8 Years, 5 Big Reforms: Tracing UP Police's Rise To Modernity After 2017
The journey from legacy practices and outdated weaponry to cutting-edge technology and tactical readiness marks a defining period in UP Police's history
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has credited the Yogi Adityanath-led government with transforming the Uttar Pradesh Police, stating that the true phase of modernisation for the country's largest and one of its oldest police forces began only after 2017.
In the last eight years, the UP Police has witnessed five major advancements that officials describe as turning points in its history. Speaking to News18, former Director General of Police OP Singh—who served from January 23, 2018, to January 31, 2020—described this period as the 'golden phase" that laid the foundation for the force's journey toward comprehensive modernisation.
What did Shah say?
Addressing a grand appointment letter distribution ceremony recently in Lucknow—where over 60,000 newly recruited constables were inducted—Shah remarked that while police reforms at the national level began under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, they were not visible in Uttar Pradesh during the previous regime. 'It was only after 2017, when Yogi Adityanath took charge, that the modernization of the UP Police truly started," Shah said. His remarks came amid the largest-ever direct recruitment campaign in UP Police history, signaling a symbolic and practical milestone in the force's transformation.
The Wake-Up Call: Missing Guns & Obsolete Rifles
The journey from legacy practices and outdated weaponry to cutting-edge technology and tactical readiness marks a defining period in UP Police's history. The push to modernise began in earnest following a scathing 2017 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit, which found that over 45,000 handguns were missing from UP Police's stock. The audit also noted that obsolete .303 rifles, long discarded by the Indian Army, were still being used across police stations. These revelations, along with a changing law-and-order environment, sparked a state-wide overhaul.
One of the first visible signs of transformation emerged in Ayodhya in 2021–22. As the temple town prepared for Ram Mandir construction and massive religious gatherings, the police deployed over 10,000 CCTV cameras, supported by drones and anti-drone systems. Ayodhya became a pilot zone for high-tech crowd management, behaviour analytics, and real-time surveillance, giving UP Police a digital edge in sensitive deployments.
Budget Boost for Arms & Radios
Officials with the UP Police said the 2023–24 fiscal year brought a decisive equipment upgrade. The Yogi government sanctioned Rs 96 crore to enhance weaponry and communication networks. This included 5,600 9mm pistols, 2,000 lightweight 5.56mm rifles, and nearly four lakh cartridges. Simultaneously, Rs 3.7 crore was invested in advanced radio systems for better coordination in communally sensitive and high-alert zones like Ayodhya. Body-worn cameras—500 of them—were also procured at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, increasing transparency in public-facing operations.
Counter-Blast Preparedness
In September 2024, the state moved to upgrade its Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS). With an allocation of Rs 5.87 crore, the force acquired 11 advanced bomb suits (Rs 42 lakh per unit) and five remote de-armour disruptors. These additions allow special teams to defuse explosive threats at public events and VIP locations without endangering personnel, marking a significant upgrade in UP's counter-terror preparedness.
Historic Weaponisation Drive: Rs 83 Crore in 3 Days
Between March 29 and 31, 2025, the UP government launched India's biggest-ever police weaponisation drive. Orders worth Rs 83.77 crore were placed to procure 3,000 9mm pistols, 4,000 5.56mm carbines, 405 assault rifles, 300 sub-machine guns, 20 combat shotguns, and 300 pump-action guns. Sniper teams and elite units such as the STF and SSF also received thermal weapon sights, suppressors, and extended magazines—ensuring every district is now equipped with modern, combat-grade firearms.
The AI Leap
In a futuristic move, the UP Police in May–June 2025 sanctioned Rs 3 crore for an Artificial Intelligence-based Criminal Data Creation and Retrieval System. Modelled after successful implementations in Telangana, the system will include facial recognition, voice analysis, and behavioural tracking to instantly generate criminal profiles. Four firms have been shortlisted to develop the tool, which will first be piloted by the STF. Once implemented, it will greatly enhance investigative efficiency and crime prevention.
'Golden Phase'
Speaking to News18, Singh—who assumed charge on January 23, 2018, after Sulkhan Singh—called the post-2017 phase 'the most transformative era in the history of UP Police." Singh, a 1983-batch IPS officer, credited a massive Rs 6,500 crore jump in the police budget during his tenure, raising it from Rs 18,000 crore to Rs 24,500 crore within a single year. 'This was the first time we had both political will and financial muscle to act," Singh said.
Key Gains During OP Singh's Tenure
top videos
View all
Singh highlighted several advancements undertaken under his leadership. Over 22,000 recruits were inducted and, for the first time, trained alongside paramilitary forces to bring in a professional work culture. He pushed for cybercrime units to be expanded from zonal headquarters to every district, acknowledging the rising nature of digital threats. During his term, 4,200 new police vehicles were purchased, improving patrol efficiency and response time across the state.
He also stressed upon the need for mindset transformation within the force. 'Modernisation isn't just about arms or cameras—it's about a shift in police ethics, training, and professionalism," Singh said. Women's safety was prioritised through mobile units, district-level helplines, and gender-sensitive response teams, setting a model for other states, he added.
First Published:
News india 8 Years, 5 Big Reforms: Tracing UP Police's Rise To Modernity After 2017
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
3 women use fake ID to loot Rs 30 lakh from doctor's home in Delhi's Model Town; arrested
NEW DELHI: Three young women friends, who wanted to make quick money to pay for a job that one of them wanted, hatched an elaborate plan and robbed a doctor's home in Model Town after one of them got a job there as a help. Police, who have arrested all three from UP, said the women had created a fake identity, searched online for domestic work and gotten one of them hired as a live-in maid at the doctor's residence in north-west Delhi. When the doctor wasn't home, 19-year-old Shilpi who was posing as a help, called in her accomplices, Rajni (27) and Neha Samalty (25), and they looted the house. Shilpi and Rajni, who is an LLB and the brain behind the crime, are from Meerut. Neha hails from Saharanpur. On June 12, police got a PCR call regarding the Model Town house theft. A team met the doctor. The doctor told the officers that his maid, Tanveer Kaur, had stolen Rs 30 lakh cash and an iPhone and fled. A case under Section 306 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master) of the BNS was registered. A team, under sub-inspector Ravi Saini, did an extensive analysis of CCTV footage from the vicinity of the scene and carried out sustained technical surveillance. Police tried to verify the maid's identity with the placement agency through which she was hired. "We found out that she had submitted a fake identity to the agency. Her real name was Shilpi," a police source said. After a search in Meerut, Shilpi and Rajni were arrested. Cash amounting to Rs 22.5 lakh and the stolen iPhone were found. Both confessed to their involvement in the theft and disclosed Neha's name. They said that a portion of the stolen amount was given to her. Acting on this information, Neha was apprehended and Rs. 50,000 cash and a mobile phone used in the crime were seized from her. "They told the police they were best friends and needed money to pay to secure a job. Shilpi had earlier worked as a maid.... They started applying for maid jobs online, and Rajni created the fake ID," police said. Two days after she was hired, Shilpi called up her friends to rob the house. . DCP (northwest) Bhisham Singh said a probe was on.
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Diploma holder who ran cyber fraud racket from Jharkhand, posing as bank official, arrested
New Delhi: Anil Kumar Mandal, a diploma holder in mining engineering, along with his associates, ran a cyber fraud racket from the forested area of Jamtara, Jharkhand. Posing as bank officials, they tricked Delhi residents into completing KYC verification and installing remote access apps, gaining control of their devices. This allowed unauthorised access to victims' bank accounts. Recently, Mandal defrauded a Delhi woman of Rs 8 lakh. Following a police investigation, the crime branch raided Giridih, Jharkhand, and arrested Mandal. The case has exposed a complex fraud scheme involving impersonation, remote access and digital theft. According to police, the cyber fraud operation run by Mandal and his associates involved posing as bank officials. They would contact potential victims under the guise of conducting mandatory KYC verification, tricking them into revealing sensitive information and installing software that allowed remote access. In one case, a complainant based in Delhi fell prey to the scam. The accused managed to gain remote access to her mobile device, and from there, transferred Rs 8.1 lakh fraudulently from her account. "The siphoned funds were then used to purchase seven high-end Apple iPhones and a MacBook through various e-commerce platforms," a police official said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The fraudsters used digital vouchers to redeem these products, which helped them evade detection and cover their tracks. To further mask their activities, they employed a network of IP addresses and mobile numbers registered under fake or proxy identities. However, despite multiple layers of digital obfuscation, the cyber cell's forensic team traced crucial IP logs, SIM card usage, and IMEI numbers. This thorough digital investigation ultimately led to the identification and arrest of Mandal. DCP (crime) Aditya Gautam formed a special team under ACP Anil Sharma, which began intensive surveillance and field operations. "The breakthrough came when digital surveillance revealed two suspicious mobile numbers operating simultaneously at the same location and time in Giridih," a police source said. Following coordinated efforts, Mandal was apprehended, and one of the iPhones purchased with the stolen funds was recovered from his possession, bringing the case a step closer to closure.
India Gazette
38 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Odisha CM announces Rs 38,900 crore agriculture budget
Balangir (Odisha) [India], June 18 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced a record Rs 38,900 crore agriculture budget, with new initiatives planned for farmers' welfare, including the establishment of an agricultural university in Balangir and the restoration of a sugar factory. Addressing the mediapersons, Chief Minister Majhi said, 'The government has always been committed to farmers and agriculture. The state agriculture budget has been announced at Rs 38,900 crores for the first time.' The budget, jointly prepared by the irrigation and agriculture department and the cooperative department, aimed to support farmers, boost crop production, and encourage agro-based industries across the state. Majhi further announced, 'An agricultural university will be established in Balangir, a sugar factory will be restored, and new industries will be established.' On Monday, Mohan Charan Majhi handed over 964 appointment letters at a government recruitment fair (Niyojit Mela) held in Bhubaneswar. The event marked a significant milestone in the new government's employment drive. Speaking to ANI, CM Majhi said, 'Today is the last day of Odisha's festival, Raj Sankranti, and people are celebrating Raj Sankranti all over Odisha. In this sequence, we have given 964 appointment letters under the Niyojit Mela.' The Chief Minister highlighted that his government had already delivered on its promise of job creation, stating, 'After our new government came, we have given appointments in 28,446 government jobs as per our manifesto...' Majhi assured that the momentum would continue, with even more recruitments planned in the near future. 'In the coming time, we will give more appointments... We will create a prosperous Odisha, a developed Odisha,' he added. The ceremony was attended by several leaders and officials and newly recruited candidates, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve in government roles. (ANI)
