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Paper iii:

VARIOUS SECURITY FORCES IN INDIA:

Law enforcement in India by numerous law enforcement agencies. The nature of the Constitution

of India mandates law and order as a subject of the state, therefore the bulk of the policing lies with the

respective states and territories of India.

 At the federal level, the many agencies are part of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and

support the states in their duties. Larger cities also operate metropolitan police forces, under respective

state governments. All senior police officers in the state police forces, as well as those in the federal

agencies, are members of the Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS), one of the

civil services.

The central agencies are controlled by the central Government of India. The majority of federal

law enforcement agencies are controlled by the  Ministry of Home Affairs.  The head of each of the

federal law enforcement agencies is always an  Indian Police Service (IPS). The constitution assigns

responsibility for maintaining law and order to the states and territories, and almost all routine

policing—including apprehension of criminals—is carried out by state-level police forces. The constitution

also permits the central government to participate in police operations and organisation by authorising the

creation of Indian Police Service.

Central police forces can assist the state's police force, but only if so requested by the stategovernments. In practice, the central government has largely observed these limits. During the

Emergency of 1975-77, the constitution was amended (1976) to permit the central government to

dispatch and deploy its Central Armed Police forces without regard to the wishes of the states . This

action proved unpopular, and the use of the Central Police Forces was controversial. After the Emergency

was lifted, the constitution was amended in December 1978 to make deployment of central Police forces

once again dependent on the consent of the state government.

Ministry of Home Affairs:

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which supervises a large number of government functions andagencies operated and administered by the central government.

  The ministry is concerned with all matters pertaining to the maintenance of public peace and

order.

  The staffing and administration of the public services.

  The delineation of internal boundaries, and the administration of union territories.

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  In addition to managing the Indian Police Service, the Ministry of Home Affairs maintains several

agencies and organisations dealing with police and security.

  Police in the union territories comes directly under MHA.

  The Central Bureau of Investigation investigates crimes that might involve public officials or have

ramifications for several states.

i Central Armed Police Forces

: 

a)  Border Security Force (Central Armed Police Force):

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) is responsible for guarding India's land borders during

peacetime and preventing trans-border crimes. It is a central police force operating under the Union

Ministry of Home Affairs. The BSF's policing capabilities were used in the Indo-Pakistani War of

1971 against the Pakistani Armed Forces in areas where the Indian Armed Forces was thinly spread; BSF

troops took part in the Battle of Longewala. BSF is one of the Indian Police Force have his own Air Wing,

Water Wing and also provides Choppers, Dogs and others useful service to all State Police. Although

originally charged with guarding India's external boundaries, the BSF has more recently been given

the task of aiding the Indian Army in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. 

e.g) When the  insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir broke out in 1989, the  Jammu and Kashmir state

police and the thinly-deployed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) struggled to cope with the spiraling

violence, and the Indian government deployed the BSF to Jammu and Kashmir to combat Islamic militants. 

b) Central Industrial Security Force: 

The  Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is used to guard industrial installations  around thecountry owned by the Central government as well as securing seaports and airports. CISF also provides

security to certain NGOs, like Infosys. 

CISF is the largest industrial security force in the world. Industrial sectors like atomic power

plants, space instalations, defence production units such as the Indian Ordnance Factories, DRDO, 

mints, oil fields and refineries, major ports, heavy engineering, steel plants, barrages, fertilliser units,

airports and hydroelectric/thermal power plants, and currency note presses producing Indian currency are

protected by CISF.

CISF also provides consultancy services to private industries as well as other organisation within

the Indian government.

The CISF (Amendment) Bill, 2008.which also provides for deployment of CISF to protect Indian

missions abroad and its participation in the UN peacekeeping operations.CISF started providing

security to the Infosys Bangalore campus in July 31, 2009. The Jaipur Airport was the first airport

that came under the CISF's control on 3 February 2000.

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c)  Central Reserve Police Force: 

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is one of the largest Central Police organisations in the

world.Its main objective is to assist and help state and union territories' law enforcement agencies in

maintaining law and order and to contain insurgency .

It is also deployed as anti-terrorist unit in various regions. It is even operating abroad as part

of  United Nations peacekeeping missions. It is performing a variety of duties ranging from VIP security to

election duties, from guarding of vital installations to the counter-naxal operations.

d)  Indo-Tibetan Border Police:

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is responsible for security along the Indo-Tibetan Border, covering

2115 km. The ITBP is trained in mountaineering, disaster management.ITBP has also very small Force with

strength of 90,000 personals. ITBP has facing arms and vehicles.

e)  National Security Guards: 

The National Security Guards (NSG) is a commando unit originally created for counter-terrorism 

and hostage rescue missions. It is popularly known as the "Black Cats"  for the uniform worn by its

operators. Like most military and elite security units in India, it is media-shy and the general Indian public is

largely unaware of its capabilities and operational details.

The NSG draws its members from the Indian Army and various central police units. It is India's

premier counter-terror outfit and is typically deployed in situations that would be beyond the capabilities of

regular police units. An NSG team with a dedicated transport aircraft is always stationed at Palam airport inNew Delhi, ready to deploy in 30 minutes. The NSG has also been increasingly tasked with protection

of  VIPs. This role has expanded in recent years, as several politicians have come to view NSG protection

as a status symbol. This has caused some concern among senior NSG officers and Home Ministry officials.

f)  Railway Protection Force: 

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is responsible for law enforcement on Indian Railways. They maintain

discipline on platforms as well as travel inside trains to keep passengers secure. Railway accidents are

also handled by them.

g)  Special Protection Group

The Special Protection Group (SPG) is the executive protection agency of the Government of India.  It

is responsible for the protection of the Prime Minister of India, other top officials, and their immediate

families. The force was established in 1985 after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It provides the security

24 by 7 all over India to Prime Minister and his Family Members at any location across India. After

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retirement, the protection & security is provided for the next 10 ( Ten ) years. Afterwards, it is the

responsibility of the respective State Government in which the Prime Minister is residing.

h)  Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

The Sashastra Seema Bal, formed in 1963 is a Central Armed Police Force deployed on the borders alongwith Nepal and Bhutan. SSB is very small central Armed Police force has 82,000 personnal. SSB has no

theirs own proper vehicle and arms.SSB gives their duty on mountains and pahadi terrains.

ii Central investigation and intelligence institutions

: 

a)  Central Bureau of Investigations

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is India's premier investigative agency, responsible

for a wide variety of  criminal and national security matters.  It was established on 1 April 1963 and

evolved from the Special Police Establishment  founded in 1941.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is controlled by the Department of Personnel and Training in

the  Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension of the  Union Government usually headed by

a Union Minister who reports directly to the Prime Minister. 

It is India’s official  interpol unit.  The CBI draws its officers from the

best IPS officers around the country. It is responsible for investigation into various crimes and national

security. The agency specializes in investigating crimes involving high ranking government officials

and politicians.

b)  Indian Income-tax Department

The Indian Income-tax Department is India's premier financial agency, responsible for a wide variety

of  financial and fiscal matters.

The Tax department is controlled by the  Ministry of Finance of the Union Government headed by

a Union Minister who reports directly to the Prime Minister.The CBDT is a part of Department of Revenue in

the Ministry of Finance. On one hand, CBDT provides essential inputs for policy and planning of direct

taxes in India,at the same time it is also responsible for administration of direct tax laws through the Income

Tax Department..

c)  Directorate of Revenue Intelligence: 

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is an intelligence-based organisation responsible for the co-

ordination of India's anti-smuggling efforts. Officers in this organisation are drawn from Indian Revenue

Service(I.R.S.).

d)  National Investigation Agency: 

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  National Investigation Agency (NIA) is the central agency to combat terror in India. The agency is

empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the

states. 

The NIA was created in response to the Nov 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as need for a central

agency to combat terrorism was found. It also deals with drug trafficking and currency counterfeiting. It

draws its officers from IRS and IPS.

e)  Narcotics Control Bureau: 

The NCB is responsible for  anti-narcotic operations all over the country. It checks the spread of

contraband as well as the cultivation of drugs. The officers in this organisation are drawn from IPS.

f)  Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D): 

The objective of the Government of India for the modernization of Police Forces. It is involved in a

research, relating to problems confronting the Indian police, the training of different ranks of Police in India,

and the introduction of technology at both federal and state levels.

g)  National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

The National Police Commission recommended the creation of a "Nodal Agency"  which suggested the

maintenance of criminal records at all the police stations in the country and to create shareable

databases at police stations and districts and at state and federal Level.On this recommendation

NCRB was created in 1986 . 

iii Central forensic institutions

: 

a)  Central Forensic Science Laboratory: 

The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) is a wing of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, which

fulfills the forensic requirements in the country. It houses the only DNA repository in South and Southeast

 Asia.There are seven central forensic laboratories in India.The laboratory in New Delhi is under the control

of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and investigates cases on its behalf.

b)  National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences (NICFSC): 

The National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (formerly the "Institute of Criminology and

Forensic Science") to look into the applied aspects of education, training and research in the fields of

Criminology and Forensic Science to commensurate with the growing needs of the country in general

and the Criminal Justice System in India in particular.

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iv State police :

Each state and union territory of India has a state police force, headed by the Commissioner of Police

(State) or  Director General of Police (DGP).  Each state is controlled by the Chief Minister and Home

Minister. The state police is responsible for maintaining law and order in townships of the state and the

rural areas. 

States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have taken steps to get their police force trained

by advanced police training schools notably the Scotland Yard, Atlanta City Police of the USA and the

World Police Academy of  Canada. 

The Tamil Nadu state police is at the forefront of advancement with the Tamil Nadu Police Academy

which now is seeking university status. Kerala Police is also the first police force in South Asia, to adopt

community policing for effective and pro-public friendly initiatives and action.

Metropolitan police 

In addition to the state police, major Indian cities have their own police forces which follow the Police

Commissionerate System. The Chief of Metropolitan Police is the Police Commissioner. Reporting to the

Police Commissioner are the Joint Police Commissioner ,Deputy Commissioner of Police and Assistant

Commissioner of Police. 

The majority of metropolitan police forces are subordinate to the state government. The exception are

the Delhi Police, which as part of the Union Territory Cadre are directly under the federal Ministry of Home

 Affairs . All other metropolitan forces report to their respective state governments.

Traffic Police: 

Highway Police and Traffic Police in the small towns come under the state police, but Traffic Police in the

cities come under the metropolitan police. The Traffic Police are responsible for maintaining the smooth

flow of traffic and stopping offenders in the city or town, whilst the Highway Police are responsible for

securing the highways and for catching speeding offenders.

State Armed Police Forces: 

The State Armed Police Forces are organisations which provide the state with policing in particularly violent

or serious situations. Such forces are often involved with combating banditry and Naxalites.  Likethe Central Armed Police Forces, they are sometimes known unofficially as "paramilitary forces". Each

state police force maintains its own State Armed Police Force (known by names such as Provincial Armed

Constabulary (PAC), Special Armed Police, etc.) which is responsible for emergencies and crowd control

issues.

udhayakumar b