replacement of the existing recruitment ratio.
The proposal subsequently underwent departmental examination before being placed before the government for approval. Its acceptance converts an administrative recommendation into a policy decision governing the allocation of future civil police vacancies.
The recruitment revision also comes alongside another Cabinet decision concerning police staffing. The government approved reporting 48 of the 86 Sub-Inspector posts redeployed within the Police Department to the Public Service Commission as permanent vacancies.
That decision concerns the regularisation of vacancies available for recruitment and is separate from the revised gender ratio applicable to civil police appointments.
The recruitment initiative reflects an established policy objective of increasing women’s participation in police organisations. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission had recommended raising women’s representation in police forces to 33 per cent, particularly to strengthen responses to crimes against women and children.
Several states and Union Territories have adopted policies providing for higher female representation in police recruitment, although the arrangements and their implementation vary across jurisdictions.
Kerala has previously appointed women as Station House Officers, with 63 such appointments forming part of efforts to expand their responsibilities within the police establishment.
The Public Service Commission continues to administer recruitment through notified vacancies and selection procedures. Its September 2026 shortlists included candidates for the statewide Woman Police Constable recruitment category associated with the Women Police Battalion, reflecting the separate recruitment arrangements already operating within the department.
(The article ‘
‘ appeared first on Free Press Journal.)
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