The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D)

Most of such cells are operational in Bihar (52), Maharashtra (50), Punjab (48), West Bengal (38) and Assam (37).

In Manipur, where ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023, the number of police social media monitoring cells rose from three on January 1, 2020, to 16 on January 1, 2024. The expansion occurred despite the Internet being suspended in the State for about 140 days in 2023.

• Assam increased the number of social media monitoring cells from one in 2022 to 37 in 2024. West Bengal expanded its network from two to 38 cells, while Punjab doubled its capacity, increasing the number from 24 to 48 between 2022 and 2024.
• Earlier, social media monitoring cells were not counted separately or were part of the cybercrime police stations. They began to function as distinct units from 2021, according to Data on Police Organisations (DoPO) reports for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
• The annual DoPO reports are prepared by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), a police think tank under the Union Home Ministry.

The cells started featuring in the reports since 2021, which includes data for the 2020.

Meanwhile, the number of cybercrime police stations increased from 376 as of January 1, 2020, to 624 as of January 1, 2024.

• Police officials attribute the need for dedicated cells to track and pre-empt the evolving crime trends on social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Snapchat, WhatsApp and Instagram.
• The 2024 DoPO report said that the number of drones available with police forces in States and Union Territories stood at 1,147, up from 1,010 as of January 1, 2023.
• The report also noted that 5,92,839 police posts were vacant across the country, against the total sanctioned strength of 27,55,274.
• Of the total sanctioned strength of 27.55 lakh, the actual strength comprised 3,30,621 personnel belonging to Scheduled Castes, 2,31,928 to Scheduled Tribes and 6,37,774 to Other Backward Classes.

About the BPR& D:

The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) is the apex “think tank” for policing in India. Established on August 28, 1970, it operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with the primary goal of modernizing the Indian police force and correctional services.

1. Core Objectives and Mission:

• Vision: To transform Indian police into a “SMART” force (Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Techno-savvy and Trained).
• Mission: To promote systematic study of police and prison problems and apply Science and Technology to law enforcement.
• Motto: “Promoting Excellence in Policing.”

2. Key Divisions of BPR&D:

The Bureau is organized into several specialized divisions to handle the diverse needs of internal security:

• Research & Correctional Administration: Conducts studies on crime trends, juvenile delinquency, and prison reforms.
• Training Division: Standardizes training across India. It oversees the Central Detective Training Institutes (CDTIs) in cities like Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
• Modernization Division: Acts as an interface between police and the industry to test new weapons, gadgets, and protective gear.
• National Police Mission (NPM): Focuses on “Mission Mode” projects like community policing and gender sensitization.
• Special Projects Division: Handles critical data like the annual “Data on Police Organizations” (DoPO) report.

3. Major Functions:

1. Modernization: Reviewing and standardizing equipment such as arms, ammunition, riot control gear, and vehicles.
2. Policy Advice: Assisting the MHA in formulating national policies on internal security.
3. Capacity Building: Designing uniform training modules for all ranks, from Constables to IPS officers.
4. Forensic Integration: Coordinating with forensic labs to improve the quality of criminal investigations.

4. Current Updates & Initiatives (2025–2026):
5. Implementation of New Criminal Laws:

As of July 1, 2024, India moved to three new criminal laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).

• 2025–26 Role: BPR&D is the nodal agency for training millions of police personnel and judicial officers on these laws, focusing on digital evidence and forensic-mandatory investigations.

1. “One Nation, One Police Uniform”:

Following the Prime Minister’s vision, BPR&D is finalizing a standardized uniform design (color, fabric, and patches) for all State and UT police forces to ensure a singular identity for Indian police.

1. 5G and AI in Policing:

• Vimarsh 2024-25: A series of hackathons and projects focused on using 5G technology for real-time surveillance, drone-based monitoring, and AI-driven crime prediction.
• Counter-Drone Units: Development of specialized SOPs and technology to neutralize “rogue drones” at borders and vital installations.

1. SMART Policing & Technology:

• BHARATPOL Network: A new initiative to link Indian police databases with INTERPOL’s 19 types of databases for faster cross-border crime resolution.
• Smart Police Stations: BPR&D has released the 2025 Guidelines for “Facelifting of Police Stations” to make them more citizen-friendly and technologically integrated.

1. Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) Goal:

• In line with MHA’s target, BPR&D is providing specialized tactical research to help make India Naxal-free by March 31, 2026.

5. Key Publications

• Indian Police Journal (IPJ): Flagship quarterly journal on policing.
• Data on Police Organizations (DoPO): The most authentic statistical record of Indian police infrastructure.
• Vigilant India: A fortnightly magazine highlighting recent achievements in internal security.

The appointment of a State Director General of Police (DGP)—also known as the Head of Police Force (HoPF)—is a highly structured process. To prevent political interference, the procedure is governed by the Supreme Court’s landmark Prakash Singh Case (2006) guidelines and updated UPSC 2023/2025 rules.

1. Preparation of the Eligibility List:

The State Government must identify all eligible senior IPS officers from its cadre.

• Rank: Officers must be of the rank of Additional Director General (ADG) or higher.
• Service: Traditionally, 30 years of service was required, but recent UPSC amendments have reduced this to 25 years to broaden the candidate pool.
• Residual Tenure: Officers must have at least 6 months of service left before retirement at the time of their empanelment.

2. Role of the UPSC (The Empanelment):

The State does not choose the DGP directly. Instead, it sends the names of eligible officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at least three to six months before the current DGP retires.

• The Committee: A high-level committee at the UPSC—comprising the UPSC Chairman, Union Home Secretary, State Chief Secretary, the outgoing State DGP, and a Chief of a Central Police Organization—evaluates the candidates.
• Criteria: Selection is based on merit, seniority, a “very good” service record, and a wide range of experience (e.g., law and order, intelligence, or central deputation).
• The Shortlist: The UPSC selects a panel of three officers and sends this list back to the State Government.

3. Final Selection by the State:

From the three names suggested by the UPSC, the State Government (Cabinet/Chief Minister) has the authority to pick any one officer to be the DGP.

4. Fixed Tenure Rule:

Once appointed, the DGP is entitled to a minimum tenure of 2 years, regardless of their actual date of retirement.

• This is designed to ensure the officer can work independently without fear of being transferred or removed by politicians for not “following orders.”
• Removal: A DGP can only be removed before 2 years in exceptional cases (e.g., conviction in a criminal case, corruption, or medical incapacity), and usually in consultation with the State Security Commission.