- The Union government has sanctioned the first-ever all-women CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) battalion.
- The battalion will comprise more than 1,000 personnel.
- This decision is in response to the increasing responsibilities of the CISF in VIP security, airport security, and other critical installations.
- Currently, women make up over 7% of the CISF’s total strength.
- The total strength of the CISF is approximately 80 lakh person
Central Armed Police Force (CAPF):
The Union Home Ministry has standardized the retirement age for all Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel to 60 years.
The CAPF encompasses seven security forces in India, governed by the Ministry of Home Affairs:
- Assam Rifles (AR)
- Border Security Force (BSF)
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- National Security Guard (NSG)
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
Each force has its own officer cadre but is generally led by officers from the Indian Police Service (IPS).
Assam Rifles (AR)
- Established in 1835 as the ‘Cachar Levy’
- Initially protected British tea estates from tribal raids
- Became vital in regional administration and commerce
- Known as the “right arm of the civil and left arm of the military”
- It is the only paramilitary force with a dual control structure.
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- The administrative control of the force is with the MHA.
- Its operational control is with the Indian Army, which is under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
- Participated in Sino-India War (1962), peacekeeping missions like Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka (1987), and maintains order in Northeast India
Border Security Force (BSF)
- Formed on December 1, 1965
- Guards India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh
- World’s largest border guarding force
- Includes air wing, marine wing, artillery regiment, and commando units
- Known as the “First Line of Defence” for India
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Started in 1969 with three battalions for PSU security
- Now a multifaceted security agency for key infrastructure
- Secures nuclear facilities, space establishments, airports, and heritage sites
- Also responsible for VIP security, disaster management, and UN police unit in Haiti
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Founded on July 27, 1939, as Crown Representative’s Police; became CRPF in 1949
- Mission: uphold public order, internal security, and national integrity
- Engages in crowd control, counterinsurgency, Left-Wing Extremism
- Supports election security, UN peacekeeping, and disaster response
Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Formed on October 24, 1962
- Patrols the 3488 km Indo-China border from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh
- Specialized as a mountain force with trained mountaineers and skiers
- Responds to natural disasters with rescue and relief operations
National Security Guard (NSG)
- Created in 1984 post-Operation Blue Star, established in 1986
- Counter-terrorism force focused on swift and immediate action
- Composed of Special Action Group (Army) and Special Ranger Groups (CAPF/State Police)
- Tackles terrorism and high-stakes security threats
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- Initially conceived as Special Service Bureau in 1962
- Operates along borders in Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh
- Responsibilities include border security, preventing crime, securing border communities, and civic action programs
- Also involved in law enforcement, counterinsurgency, and election duties as required
