The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) was set up in 1970 to identify the needs and problems of the police in the country, undertake research projects and studies, and suggest modalities to overcome problems and challenges and meet the needs and requirements of the police. It was also mandated to keep abreast of the latest developments in the fields of science and technology, both in India and abroad, with a view to promoting the use of appropriate technology in police work. Over the years, the BPR&D has also been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the training needs and quality of training in the States and Central Police Organisations, and providing assistance for the same, as also assisting the States in modernization of the State Police Forces and Correctional Administration. In the process, the BPR&D has also been tasked to assist the Ministry of Home Affairs and the CPFs, etc., in the development of Standards, Quality Requirements (QRs), etc., with respect to various types of equipments and items pertaining to infrastructure. More recently, the BPR&D has also been entrusted with the responsibility of anchoring and coordinating the work of the National Police Mission.
Despite the significant growth and expansion in the functions and responsibilities of the BPR&D over the years and the growing complexities and challenges that confront the police, calling for the building up of the corresponding capabilities, there has not been commensurate growth in the resources, both human and financial, as also infrastructure support, for the activities of the BPR&D. Keeping this in view, for the first time, the BPR&D has been brought out under the Plan, and an outlay of Rs. 150 crores has been provided during the 11th Five Year Plan, and 72 additional posts have been sanctioned.
Plan Scheme of BPR&D
Four Plan Schemes to be implemented in the 11th Five Year Plan through Bureau of Police Research & Development was approved in the year 2008-09. These are:
Central Academy for Police Training, Bhopal
It has been decided to establish one Central Police Training College at Bhopal with an outlay of Rs.65.00 crore for providing training to the trainers of the State Police Training Institute as the State Police is not having sufficient trainers who can train their in the latest techniques to combat the newly emerged challenges to internal security. Sanction amounting to Rs. 47.14 crore issued on 04/03/2009. This college would also provide training to the direct recruit Dy.SPs and also conduct in-service and specialized training to Dy.SP/Addl. SP of the States who at present do not have training facilities of appropriate standards. 400 acres of land has been provided by Government of Madhya Pradesh free of cost for setting up of CAPT. The Ministry has approved construction of Pre-fabricated structure on 15.6.2011 at a cost of Rs. 7.60 Crore so that training could start at the earliest. The cost of construction has been increased substantially and necessary approval is being taken for commencement of the works for permanent structure.
Setting up of Central Detective Training Schools and new BPR&D HQs
At present BPR&D has 3 Central Detective Training Schools, i.e. Chandigarh, Kolkata & Hyderabad for providing training to State police personnel in investigation of Criminal cases. As these schools are not in a position to cater to the training need of all the States, two more CDTS has been sanctioned at Ahmadabad and Kanpur. An amount of Rs. 48.00 crore was sanctioned for establishment of :
- BPR&D Headquarter and National Police Mission Directorate to be located at Mahipalpur in the land provided by DDA.
- One CDTS to be located in the Northern States.
- Another CDTS to be located in the Western States.
The Ministry / BPR&D has been pursuing for early allocation of land.
So far as construction of BPR&D HQs is concerned, the Ministry / BPR&D got possession of land in March, 2010. Levelling and boundary wall of the land is being done. It has been decided that the Headquarters of National Crime Record Bureau (Presently situated in R. K. Puram, New Delhi) will be situated on the same piece of land. The revised cost of construction is Rs. 140 Crore and the Ministry is processing the cost estimates for necessary approval.
Research & Development Projects
The scheme with an outlay of Rs.10.00 Crore to be implemented by BPR&D was sanctioned on 6th June, 2008.The scheme provides for projects to be undertaken for Research and Development in the area of Police and Correctional Administration. BPR&D has released Rs. 4.50 Crore on a number of research projects. In addition to this, Rs. 2 Crore was released for construction of one each Model Police Station in West Bengal and Punjab.
Training Intervention
The basic objective of the scheme is to identify the gaps between needs & potentials of policing and, the actual position, and make appropriative ‘training interventions’ for bridging the gaps so that the police personnel are able to discharge their duties more effectively. SHOs and investigation officers of the States are target training group under this Scheme. The scheme was sanctioned on 12th Nov., 2008 with an outlay of Rs. 25.00 crore. Training in few courses has been started. For the other courses, they have selected training institutions and invited tender for conducting the course which is under finalization. So far, they have spent Rs. 1.35 Crore on this Scheme.