Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said 7,925 vacant posts in the state police department would be filled soon, after 5,911 positions were recruited over the past three years. He also announced plans to establish a permanent recruitment board to streamline future hiring.
Shivakumar made the announcements while speaking at a Police Commemoration Day event held at the Armed Reserve Force headquarters ground. The proposed recruitment is expected to address staffing gaps in a department responsible for policing, crime investigation, traffic management and public safety across the state.
The chief minister said the government was prioritising police modernisation and that officers were using modern technology for crime investigation, evidence preservation and crime prevention. He added that around ₹142 crore had been provided to help police personnel become more technology-friendly.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of mounting operational pressure in Bengaluru. Shivakumar said the city has a population of about 1.40 crore and approximately 1.31 crore vehicles. With limited road capacity, he described traffic management as a major challenge for the police and commended personnel for working to keep movement across the city functioning.
The government also plans to strengthen police infrastructure through new police stations, police buildings, vehicle supplies and other departmental facilities. Measures to improve accommodation for police personnel are being taken under the Police Housing–2025 programme, which includes housing construction and related infrastructure development.
Shivakumar said improving the working environment for police staff and the quality of life of their families was also a government priority. He assured that the government would continue to support the families of police personnel who died in the line of duty.
The chief minister further said a new whistle guard would soon be provided to lower-rank police personnel instead of the metal whistle chain currently used with uniforms. The department had recently distributed peak caps in place of the slouch hats worn by constables and head constables.
According to the announcement, the metal whistle chains and metal buttons are also being replaced because they rust quickly and can damage uniforms. The government has additionally planned special programmes to address drug-related activity, maintain communal harmony and improve traffic management. The timeline for filling the 7,925 posts and establishing the permanent recruitment board was not specified in the announcement.
