National Security Forces in India

The Indian defence system is mainly classified into three - the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. Although the President is the 'Supreme Commander' of the Indian Defence Forces (Article 53) as per the Constitution, the administrative functions related to national security are carried out by the Ministry of Defence. The major decisions in defence matters are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs headed by the Prime Minister. The Defence Minister is responsible to Parliament in all matters relating to the department. The administrative and operational matters of the forces are taken by the Ministry of Defence and the three services. The headquarters of all three services are in New Delhi. India is the fourth largest military power in the world in terms of manpower. The Coast Guard, Territorial Army and NCC are the subordinate branches of the defence forces. The Central Police Forces are special security forces working under the Union Home Ministry in relation to the internal security of the country. The Central Police Forces have two components namely the Central Police Organisation and the Central Armed Police Forces.

INDIAN ARMED FORCES

◆ Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is a post created to coordinate the Army, Navy and Air Forces. The post of CDS was recommended by the Kargil Review Committee headed by K. Subramaniam in 1999. The head of the Chief of Staff Committee (COSC) is appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff. The Chief of Staff Committee (COSC) is a committee comprising the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. The senior most officer of the Chief of Staff Committee is appointed as the Chairman of the COSC. The official tenure of the CDS is three years or 62 years, whichever comes first. 

◆ Indian Army

The Indian Army consists of over 1.1 million regular members and about 1 million reserve members. Major Stringer Lawrence is known as the 'Father of the Indian Army'. He took charge as the Commander-in-Chief of the forces under the English East India Company in 1748. When India gained independence in 1947, the Chief of Army Staff was General Sir Robert Lockhart.

Indian Army Commands and Headquarters - Central Command (Lucknow), Eastern Command (Kolkata), Northern Command (Udhampur), Western Command (Chandimandir), Southern Command (Pune), South Western Command (Jaipur), Army Training Command (Shimla), 

Indian Army Ranks - General, Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant 

◆ Indian Navy

India has the fourth largest navy in the world. Before independence, the navy was known as the Bombay Marine, Indian Navy, and Indian Marines. The Royal Indian Navy was established in 1934. The first Indian to be commissioned in the Navy was D.N. Mukherjee (1928). When India became a republic on 26 January 1950, it was renamed the 'Indian Navy'.

Indian Navy Commands (Headquarters) - Eastern Naval Command (Visakhapatnam), Western Naval Command (Mumbai), Southern Naval Command (Kochi)

Indian Navy Ranks - Admiral, Vice - Admiral, Rear Admiral, Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant, Sub Lieutenant

◆ Indian Air Force

The Royal Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932 and became known as the Indian Air Force on 26 January 1950. The Chief of the Air Force is the Chief of Air Staff. The Air Force has seven commands. Marshal of the Air Force is the rank of Air Chief Marshal in the Air Force, equivalent to the rank of Field Marshal in the Army. The only person to have received this honour is Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh (in 2002). The Air Force Museum is located at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi. India's air force is the fourth largest in the world. It currently has a strength of around 1.2 lakh employees. 'Garud' is a special commando wing of the Air Force. It was formed in 2003.

Indian Air Force Commands (Headquarters) - Central Air Command (Allahabad), Eastern Air Command (Shillong), Western Air Command (New Delhi), Southern Air Command (Trivandrum), South Western Air Command (Gandhinagar), Maintenance Command (Nagpur), Training Command (Bangalore)

Indian Air Force Ranks - Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Vice Marshal, Air Commodore, Group Captain, Wing Commander, Squadron Leader, Flight Lieutenant, Flying Officer

Special Forces of the Indian Armed Forces

◆ Para Commandos (Army)

Para Commandos are Indian special forces unit nicknamed 'Glass Eaters'. It is the Para Special Forces, a special forces unit of the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army. This nickname is because they chew and eat even glass without hesitation! It is one of the oldest parachute units in the world. And, one of the most dangerous commando forces in the world! India used Para Commandos to conduct a surgical strike against Pakistan in 2016. These people are trained to survive anywhere in the world. The services of Para Commandos are sought for missions that require extraordinary skills, such as special missions, direct battles with enemies, freeing hostages, and eliminating terrorists. They are known for their stealth and jungle warfare. Paratroopers are another branch of the Parachute Regiment.

◆ MARCOS/Marine Commandos (Navy)

MARCOS, officially known as the Marine Commando Force (MCF), is a special commando unit of the Indian Navy. MARCOS was formed in February 1987. They are trained in combat on land, in the air, and in the water. They are specialized in counter-insurgency operations in the Jhelum River and Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir. They are also known as the 'Dadiwala Fauj' (bearded soldiers) because they wear beards and disguise themselves in populated areas. Known for their varied combat tactics, they have participated in many military missions including the Kargil War, Operation Pawan, Operation Black Tornado, and Operation Cactus.

◆ Garud Commando Force (Air Force)

The Garud Commando Force is a special commando unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in 2004. The decision to form such a commando force was made after the terrorist attacks on two important air force bases in Jammu and Kashmir in 2001. The Garud Commando Force is named after Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. The main mission of these commandos is to provide protection to air force bases. Garuda's services are used for search and rescue operations during natural disasters and other disasters. Their duties include assisting air strikes during war, rescuing injured air force personnel, destroying enemy air defenses, and disrupting radar systems.

PARAMILITARY FORCES

The paramilitary forces, like the Indian Defence Forces, also consist of armed soldiers. Paramilitary forces are armed forces formed under the Union Home Ministry at various times for tasks such as border protection, peacekeeping, internal and external security, and assisting the army in times of war. The forces, which were earlier known as paramilitary forces, are now known as the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Home Ministry.

CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCES (CAPF)

◆ Assam Rifles (AR)

Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force in India. Formed in 1835 under the British government. The 'Cachar Levy' was renamed the Assam Rifles in 1917. The motto of the Assam Rifles is 'Friends of the Hill People'. It has been called the Assam Frontier Police (1883), the Assam Military Police (1891), and the Eastern Bengal and Assam Military Police (1913) at various times. It was finally renamed the Assam Rifles in 1917. Known as the Guardians of the Northeast, the Assam Rifles is headquartered in Shillong. The main missions of this force are to protect international borders, fight insurgents in the northeastern states, and protect the India-Myanmar border. It served in Europe during World War I and in Burma during World War II. It has been part of the central government's policy of 'One Border One Force' since 2002.

◆ Border Security Force (BSF)

Border Security Force or Border Protection Force is a force formed on December 1, 1965 to protect the country's borders from enemy attacks, prevent illegal activities through the border, and prevent illegal immigration from neighboring countries. Their motto is 'Duty up to Death'. The main task of the BSF is to control cross-border infiltration and protect India's borders during peacetime. Following the 1965 Indo-Pak war, the central government formed the Border Security Force, realizing the need for a strong border protection force. From 1947 to 1965, the responsibility of protecting the Indian borders was with the police of the respective states. The BSF was a part of military operations such as the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Operation Bluestar, Operation Black Thunder, and the Kargil War. The BSF has its own helicopters and aircraft. The BSF also conducts the 'Beating Retreat' ritual at the Wagah border every day. The BSF is the largest border guarding force in the world with about 2.5 lakh personnel, including women.

◆ Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), a border security force, was established on 24 October 1962. Following the 1962 India-China War, the central government formed the ITBP to provide a strong paramilitary force to protect the Tibetan areas bordering China. In 1992, the Parliament enacted the ITBP Act. The motto of the ITBP is "Shaurya-Dridhta-Karma Nishtha" (Valour-Steadfastness-Committment)'. They guard the Himalayan mountain range of the India-China border from the snow-capped Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jelep La in Arunachal Pradesh. The main duties of the ITBP are to maintain vigil on the northern borders, ensure the safety of the local population, prevent border violations and prevent illegal immigration. ITBP soldiers have also been providing security at the Indian Embassy and Consulate General of India in Kabul since 2002. Two battalions of ITBP have been deployed for national disaster management.

◆ Sastra Seema Bal (SSB)

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was formed after the 1962 war between India and China. The force, which adopted the ideals of service, security and brotherhood, was initially known as the 'Special Service Bureau'. Initially, the SSB was inducted into the army by providing training in small arms to villagers in border villages and posted on the borders. This reduced the harassment of Chinese spies. In 1963, it became a fully-fledged force. Its main mission was to provide armed support to India's intelligence agency, RAW. In January 2001, as part of the administrative reforms of the Union Home Ministry, the force began to be known as Sashastra Seema Bal. The SSB works from the front to chase away insurgents and combat Naxals. Today, the SSB provides protection to about 80,000 villages and the international border areas including Nepal and Bhutan. The SSB functions as the border guarding force and lead intelligence agency on the India-Nepal border.

◆ National Security Guard (NSG)

The National Security Guard is a special force formed with the aim of protecting the Indian states from all forms of terrorist activities. This special force is deployed in missions that cannot be handled by the state police or other paramilitary forces, including terrorist attacks and aircraft hijackings. The NSG, a special commando unit, was formed after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Sikh terrorists in 1984. NSG commandos were responsible for the attack on the Golden Temple in 1988, the rescue of hostages when terrorists hijacked an Indian Airlines Boeing 737 in 1993, and the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The NSG is also known as the Black Cats because of its black uniform. The Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Ranger Group (SRG) are two wings of the NSG.

◆ Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a force responsible for the protection of historical monuments, industrial establishments, strategic establishments and nuclear power plants. The CISF is an armed force established in 1969 by a special act passed by the Indian Parliament for the security of important government institutions and public sector industrial establishments in India. The motto of the CISF is protection and security. The CISF, which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, today has more than 1.5 lakh members. CISF personnel provide security to about 300 units, including about 60 airports and about 11 private sector establishments in India. This includes defense establishments, power plants, ports, RBI, Delhi Metro, atomic power stations and steel plants. The Special Security Group and the Fire Wing are the units formed by the CISF. The CISF is the only armed force that works in conjunction with important institutions in the maritime, air and land sectors. The CISF has special battalions that work in collaboration with the state police.

◆ Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

The CRPF is the largest paramilitary force in India. It was formed on 27 July 1939 under the name of Crown Representatives Police under the British government. The main task of this force was to provide protection to the British residences and their residents. Later, after independence, they became the CRPF through a special amendment to the law. The CRPF, which started its operations in Madhya Pradesh with two battalions, today has more than three lakh members. The main task of the CRPF is to suppress riots, maintain law and order, conduct election work, UN missions and conduct defensive operations. The terrorists who attacked the Indian Parliament building in 2001 were killed in an encounter by CRPF soldiers. Cobra, Rapid Action Force, and Green Force are part of the CRPF.

OTHER SECURITY FORCES IN INDIA

◆ Railway Protection Force (RPF)

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a police force formed to provide protection to the property of Indian Railways and train passengers. Coming under the Ministry of Railways, this force has a unique feature that other armed forces do not have: the power to arrest criminals, take legal action and conduct investigations. The Railway Protection Force was formed on July 2, 1872. After independence, the Railway Protection Force Act of 1957 was enacted by Parliament, and the RPF came under the Ministry of Railways. At present, there are about 75,000 members.

◆ Special Frontier Force (SSF)

The Special Frontier Force (SFF) is a commando unit formed in November 1962 to monitor and take necessary action against covert activities on the border in the wake of the 1962 Indo-China War. Under the supervision of the Prime Minister, the Special Frontier Force has received excellent training under the leadership of the American intelligence agency, the CIA. The Special Frontier Force, which started its operations under the Central Intelligence Bureau, now works as a part of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). With the help of the Aviation Research Centre, the Special Frontier Force (SFF) is also a force capable of flying and operating in difficult mountainous and jungle areas.

◆ Special Protection Group (SPG)

The Special Protection Group (SPG) is a special force formed in 1985 to provide security to the Prime Minister, his family members and former Prime Ministers. Initially, the protection of Prime Ministers was entrusted to a team headed by the Commissioner of Delhi Police. In 1981, a force called the Special Task Force was formed and entrusted with the protection of Prime Ministers. Later, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the Special Protection Group was formed as part of enhancing the security of Prime Ministers. It functioned as a special agency from 1985 to 1988 and was authorized by Parliament under the 1988 Act.

◆ Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra)

Cobra is a CRPF unit specially trained for armed operations in Naxal-affected areas, guerrilla warfare and forest warfare. Cobra was formed in 2008 after the security forces were threatened by the aggressive Naxalites. The aim was to carry out counter-attacks on Naxalite strongholds. Cobra commandos are highly trained to perform various tasks in dangerous areas. The motto of the Cobra force is 'Glory or Death'. Currently, the 10,000-strong Cobra force, consisting of ten battalions, is deployed in 70 districts where the Naxal threat exists.

◆ Rapid Action Force (RAF)

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a special unit of the CRPF that is specially trained for various services such as controlling communal and civil riots, leading relief operations, and crowd control. The Rapid Action Force was formed in Delhi on 11 December 1991 with the motto of Serving Humanity with Sensitive Policing. The force became fully operational in October 1992. The Rapid Action Force currently has fifteen battalions.

◆ Home Guards

The Home Guards are an auxiliary force that provides assistance to various state police forces. The services of the Home Guards are available in cases of internal security and natural calamities. The Home Guards were formed in December 1946 but were expanded following the Chinese invasion of 1962. In the wake of the Chinese invasion of 1962, the Centre advised the states and union territories to merge the existing volunteer organizations and raise them into a unified volunteer force known as the Home Guards. The organization is spread across all other states and union territories except Kerala.

◆ Rashtriya Rifles

Rashtriya Rifles is a paramilitary force formed in 1990 to suppress terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The force is mainly concentrated in Jammu and Kashmir. The motto of Rashtriya Rifles is Dridhta aur virta (courage and valour). It was formed by General B.C. Joshi.

◆ Ghatak Force

Ghatak Commandos or Ghatak Platoon is a powerful infantry unit of the Indian Army. They are the frontline fighters of the Army. Every battalion has a Ghatak Platoon. The Hindi word Ghatak means killer or deadly. It consists of the most physically fit soldiers in each battalion. A Ghatak Platoon usually has 20 people. Along with combat techniques, they are trained in mountain climbing and attacks using helicopters. They can perform missions that require a lot of skill, such as observing enemy hideouts without being seen by them, breaking through enemy defenses and launching surprise attacks on key centers.

Paramilitary forces of the Defence Forces

◆ Coast Guard

The Coast Guard is a force under the Ministry of Defence that is responsible for protecting India's coastal borders. This force is also responsible for protecting maritime borders and marine resources. In the 1960s, when the Customs could not cope with the increasing smuggling through the sea alone, they started seeking the help of the Indian Navy. With this, the Coast Guard was formed to monitor the sea and prevent smuggling. With the formation of the Coast Guard, smuggling through the sea decreased to some extent. The Indian Coast Guard, which came into existence on February 1, 1977, received the approval of the Parliament under the Coast Guard Act of 1978 and was subsequently established on August 18, 1978. They work in collaboration with the Navy, Fisheries Department, Customs, and State Police. The Coast Guard is responsible for the protection and rescue of fishermen.

◆ Territorial Army (TA)

The Indian Territorial Force was established in 1920 under the Indian Territorial Act of 1920 as a successor to the Indian Defence Force (1917-1920) established by the British. The Territorial Army was formed under the Territorial Army Act of 1948 as a successor to the Indian Territorial Force (1920-1948). The Territorial Army is a voluntary organization of Indian citizens who have received military training to assist the Indian Army in times of need for the defense of the country. It can be considered a parallel force of the Indian Army operating under the Department of Defense. They are not regular soldiers and may come from any other field. Mohanlal, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Abhinav Bindra are all part of the Territorial Army. They are given military rank based on their contributions to the country. There is no remuneration for their service.

◆ National Cadet Corps (NCC)

The NCC was established as a successor to the University Corps, which was established under the Indian Defence Act of 1917. The University Corps was renamed the University Training Corps (UTC) in 1920 and the University Officers Training Corps in 1942. The NCC Act of 1948 made new reforms and retained the name NCC in the country. The NCC came into existence on 15 July 1948. Considered an Indian paramilitary force, the NCC was established on the recommendations of the H.N. Khunsru Committee appointed in 1946. The NCC functions under the Indian Ministry of Defence. The first unit of the NCC came into existence in Delhi in November 1948. The motto of the NCC was adopted on 23 December 1957, with the phrase "Unity and Discipline". The fourth Sunday of November is observed as NCC Day. NCC units operate in high schools, colleges and universities. A student who is a member of the NCC is called a cadet. Parades using small arms, systematic military classes and military camps are organized for the cadets.