For Prelims: Home Guard, Call Off Rule, Sanctioned vs Filled Posts
For Mains: Home Guard reforms, welfare of paramilitary volunteers, state-level recruitment policy, judicial intervention in service conditions
Source:
Dainik Bhaskar
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Madhya Pradesh Home Guard has 15,800 sanctioned posts.
- 6,690 Home Guard posts are currently vacant in the state.
- 5,020 new Home Guard recruitments have been proposed.
- Last regular Home Guard recruitment in Madhya Pradesh was in 2009.
- Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act, 1947.
Why in the news?
Madhya Pradesh government plans to scrap the 'Call Off' rule that forces Home Guard personnel to sit without pay for two months every three years. If approved, 9,110 jawans will receive remuneration for all 12 months. The proposal also includes regular recruitment for 5,020 posts after a 17-year ban.
Summary
- Madhya Pradesh Home Guard HQ proposes scrapping 'Call Off' rule, allowing 9,110 jawans to receive salary for all 12 months.
- CM Dr. Mohan Yadav announced the move on Home Guard Establishment Day (6 May 2025); over 450 petitions filed against the rule in High Court.
- Proposal also includes regular recruitment for 5,020 Home Guard posts (first since 2009) and posting 488 jawans at Mahakal Temple.
Background
The Madhya Pradesh Home Guard force has a sanctioned strength of 15,800, of which 6,690 posts are vacant. Since 2009, no regular recruitment has taken place. The 'Call Off' rule required jawans to be off duty without pay for two months every three years, causing financial hardship. Over 450 petitions were filed in the High Court against this rule.
Key Analysis and Impact
Scrapping the 'Call Off' rule will directly benefit 9,110 Home Guard jawans by ensuring year-round income. The state government will bear an additional annual burden of approximately ₹18.74 crore. The move also signals a broader push to professionalize the force, with plans to recruit 5,020 new jawans and deploy 488 at the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain.
Way Forward
The proposal is currently with the Home Department. Once approved, it will go to the state cabinet for final clearance. If passed, the first regular Home Guard recruitment in 17 years will be a significant governance milestone for Madhya Pradesh, strengthening disaster response and law and order support.
Call Off Rule: Before vs After
| Feature | Before (Current) | After (Proposed) |
|---|---|---|
| Pay months in the call-off year | 10 months (2 months unpaid) | 12 months (full pay) |
| Jawans affected | 9,110 | 9,110 (benefited) |
| Annual state cost (additional) | Nil | ₹18.74 crore |
Madhya Pradesh connection
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Home Guard
- A voluntary force under the state government, raised under the Home Guards Act, 1947, to assist police in maintaining law and order, disaster response, and election duties.
- Call Off Rule
- A practice in some states where Home Guard personnel are required to be off duty without pay for a fixed period (e.g., two months) every few years, often challenged in courts.
- Sanctioned vs Filled Posts
- Sanctioned posts are the maximum number of positions approved for a department; filled posts are those actually occupied. The difference is the number of vacancies.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: 9,110 Home Guard jawans benefited; 5,020 new recruitments proposed; 15,800 sanctioned posts; 6,690 vacancies; last regular recruitment 2009.
- Nodal Body: Madhya Pradesh Home Department and Home Guard Headquarters.
- Legal Point: Home Guards Act, 1947 (state-level implementation).
Common mistake:
Examiners may confuse 'Call Off' with 'Casual Leave' or 'Compulsory Leave'. They may also swap the number of jawans affected (9,110) with total sanctioned strength (15,800) or vacant posts (6,690).
Write these in mains answers
- Home Guard reforms, welfare of paramilitary volunteers, state-level recruitment policy, judicial intervention in service conditions
Stuck? Get it in one tap
Home Guard jawans in Madhya Pradesh used to be forced to stay home without pay for two months every three years. This was called the 'Call Off' rule. The state government now wants to end this rule so that 9,110 jawans get paid every month. The government also plans to hire 5,020 new jawans for the first time in 17 years.
- Polity: State police and paramilitary forces
- Governance: Welfare schemes for state employees
Related concepts: Home Guard, Call Off Rule, Sanctioned vs Filled Posts
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the 'Call Off' rule for Home Guards in Madhya Pradesh:
- 1.The 'Call Off' rule required Home Guard jawans to sit without pay for two months every three years.
- 2.The proposal to scrap the rule was announced by CM Dr. Mohan Yadav on Home Guard Establishment Day in 2025.
- 3.Over 450 petitions against the rule were filed in the Supreme Court.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: the rule forced jawans to be off duty without pay for two months every three years. Statement 2 is correct: CM Mohan Yadav announced scrapping the rule on 6 May 2025 (Home Guard Establishment Day). Statement 3 is incorrect: the petitions were filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court, not the Supreme Court.
- Q2Easy
How many Home Guard posts are currently sanctioned in Madhya Pradesh?
Explanation: The sanctioned strength of Home Guards in Madhya Pradesh is 15,800. 9,110 is the number of jawans affected by the 'Call Off' rule, 6,690 is the number of vacant posts, and 5,020 is the number of new posts proposed for recruitment.
- Q3Medium
What is the primary objective of scrapping the 'Call Off' rule for Home Guard jawans?
Explanation: The 'Call Off' rule caused financial hardship by forcing jawans to go without pay for two months. Scrapping it ensures they receive remuneration for all 12 months. The state will incur additional cost (₹18.74 crore annually), not reduce it. The proposal also increases recruitment, not reduction, and does not involve transferring duties to police.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the 'Call Off' rule for Home Guards in Madhya Pradesh?
The 'Call Off' rule required Home Guard jawans to sit without pay for two months every three years. The state government has proposed scrapping it.
2. How many Home Guard jawans will benefit from scrapping the 'Call Off' rule?
9,110 Home Guard jawans in Madhya Pradesh will benefit by receiving remuneration for all 12 months of the year.
3. Who announced the scrapping of the 'Call Off' rule?
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced the scrapping on Home Guard Establishment Day on 6 May 2025.
4. How many new Home Guard recruitments are proposed in Madhya Pradesh?
The state plans to recruit 5,020 new Home Guard jawans, the first regular recruitment since 2009.
All sources
- Original5 November 2026 · Read story
