Over 61,000 posts are lying vacant in six paramilitary forces in the country, according to home ministry statistics.

As many as 18,460 posts are vacant in the country’s largest paramilitary force, the CRPF, as on March 1, 2018, while 10,738 posts await appointments in the border guarding force, the BSF.

A home ministry official said the vacancies were attributed to retirement, resignation, death, creation of new posts or raising of new battalions.

“The vacancies are filled through various modes, including direct recruitment, promotion and by deputation as per the extant provisions of recruitment rules. Filling up of vacancies is a continuous process,” he said.

Over 18,900 posts are vacant with the Sashastra Seema Bal as on March 1, 2018, and 5,786 posts in the Indo Tibetan Border Police.

The Assam Rifles has 3,840 vacancies and the Central Industrial Security Force 3,812. The CISF guards the airports, nuclear and industrial installations, sensitive government buildings, Delhi Metro besides others.

The CRPF is primarily deployed for the help of state police forces in internal security, fighting militants in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast and for operations in Maoist-hit areas.

The combined strength of the paramilitary forces is around 10 lakh.