A paramilitary force is a semi-militarized force whose organizational structure, tactics, training, subculture, and (often) function are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not included as part of a state's formal armed forces. Though paramilitary is not a military force, it is usually like military's light infantry force in terms of training and organizational structure. Paramilitary force like BSF, which is for border guarding, comes under the Army during war and performs some functions of infantry.
Objectives of this lesson:
- Explain the meaning of paramilitary forces
- Describe the different types of paramilitary forces and their specific purposes
Indian Paramilitary Forces refer to three organisations that assist the Indian Armed Forces closely and are led by officers of the Indian Army or Indian Navy. However, any law or rules of the Government have not defined them.
Earlier, the term 'paramilitary' forces was used for eight forces:
- Assam Rifles
- Special Frontier Force
- Indian Coast Guard
- Central Reserve Police Force
- Border Security Force
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police
- Central Industrial Security Force
- Sashastra Seema Bal
From 2011, they have been regrouped into two classes. The later six are called Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
The first three are the current paramilitary forces of India:
- Assam Rifles – part of Home Ministry
- Special Frontier Force – part of Cabinet Secretariat
- Indian Coast Guard – part of Ministry of Defence
The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force of India. The unit can trace its lineage back to a paramilitary police force formed under the British in 1835 called Cachar Levy. Since then it has undergone name changes: Assam Frontier Police (1883), Assam Military Police (1891), Eastern Bengal and Assam Military Police (1913), before finally becoming the Assam Rifles in 1917.
It served in World War I (Europe and Middle East) and World War II (mainly Burma). There are currently 46 battalions with a sanctioned strength of 63,747 personnel. It is under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Officers required are provided by the Indian Army on deputation.
- Internal security under the control of the army (counter-insurgency and border security operations)
- Aid to the civil power in times of emergency
- Communications, medical assistance and education in remote areas
- In times of war – combat force to secure rear areas
- Since 2002 – guarding the Indo-Myanmar barrier under the policy of 'one border-one force'
The Border Security Force (BSF) is the primary border guarding force of India. It is one of the six Central Armed Police Forces. It was raised in the wake of the 1965 War on 1 December 1965 "for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith".
It is a Union Government Agency under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs. The BSF has its own cadre of officers but the head (Director-General) has been an officer from the Indian Police Service since its raising. It also takes officers from IPS on deputation.
The BSF has grown from a few battalions in 1965 to 186 battalions with a sanctioned strength of 2,57,363 personnel (including expanding air wing, marine wing, intelligence units). It currently stands as the world's largest border guarding force.
It has played major roles since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, including Operation Blue Star, Operation Black Thunder, and Counter Insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. It guards India's land border on the western front during peacetime and prevents transnational crime.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was set up under an Act of Parliament on 10 March 1969 with a strength of 2,800. It was made a paramilitary force by another Act on 15 June 1983. Current active strength is 144,418 personnel (sanctioned raised to 180,000 in April 2017). Headquarters is in New Delhi under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
CISF provides security cover to 300 industrial units, government infrastructure projects and facilities located all over India — atomic power plants, space installations, mints, oil fields and refineries, major ports, heavy engineering, steel plants, barrages, fertiliser units, airports, hydroelectric/thermal power plants owned by Central PSUs, and currency note presses.
Unique features of CISF:
- Works for sea ways, airways and major installations
- Reserved battalions that work with state police for law and order
- Major role in Disaster Management (trained at NISA, Hyderabad)
- Has a Fire Wing that helps during fire accidents in industries where CISF is on guard
- Provides consultancy services (security and fire protection) to private industries and government organisations
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the largest of India's Central Armed Police Forces. It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Primary role: assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter insurgency.
It came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939. After Independence it became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28 December 1949. With 239 battalions and various establishments, sanctioned strength is 313,678 personnel.
Duties range from VIP security to election duties, guarding of vital installations to counter-Naxal operations. It has also operated abroad as part of IPKF and United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Rapid Action Force (RAF): Specialised 10-battalion wing formed in October 1992 to deal with communal riots and related civil unrest. Battalions numbered 99 to 108. It is a zero-response force that reaches crisis situations in minimal time.
Parliament Duty Group (PDG): Elite CRPF unit tasked to provide armed protection to Parliament House. Comprises 1,540 personnel. Trained in combating nuclear and bio-chemical attacks, rescue operations and behavioural management.
Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA): Added in 2008 to counter the Naxalite movement. Specialised unit trained in counter-insurgency warfare — track, hunt and eliminate small Naxalite groups. 10 CoBRA units raised 2008–2011 and deployed in LWE/insurgent affected areas (Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya). Trained to survive, fight and win in the jungle.
ITBP was raised on 24 October 1962, under the CRPF Act, in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Intended for deployment along India's border with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
In September 1996, Parliament enacted the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992 to provide for its constitution and regulation. First head (Inspector General) was Balbir Singh, a police officer from the Intelligence Bureau. Started with 4 battalions; as of 2017 it has 56 battalions with sanctioned strength of 89,432.
ITBP is trained in disaster management and nuclear, biological and chemical disasters. Personnel have been deployed in UN peacekeeping missions (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Western Sahara, Sudan, Afghanistan and elsewhere). Two battalions are deputed to the National Disaster Response Force.
SSB is one of India's Central Armed Police Forces under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Prior to 2001 it was known as the Special Service Bureau (SSB). As of 2017 it has 76,337 active personnel in 67 battalions.
Previous role: motivate and mobilise India's border population for national security during peace and war, and promote a sense of security and brotherhood among the population for national integration.
Present-day role: preventing cross-border crime and smuggling as well as other anti-national activities. Conferred powers under CrPC 1973, Arms Act 1959, NDPS Act 1985 and Passport Act 1967 (and contemplated under Customs Act 1962). These powers are exercised within a 15 km belt along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Indian Coast Guard protects India's maritime interests and enforces maritime law, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. Formally established on 18 August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent Armed force of India. It operates under the Ministry of Defence.
Works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, Department of Fisheries, Department of Revenue (Customs) and Central and State police forces.
- Safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals and other installations
- Protection and assistance to fishermen and mariners at sea
- Preservation and protection of marine ecology and environment including pollution control
- Assistance to the Department of Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations
- Law enforcement in territorial as well as international waters
- Scientific data collection and support
- National defence during hostilities
Additional responsibilities: Offshore Security Coordination Committee (OSCC), National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinating Authority (NMSARCA), Lead Intelligence Agency (LIA), Coastal Area Security.
Headed by the Director-General (DG ICG) at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi. DG ICG is equivalent to Vice Admiral of the Indian Navy. Operates five regions, each headed by an Inspector-General.
The SFF is a paramilitary special force of India created on 14 November 1962. Its main goal originally was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in the event of another Sino-Indian War. Established under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister; under operational command of IB and later R&AW.
Primarily used for conducting clandestine intelligence gathering and commando operations along the Line of Actual Control with China. Has been fielded by R&AW and the Indian government in various covert and overt operation theatres.
Also known as 'Establishment 22' or just '22' due to its first Inspector General, Major General Sujan Singh Uban (Retd.) of the Indian Army, who commanded the 22 Mountain Regiment during World War II (Military Cross holder). Based in Chakrata, Uttarakhand.