Assam Rifles
- Formation
- It is the oldest paramilitary force in India.
- The unit can trace its lineage back to a paramilitary police force that was formed under the British in 1835 called Cachar Levy.
- Role – It is tasked with the maintenance of law and order in the North East along with the Indian Army and also guards the Indo-Myanmar border in the region.
- Headquarters – Shillong, Meghalaya
- Motto – Friends of the Hill People.
- Control – It is the only paramilitary force with a dual control structure. The administrative control of the force is with the Ministry of Home Affairs and its operational control is with the Indian Army, which is under the Ministry of Defence.
Border Security Force (BSF)
- Formation
- It was created by merging various State Armed Police Battalions
- It came into existence on 1st December, 1965.
- BSF is the primary border guarding organisation of India and termed as First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
- BSF is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India.
- BSF currently stands as the world’s largest border guarding force.
- Ministry – Ministry of Home Affairs
- Function
- Achieving a better coordinated synergy between the border guarding functions in peace time and fighting the war during the eventuality on both Western and Eastern fronts.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Ministry – Ministry of Home Affairs
- Formation – Established in 1969 under CISF Act, 1968
- Function – CISF is tasked with providing security to various government installations including country’s airports, metros etc.
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Formation
- The Central Reserve Police Force came into existence as Crown Representative’s Police on 27th July 1939.
- It became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949.
- Mission – To enable the government to maintain rule of law, public order and internal security effectively and efficiently, to preserve national integrity and promote social harmony and development by upholding the supremacy of the constitution.
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Formation – 24 Oct,1962
- Mission – Guarding India – China border.
- Function – ITBP is a specialized mountain force and most of the officers and men are professionally trained mountaineers and skiers.
National Security Guard (NSG)
- Formation – It was raised in 1984, following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
- Mission – To combat terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.
- The basic philosophy of NSG is a swift and speedy strike and immediate withdrawal from the theatre of action.
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- Formed in – March 1963
- Objective – The sole objective of achieving ‘Total security preparedness’ in the remote border areas for performing a ‘stay-behind’ role in the event of a war.
- Areas of Operation – SSB is now spread along the International border across Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Duties
- Safeguard the security of assigned borders of India and promote a sense of security among the people living in border areas.
- Prevent trans-border crimes, smuggling and any other illegal activities.
- Prevent unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India.
- Carry out civic action programmes in the area of responsibility.
- Perform any other duty assigned by the Central Government (SSB is being deployed for Law & Order, Counter Insurgency Operations and Election duty).