Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is overhauling its police training system to match the demands of modern-day crime, moving beyond traditional drills and law-and-order focus to a curriculum that prepares constables to fight cybercrime, financial fraud, and digital threats.For the first time, the state will blend conventional physical and law enforcement training with advanced technology-based modules. Alongside parade grounds and weapon handling, recruits will now spend hours learning about digital forensics, blockchain technology, AI-driven policing, and cyber investigation methods.A dedicated digital learning studio, set up at the Tech Tower inside the AP police headquarters at Mangalagiri, will deliver live and recorded expert sessions to training centers across the state. Cyber specialists, forensic experts, and investigators of financial crimes will teach classes virtually, covering areas such as online fraud, cyber abuse, and crimes against women. Recruits will receive a daily training schedule linking them to these sessions.The syllabus also reflects India’s new legal framework. Instead of the Indian Penal Code, CrPC, and Evidence Act, trainees will now be instructed on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam introduced in 2023.Another significant shift is in tapping the educational background of the recruits. Of the 6,024 new constables, 810 hold professional degrees such as BTech, MTech, and BCA. These candidates are being earmarked for intensive training as ‘cyber commandos,’ while others with postgraduate and law degrees will be utilized for specialized roles.The nine-month programme will continue at police training colleges in Vizianagaram, Ongole, Tirupati, and Anantapur, and district training centers, but with an expanded scope. Sessions on victim handling, financial investigation, and digital evidence will run alongside the standard regimen of physical fitness, discipline, and law enforcement basics.In addition, every trainee will be required to use the Ministry of Home Affairs’ iGOT Karmayogi app, enabling continuous skill development in areas like criminology, cyber law, and forensic science throughout their career.Director general of police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta said the changes were aimed at reshaping the force for contemporary challenges. “Just as Greyhounds were created to fight Maoists, today’s recruits are being prepared as cyber commandos. This is not just training for today, but for the future of policing in Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
