A Colonial Legacy Lingering in Modern Times
India’s policing system, rooted in the colonial-era Police Act of 1861, was crafted by the British to maintain control over a subjugated population rather than to serve and protect citizens. This legislation, enacted post the 1857 Revolt, emphasized a militaristic approach, prioritizing suppression of dissent over justice delivery. Even after independence in 1947, the structure has evolved minimally, leading to a force often criticized for being elitist, politicized, and unaccountable. As of 2025, despite numerous committees, Supreme Court directives, and governmental promises, reforms remain fragmented and largely unimplemented, creating a stark divide between rhetoric and reality.
The India Justice Report 2025, published by Tata Trusts, and the Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR 2025) by Common Cause and Lokniti-CSDS, paint a grim picture. These reports, based on government data, RTIs, and surveys, highlight persistent issues like custodial violence, understaffing, and infrastructure deficits. For instance, the India Justice Report notes that while 83% of police stations now have at least one CCTV camera—a step toward accountability—states like Jharkhand lag below 50% coverage. Meanwhile, SPIR 2025 builds on baseline literature to underscore biases, overwork, and citizen mistrust.
Justice (Retd.) Madan Lokur, a prominent advocate for reforms, aptly states: “We need a police force that protects, not intimidates.” This sentiment echoes through decades of stalled progress. From the National Police Commission (1977–1981) to the Prakash Singh Supreme Court judgment in 2006, recommendations have piled up, yet implementation falters due to political interference and resource constraints. In 2025, with India’s population exceeding 1.4 billion and crime patterns shifting toward cyber threats and organized syndicates, the urgency for reform is palpable. This article delves into the promises made by successive governments, the harsh ground realities exposed by recent data, voices from stakeholders, underlying challenges, modest improvements, and actionable paths forward.
India’s policing system, rooted in the colonial-era Police Act of 1861, was crafted by the British to maintain control over a subjugated population rather than to serve and protect citizens. This legislation, enacted post the 1857 Revolt, emphasized a militaristic approach, prioritizing suppression of dissent over justice delivery. Even after independence in 1947, the structure has evolved minimally, leading to a force often criticized for being elitist, politicized, and unaccountable. As of 2025, despite numerous committees, Supreme Court directives, and governmental promises, reforms remain fragmented and largely unimplemented, creating a stark divide between rhetoric and reality.
Promises Made: Grand Visions from Committees and Courts
Over the years, Indian governments have pledged sweeping reforms to transform the police from a colonial relic into a modern, citizen-centric institution. These promises stem from various commissions, judicial mandates, and policy announcements, often reiterated in election manifestos and budget speeches.
1. Modernization of Police Infrastructure and Technology
Governments have consistently promised enhanced equipment, forensic capabilities, and digital integration to boost efficiency. The Assistance to States for Modernization of Police (ASMP) scheme, revamped under the Modi administration, allocated funds for vehicles, weaponry, and tech upgrades. In 2025, the Union Home Ministry highlighted initiatives like the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network (CCTNS), now operational in all states with 100% electronic FIR registration in 16,074 stations. Promises include doubling forensic labs (from 77 in 2019 to 154 in 2025) and deploying over 1,500 drones for surveillance. The Model Police Act, adopted by 11 states, envisions SMART policing—Sensitive, Modern, Accountable, Reliable, and Tech-enabled.
However, these commitments trace back to earlier committees like the Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000), which advocated for forensic upgrades and AI integration, and the Malimath Committee (2003), emphasizing scientific investigations over coercive methods. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in 2025, emphasized criminal law reforms as the “biggest since Independence,” incorporating tech for faster justice.
2. Community Policing and Public Trust Building
A key promise has been fostering partnerships between police and communities to prevent crime and build trust. Initiatives like “Friends of Police” in Tamil Nadu and mohalla committees in Maharashtra aim to involve citizens in local security. The National Police Commission (NPC) in the 1980s recommended community liaison groups, a vision echoed in the 2006 Supreme Court directives for decentralized, responsive policing. In 2025, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced AI-integrated community outreach and social media monitoring to enhance transparency.
3. Training, Sensitization, and Human Rights Focus
Successive administrations have vowed to train officers in human rights, diversity, and modern skills. The NPC suggested extended training periods (2-3 years for recruits) and refresher courses every seven years, focusing on soft skills and cybercrimes. In 2025, promises include investing in the 90% of police who are constables, with programs on non-coercive interrogation like the UK’s PEACE model. The Law Commission’s 273rd Report (2017) urged anti-torture laws, a promise yet unfulfilled despite India’s “high-risk” ranking in the Global Torture Index.
4. Accountability and Independence from Political Interference
Perhaps the most reiterated promise is establishing independent oversight. The Prakash Singh judgment mandated State Security Commissions, fixed tenures for DGPs, and Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs). By 2025, PCAs exist in 31 states/UTs, but their independence is questioned. Governments pledge separation of investigation from law and order, starting in urban areas, to reduce biases and improve convictions.
These promises, while ambitious, often remain on paper, as highlighted in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs (2022) review, which noted partial compliance amid resistance.
Ground Reality: Data Reveals Deep-Seated Issues
Despite lofty promises, 2025 data from key reports exposes a system plagued by inefficiencies, biases, and resource shortages.
Custodial Deaths and Violence
Between 2018 and 2023, 687 custodial deaths were reported—roughly 2–3 per week—per Lok Sabha data. SPIR 2025 reveals widespread caste and religious biases, with officers profiling communities as “crime-prone.” India has not ratified the UN Convention Against Torture, and safeguards from D.K. Basu (1996) are routinely ignored.
Diversity and Representation
Women constitute only 10.3% of the force, far below the 33% target, with 89% clustered in constabulary roles. SC/ST/OBC quotas are met fully only in Karnataka for police and judiciary. This lack of diversity perpetuates biases, as noted in SPIR surveys.
Infrastructure Gaps
Over 21% of police posts (5,31,737) are vacant, leading to a police-population ratio of 1:551, below global averages. More than 40% of stations lack proper housing, and basic amenities like telephones are absent in 350 stations. The India Justice Report 2025 flags overcrowding in prisons (34 at 250%+ capacity, 18 in Uttar Pradesh) and low legal aid spending (Rs. 6.46 per capita)
Mental Health, Overwork, and Efficiency
Officers often work 14–16 hours daily, with minimal mental health support. Conviction rates hover at 6%, due to poor investigations and evidence handling. Undertrials comprise 76% of jail populations, exceeding 60% in most states.
| Issue | Key Data (2025) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Custodial Deaths | 687 (2018-2023) | Lok Sabha / SPIR |
| Women in Police | 10.3% overall; 89% constables | India Justice Report / IPF |
| Vacancies | 21% (5.3 lakh posts) | Parliamentary Committee |
| CCTV Coverage | 83% stations | India Justice Report |
| Undertrials | 76% of jail population | India Justice Report |
Voices from the Ground: Echoes of Frustration
Ground-level perspectives reveal the human cost of stalled reforms. A constable from Uttar Pradesh laments: “We are expected to do everything—from traffic to terrorism—with no support.” A sub-inspector from Maharashtra adds: “I joined to serve, but the system forces blind obedience.”
From X discussions, a user highlights: “Nothing will change unless 24×7 recording devices are mandated… Systems can be built to fix them!” Another post notes shifting focus to “optics and protocol” over fieldwork. Prakash Singh, former DGP, emphasizes: “Reform is not a one-time event. It’s a continuous process.”
Citizens echo this, with protests against custodial deaths underscoring demands for accountability. Surveys in SPIR 2025 show low public trust, with many viewing police as biased.
Why Reforms Fail: Systemic Barriers and Resistance
Reforms falter due to entrenched issues:
- Political Interference: Postings and transfers are politicized, undermining autonomy. The NPC and Ribeiro Committee highlighted this, yet it persists.
- Funding Shortfalls: Police budgets are low; only 10% allocated for modernization. Unspent funds in states like West Bengal exacerbate gaps.
- Resistance from Within: Senior officers resist changes reducing control, as per Padmanabhaiah.
- Legal and Implementation Delays: Replacing the 1861 Act is stalled in Parliament, despite Model Act drafts. Emerging threats like cybercrimes strain outdated systems.
Broader societal factors, including urbanization and economic disparities, compound these.
What Has Improved? Incremental Steps Forward
Amid challenges, some progress is evident:
- Digital Initiatives: CCTNS integration at 95%, enabling shared crime data across districts. Digital FIRs and e-summons via WhatsApp in states like Maharashtra.
- Tech Upgrades: Forensic labs doubled; drones and AI dashboards reduce response times by 33%.
- Diversity Efforts: Women help desks and all-women stations in districts. UP plans to add 60,000 cops, targeting 350,000 strength.
- Cyber and Specialized Units: Maha Cyber Center and fast-track courts for women’s cases.
These gains, while limited, show potential when political will aligns.
FAQs on Police Reforms in India
Q1: Why is the Police Act of 1861 still in use?
Answer: Designed for colonial control, it prioritizes suppression over service. Despite recommendations from NPC and others for replacement, political inertia has delayed a new law. The Model Police Act exists but isn’t universally adopted.
Q2: What is the India Justice Report?
Answer: An annual Tata Trusts publication ranking states on justice delivery, using government data and RTIs. The 2025 edition highlights CCTV progress (83%), diversity leaders like Karnataka, and undertrial crises (76%).
Q3: What is SPIR?
Answer: The Status of Policing in India Report by Common Cause and Lokniti-CSDS surveys personnel and citizens. SPIR 2025 focuses on biases, custodial violence, training gaps, and citizen perceptions, aiding policymakers.
Q4: How can citizens demand better policing?
Answer: File RTIs for transparency, participate in public hearings, support NGOs like Common Cause, and advocate for PCAs. Social media campaigns and protests can pressure authorities, as seen in recent X discussions.
Q5: What role does technology play in 2025 reforms?
Answer: Tech like NATGRID (linking 21 databases) and crime analytics in 25 states has improved coordination. However, full integration with courts and forensics remains incomplete.
Bridging the Gap for a Democratic Force
Police reforms in India demand more than laws—they require a cultural shift from coercion to rights-based policing. The chasm between promises and reality, evident in 2025 data, stems from historical legacies and contemporary hurdles. Yet, with public advocacy, tech adoption, and committed leadership, transformation is achievable. As former DGP Prakash Singh notes: “Reform is a continuous process.” Citizens must hold authorities accountable to build a force that truly serves.