8 Years, 5 Big Reforms: Tracing UP Police’s Rise To Modernity After 2017

Last Updated:June 18, 2025, 16:10 IST

The journey from legacy practices and outdated weaponry to cutting-edge technology and tactical readiness marks a defining period in UP Police's history

Newly appointed candidates attend the distributing of appointment letters to police personnel, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)

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The journey from legacy practices and outdated weaponry to cutting-edge technology and tactical readiness marks a defining period in UP Police’s history.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.

Ayodhya: Tech Surveillance Takes Off

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

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.

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