Government Approves Major Expansion for Enforcement Directorate

The Indian government has authorized a substantial increase in personnel for the Enforcement Directorate, raising its workforce by more than 60%. This move aims to strengthen the agency's capacity to handle complex financial crimes, including money laundering and cyber-related offenses.

The Indian government has authorized a significant expansion of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by increasing its workforce by over 60%, adding more than 1,200 new staff members. This decision is part of a long-awaited cadre restructuring initiative designed to enhance the agency’s capacity to tackle financial crimes.

The Ministry of Finance has approved this restructuring, which marks the first major increase in the ED's manpower since 2011. The staff increase includes new personnel across various ranks, such as Assistant Enforcement Officers and Directors. The boost aims to help the agency manage the rising number and complexity of cases, especially those involving cybercrimes and cryptocurrencies. In the fiscal year 2025-26, the agency's operations intensified, with searches and provisional attachments reaching record numbers. The ED is responsible for enforcing key laws such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA).