Maharashtra’s police force is grappling with a significant staff shortage, an RTI reply has revealed. Of the 2,25,461 sanctioned posts as of June 30, 2026, 23,320 remain vacant — with the largest gaps in the police constable and sub-inspector cadres.
The data was obtained by Sanjay Thul, president of the Association of Social and RTI Activists (Aasra), and furnished by the Public Information Officer at the Maharashtra Director General of Police’s office.Of the sanctioned posts, 2,02,141 are filled. Police constables account for the biggest shortfall — 16,516 vacancies out of 1,26,709 sanctioned posts.
Police sub-inspectors have 2,878 vacancies out of 11,884 sanctioned posts. Assistant sub-inspectors have 1,562 vacant out of 20,119 sanctioned; assistant police inspectors have 287 vacant out of 4,779; and police inspectors have 521 vacant out of 4,253.
The police head constable cadre, however, has more personnel (62,950) than sanctioned posts (61,070), after police naik posts were merged into it under a February 2022 government order. Among senior ranks, 30 of 454 posts from superintendent to director general are vacant, along with 185 of 972 deputy superintendent posts.
Thul has demanded the vacancies be filled urgently, citing the state’s rising population, and has petitioned the government to raise sanctioned strength to meet the UN benchmark of 222 police personnel per lakh population.
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