Union Home Ministry approves 17 new police battalions for J&K, Naxal-hit states

Union Home Ministry has approved to raise seventeen new police battalions in Jammu and Kashmir and the Naxal-hit states. Of these 17 police battalions, 5 battalions will be for Jammu and Kashmir and 12 for the Maoist-affected states. In this regard central government will provide financial assistance which is around 61 crore rupees. 75 per cent of the required will be provided by the central government. In case of Naxal-hit states, 75 per cent vacancies in these battalions will be filled up by youths from the 27 worst-affected districts. While in case of Jammu and Kashmir, the recruitment process will concentrate on insurgency prone areas. Presently, there are 144 India Reserve Battalions in various states. In addition, Union Government recently has approved raising 8 additional India Reserve (IR) Battalions, four each for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.