Paramilitary Forces
Defence GK · अर्धसैनिक बल · 18 facts
CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force): Largest Central Armed Police Force; 3.25 lakh+ personnel; 246 battalions; primarily for internal security, anti-Naxal operations
BSF (Border Security Force): Guards India-Pakistan border (3323 km) and India-Bangladesh border (4156 km); 2.65 lakh personnel; established 1965
CISF (Central Industrial Security Force): Guards critical infrastructure — airports (65), metro rails, nuclear plants, ports; 1.88 lakh+ personnel; established 1969
ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police): Guards 3488 km India-China LAC (Line of Actual Control) in high-altitude Himalayas; 90,000 personnel; specialists in mountain warfare
SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal): Guards India-Nepal border (1751 km) and India-Bhutan border (699 km); 88,000+ personnel; established 2001
NSG (National Security Guard): Elite counter-terrorism force; formed in 1984 after Operation Blue Star; 'Black Cats'; 7500 personnel; HQ Manesar Haryana
NSG operations: Op Black Tornado (26/11 Mumbai 2008), Operation Ashwamedha (Kandahar hijacking), Akshardham temple attack 2002; VIP protection squad
NDRF (National Disaster Response Force): 12 battalions; established 2006 under Disaster Management Act; handles floods, earthquakes, cyclones, industrial accidents
RPF (Railway Protection Force): Protects Indian Railways (1.3 lakh km network); 80,000+ personnel; under Ministry of Railways (transferred from MHA 2003)
Assam Rifles: Oldest paramilitary (1835); guards India-Myanmar border (1643 km); operates in Northeast India; dual control — MHA admin, Army operational
CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces): Collective term for 7 CAPFs — BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG, Assam Rifles; total 10+ lakh personnel under MHA
CRPF Rapid Action Force (RAF): Specialised wing for riot control; 15 battalions; equipped with tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets; deployed in communal tensions
ITBP Himalayan Rescue: Rescued thousands in Kedarnath (2013), Chamoli (2021), Uttarkashi disasters; specialised in high-altitude search and rescue
BSF's Seema Prahari: BSF's community interface programme; organises cricket matches and cultural events at LoC and IB with villagers along border
CRPF CoBRA battalions: Specialised anti-Naxal force; 10 battalions; operates in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh Maoist-affected areas
Women in paramilitary: CRPF has largest number of women personnel (mahila battalions); BSF, CISF, ITBP also have women in combat roles since 2015-16
AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act): Gives armed forces special powers in 'disturbed areas'; applicable in Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal; controversial for human rights
Paramilitary VIP protection: SPG (PM), NSG (Cabinet ministers), CRPF/CISF (other protectees); SPG Act 1988 provides Z+ security with SPG only to PM