Odisha Police is grappling with a severe manpower shortage as nearly 26,000 posts remain vacant, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania said on Wednesday.
He highlighted that the current police strength is inadequate compared to the state’s growing population, making it difficult to maintain the desired police-to-population ratio.
To address the issue, the state government has initiated measures to expand the force. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi recently approved the creation of 17,000 new posts in the department. When combined with the existing 16,000 vacancies, the total number of vacant positions rises to approximately 26,000.
The DGP expressed optimism that the recruitment process would begin soon to fill all vacant posts. He said the proposed drive will improve law enforcement capacity, enhance public safety, and ease the workload on existing personnel.
The recruitment is also expected to create employment opportunities for thousands of aspiring candidates preparing for police jobs in Odisha. As the state modernises its policing system and strengthens public service delivery, filling these vacancies will boost operational efficiency and ensure better policing in both urban and rural areas.
