Story in numbers: Expenditure on police forces by states

The Union Cabinet last week approved the implementation of an umbrella scheme for the Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) with an allocation of Rs 25,060 crore for the 2017-18 to 2019-20 period. The MPF scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs in order to supplement resources of states to improve their police infrastructure. Funds from the MPF are typically used for construction of police stations and provision of modern weaponry, surveillance and communication equipment. Between 2009 and 2015, states on an average utilised 55% of the funds allocated for the MPF scheme by the central government. The highest utilisation was witnessed in 2013-14 when 86% of the modernisation funds were used. In 2015-16, of the total allocation of Rs 9,203 crore for modernisation, only 14 per cent (Rs 1,330 crore) was utilised by states, with the remaining 86% remained unspent. In addition to funds received from the Centre, state governments also allocate funds to spend on police forces in their state. During 2015-16, most states proposed to spend 2-5% of their state budgets on the police. Only four states proposed to spend more than five per cent on the police. These were Manipur (8.7% of the total state budget), Nagaland (7.2%), Punjab (5.8%) and Jammu and Kashmir (5.2%). States such as Gujarat, Karnataka and Odisha allocated the lowest share.

Sources: Data on Police Organisations, Bureau of Police Research and Development, 2016; PRS

 
PRS Legislative Research