NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the controversial Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, amid strong criticism from the opposition that claimed the legislation would break the morale of paramilitary personnel and demanded it be sent to a parliamentary committee for scrutiny.Government dismissed the opposition’s objections and said the bill’s provisions would streamline service rules for paramilitary forces and boost national security.The CAPF bill, already passed by the Rajya Sabha, was lauded by minister of state for home Nityanand Rai and ruling NDA members who termed it necessary to iron out inconsistencies that have crept into service rules, cadre management and appointment-related norms for CAPFs as their domain expanded over time. Rai said that the bill will create an umbrella structure for removing the anomalies.Denying the opposition’s charge that the bill will demoralise the forces, Rai argued that their morale was high, else India would not have been made free of Naxalism and terrorism. Deepender Hooda from the opposition said CAPF officers go without promotions for over 15 years, which hurts their self-respect.
