Paramilitary Forces — Set 9

Correct Answer: B. Special Service Bureau

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was previously known as the Special Service Bureau, which was established in 1963 as an intelligence organization in border areas after the 1962 India-China War. In 2001, it was restructured and renamed Sashastra Seema Bal and given the role of a border guarding force. SSB was officially brought under the Border Guarding Force framework in 2004 and assigned Nepal and Bhutan borders. This transformation changed SSB from a covert to an overt security organization.

Correct Answer: B. Cachar Levy

Assam Rifles traces its origin to 1835 when the British East India Company raised the 'Cachar Levy' in the northeastern region. This force was renamed multiple times over the years including 'Assam Frontier Police' and 'Eastern Bengal and Assam Police' before finally being named Assam Rifles. With nearly 190 years of continuous service, it is India's oldest paramilitary force. Its long history makes it an institution deeply embedded in the Northeast India's security landscape.

Correct Answer: B. Disaster Management Act 2005

NDRF is constituted under the Disaster Management Act 2005, which was enacted following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed over 10,000 people in India. The Act created the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and NDRF as its armed response force. NDRF was operationalized in 2006 and has since grown into 16 battalions. The Disaster Management Act 2005 is a landmark legislation that transformed India's disaster preparedness framework.

Correct Answer: B. Logistic support, casualty evacuation, and surveillance in Himalayas

ITBP's Air Wing operates helicopters primarily for logistical resupply to remote high-altitude border outposts, casualty evacuation, and aerial surveillance along the Himalayan border. Many ITBP outposts at altitudes above 15,000 feet cannot be reached by road during winter, making helicopter resupply essential. The Air Wing also provides medical evacuation for personnel suffering from high-altitude sickness. It plays an indispensable role in sustaining ITBP's presence along the inaccessible Himalayan border.

Correct Answer: B. CISF

CISF provides security to BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) in Mumbai, which is India's premier nuclear research facility. BARC security falls under CISF's mandate to protect critical national assets including nuclear installations. CISF personnel at nuclear establishments undergo specialized training in radiation safety, detection of nuclear materials, and emergency response to nuclear accidents. Protecting India's nuclear facilities from theft, sabotage, and terrorist attacks is a top priority for CISF.

Correct Answer: B. States affected by Naxalism in central and eastern India

The Red Corridor refers to a swathe of central and eastern Indian states affected by left-wing extremism (Naxalism) including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, and parts of Bihar. The term 'Red' comes from the Communist/Maoist ideology of the Naxalites. CRPF, particularly its CoBRA battalions, is the primary force deployed for counter-Naxal operations in the Red Corridor. Sustained operations have significantly reduced the Naxal-affected area over the past decade.

Correct Answer: B. ITBP

ITBP is famous for mountaineering achievements and has sent multiple expeditions to scale Mount Everest (8,848.86 m). ITBP mountaineers have also scaled peaks like K2, Nanda Devi, and Kanchenjunga. The High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) at Gulmarg trains ITBP personnel in advanced mountaineering techniques. ITBP's mountaineering tradition stems from its operational necessity to patrol the high Himalayan borders and has brought glory to India on the international mountaineering stage.

Correct Answer: B. Indira Gandhi

The Special Protection Group (SPG) was established following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her own bodyguards. The Birbal Nath Committee was set up to examine PM security, leading to the SPG Act 1988. SPG provides the closest proximity security to the Prime Minister using bullet-proof vehicles, multiple security rings, and advance security liaison. The SPG Act has been amended multiple times to adjust who receives SPG protection.

Correct Answer: B. Assam Rifles

Assam Rifles is affectionately known as 'Friends of the Hill People' for its century-long civic action programs in Northeast India. Beyond security operations, Assam Rifles runs schools, hospitals, and veterinary centers for local communities in remote northeastern areas. Its civic action programs provide medical care, education, and infrastructure development to tribal communities. This humanitarian role has earned Assam Rifles a special place in the hearts of northeastern hill communities.

Correct Answer: B. State List

Home Guards are a State List subject under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, meaning each state government has jurisdiction over its Home Guard organization. This is why Home Guards differ in organization, strength, and pay across different states and Union Territories. The Central Home Guards Act 1962 provides a national framework but state governments administer their own Home Guard forces. Home Guards are civilian volunteers who receive basic training to assist police in emergencies.