Himachal Pradesh to conduct dope tests and new software for tech-based police constable recruitment for the first time

Shimla, September 17: For the first time in Himachal Pradesh, dope tests will be conducted in the police recruitment process, aimed at ensuring that candidates do not indulge in drug addiction. This new measure is part of an effort to maintain the integrity and credibility of the recruitment process. As in previous recruitments, the police department will handle the physical tests, document verification, medical examinations and verification of character certificates.

To fill around 1,250 constable posts in Himachal Pradesh Police, new recruitment software has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the supervision of the Public Service Commission. The software is currently under testing, and the commission is expected to advertise for the posts soon.

The police recruitment process was stalled for almost a year due to the involvement of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over past irregularities. As a result, the police headquarters recused itself from the recruitment process and handed over the responsibility to the Public Service Commission. However, the process was further delayed due to several errors and amendments in the rules, resulting in a considerable time taken to streamline the system.

The recruitment drive will now include the initially sanctioned 1,226 posts, as well as around 30 backlog posts. Of these, 870 posts are for male constables, 292 for female constables and 57 for drivers. In addition, 30 per cent of the posts are reserved for women. The state government had earlier given age relaxation due to the delay in recruitment.

In a cabinet meeting held on September 14, 2023, the government had approved the filling of 1,226 constable posts, but the recruitment has not yet started. To facilitate the transfer of recruitment responsibilities to the Public Service Commission, amendments were made to the Punjab Police Rules of 2011, thereby also overseeing the recruitment of class III posts by the commission for the first time. This required the development of a special software system.

With these innovations, the long-pending police recruitment in Himachal Pradesh is expected to move ahead soon, ensuring a transparent and drug-free selection process for new recruits.