Goa Police Recruitment Drive Fills Only 10 of 30 Lady Sub-Inspector Posts
The Goa Staff Selection Commission has concluded one of the state's largest recent recruitment drives for police sub-inspectors, but the results reveal significant challenges in filling specialized positions. According to the final results declared by the commission, only 10 of the 30 advertised posts for lady police sub-inspectors (LPSIs) have been successfully filled, as these were the sole candidates who managed to clear all stages of the rigorous selection process.
Physical Test Emerges as Major Stumbling Block for Women Candidates
A senior police officer involved in the recruitment process highlighted that the physical test, particularly the 100-meter run, proved to be a critical barrier for most women applicants. The requirement to complete the run within 16 seconds was not met by the majority, despite a one-time relaxation granted by the state government in 2021 that allowed women candidates 19 seconds to finish. This relaxation, however, did not suffice to boost the pass rates significantly in this latest drive.
Overview of the Recruitment Process and Applicant Numbers
The commission had advertised a total of 187 police sub-inspector vacancies, comprising 157 posts for men and 30 for LPSIs. From an overwhelming pool of approximately 5,500 applications received, around 4,500 candidates appeared for the initial examination. Of these, 2,851 candidates cleared the first test, with a breakdown showing 1,570 men and 222 women among the qualifiers. Most applicants held graduate degrees, indicating a highly educated applicant pool.
Subsequently, 463 candidates progressed to the second computer-based test, where 89 failed. The commission also addressed review petitions filed by some candidates, examining relevant records before finalizing the results. Notably, the recruitment drive did not attract enough eligible candidates for the LPSI posts and for PSI positions reserved under the economically weaker section (EWS), further complicating the filling of vacancies.
Context of Staff Shortages and Ongoing Recruitment Efforts
This recruitment initiative comes against a backdrop of persistent staff shortages within the Goa police force. The sanctioned strength stands at 514 male PSIs and 100 LPSIs, but current figures show about 10% of posts across various categories lying vacant. Out of 10,782 sanctioned posts for Goa police overall, approximately 10,000 have been filled to date, underscoring the urgency of these recruitment efforts.
In response to these gaps, the commission has now launched a new recruitment drive to address additional vacancies. This includes 360 posts of police constable (male/female), 119 posts of police constable (armed police), 111 posts of police constable driver (grade III), 60 posts of warden (male), 23 posts of round forester, 13 posts of range forest officer, and nine posts of forest guard. Other vacancies encompass roles such as platoon commander (4), assistant superintendent (male) (4), matron (female) (10), lascar (male) (5), escort (female) (2), and one post each for constable (greaser) and constable (electrician).
The challenges faced in this recruitment drive highlight broader issues in attracting and retaining qualified personnel, particularly for specialized and physically demanding roles like lady police sub-inspectors. As the commission moves forward with new recruitment initiatives, addressing these hurdles will be crucial to bolstering the Goa police force and ensuring effective law enforcement across the state.
