India's Private Security Industry
Police Shortages and Private Security
How India has fewer police per person than recommended norms, with many vacancies, and how this pushes demand for private security.
India has fewer police per person than many countries.
Numbers
India’s sanctioned police strength per lakh people is below the UN-suggested norm of 222, and actual numbers are lower still due to vacancies.
Vacancies
Lakhs of police posts remain unfilled.
VIP duty
Many police are assigned to VIP protection.
Private substitute
Where police are stretched, people pay for private guards.
Inequality
Richer people buy more security, while poorer areas rely on stretched police.
Economics
Weak state capacity shifts public goods to private markets.
Police deployed for a VIP visit leave neighbourhoods with fewer patrols.
Vacancies are large.
- India has few police per person.
- Many posts are vacant.
- VIP duty diverts police.
- Private security fills gaps for those who pay.
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