India is a vast country with a population of over 1.3 billion people, and ensuring public safety and security is a major challenge. According to data compiled by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the ratio of police personnel to per lakh population in India is 196.23 as per sanctioned strength and 152.80 as per actual strength. This means that for every one lakh people, there are 196 police personnel in India. However, the ratio of police personnel to per lakh population varies from state to state.

 

Bihar and West Bengal have the lowest police-public ratio in the country at 75.16 and 97.66 respectively. In Uttar Pradesh, the sanctioned strength of police in per lakh population is 181.75 and the actual strength is 133.86, Gujarat 174.39 (sanctioned) and 127.82 (actual), Madhya Pradesh 147.23 (sanctioned) and 121.76 (actual), Maharashtra 186.36 (sanctioned) and 136.45 (actual), Odisha 147.76 (sanctioned) and 122.59 (actual), Rajasthan 139.81 (sanctioned) and 120.39 (actual), Tamil Nadu 171.95 (sanctioned) and 154.25 (actual). The lower police-public ratio in Bihar and West Bengal is a cause for concern as it indicates that the states are not adequately equipped to tackle public safety and security issues.

 

With a population of over 100 million people, the two states need to take urgent steps to improve the police-public ratio. This can be done by increasing the number of police personnel, providing them with better training and equipment, and improving the infrastructure. It is also important to ensure that the police personnel are provided with proper housing and working conditions. This will help to improve their morale and efficiency and make them more effective in tackling crime and maintaining law and order.

 

The government also needs to take steps to ensure that the police personnel are adequately compensated for their work. This will help to attract more people to join the police force and improve the overall police-public ratio in the country. Overall, it is essential that the government takes steps to improve the police-public ratio in Bihar and West Bengal, as this is essential for the safety and security of the people. Reference source: TH

 

UPSC Main Exam Question

 

What is the significance of the police-public ratio in ensuring public safety and security in India? Discuss the variations in the police-public ratio across different states and suggest measures to improve the ratio in states with lower ratios.

 

Answer: The police-public ratio is a critical indicator of the level of preparedness of a state to maintain public safety and security. In India, the ratio of police personnel to per lakh population varies from state to state, with Bihar and West Bengal having the lowest ratio at 75.16 and 97.66 respectively. A low police-public ratio indicates that the state is not adequately equipped to tackle public safety and security issues, which can lead to an increase in crime and lawlessness.

 

To improve the police-public ratio, states must take urgent steps to increase the number of police personnel, provide them with better training and equipment, and improve the infrastructure. The provision of proper housing and working conditions for police personnel is also crucial to improving their morale and efficiency. Adequate compensation for police personnel will also help to attract more people to join the police force and improve the overall police-public ratio in the country.

 

The government can play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of citizens by taking steps to improve the police-public ratio in states with low ratios. This can be achieved by providing financial assistance to states to recruit more police personnel and improve their training and equipment. The government can also provide incentives for police personnel who perform well in maintaining public safety and security.

 

In conclusion, ensuring a high police-public ratio is critical for maintaining law and order in the country. The government and states need to work together to increase the number of police personnel, improve their training and equipment, and provide better working conditions to attract more people to join the police force. This will help to ensure that citizens across the country feel safe and secure.