Paramilitary forces of India

Paramilitary Forces of India refer to a group of armed organizations responsible for supporting the Indian military and ensuring internal security. The primary paramilitary forces include the officially designated Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), which comprise seven forces: the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), National Security Guard (NSG), and Assam Rifles. These forces operate across various domains such as border security, counter-insurgency, VIP protection, and industrial security.^[1]

In addition to the CAPFs, India also maintains other central paramilitary and security forces including the Railway Protection Force (RPF), responsible for railway security; the Special Protection Group (SPG), which provides security to the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers; and the Indian Coast Guard, which safeguards the nation's maritime borders and enforces maritime law.

Together, these forces constitute a critical component of India's national security framework, complementing the armed forces and the state police in maintaining law and order.^[2]

List of paramilitary forces

From 1986 to 2011 the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were considered as Central Police Organisations (CPOs).^[3] However, as per their respective acts they all are Armed Police Forces.^[3][4]

The paramilitary forces are made up of:^[2]

• Central Armed Police Forces^[5]
  • Border Guarding Forces
    • Assam Rifles (AR)
    • Border Security Force (BSF)
    • Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
    • Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
  • Special Task Force
    • National Security Guard (NSG)
  • Forces for Internal Security
    • Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
    • Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
• Railway Protection Force (RPF)
• Special Frontier Force (SFF)
• Special Protection Group (SPG)

Paramilitary Forces[2]
Paramilitary force	Active Strength	Governing Body	Operational area	Role
Assam Rifles	63,747[6]	Ministry of Home Affairs (administrative) Ministry of Defence (operational)[7]	Northeast India, India–Myanmar border	Border guard
Border Security Force	257,363[6]	Ministry of Home Affairs	India–Pakistan border and India–Bangladesh border[8]	Border guard
Central Industrial Security Force	144,418[6]		Industries, public sector undertakings, space installations, airports, seaports and Delhi Metro	Protection and security of operational areas
Central Reserve Police Force	313,678[6]		All India Force	Counter-insurgency and general elections
Indo-Tibetan Border Police	89,432[6]		India–China border[9]	Border guard
National Security Guard	10,000		Active Special operations in India	Counter-terrorism
Sashastra Seema Bal	97,244[10]		India–Nepal border and India–Bhutan border[11]	Border guard
Railway Protection Force	76,563	Ministry of Railways	Indian Railways	Protection and security of operational areas
Special Frontier Force	10,000[10]	Cabinet Secretariat[12]		Covert operations
Special Protection Group	3,000[10]		Security of Prime Minister of India	Executive Protection
Total	1,065,445

Ranks and insignia

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Assam Rifles[13][14] v t e					Director-general[note 1] - Special director-general[note 2] - Additional director-general[note 3] -
							Inspector general[note 4] -		Deputy inspector-general[note 5] -		Commandant[note 6] -		Second-in-command[note 7] -		Deputy commandant[note 8] -		Assistant commandant[note 9] -
Border Security Force v t e					Director-general - Special director-general - Additional director-general -
							Inspector general -		Deputy inspector-general -		Commandant -		Second-in-command -		Deputy commandant -		Assistant commandant -
Central Industrial Security Force[15][16] v t e					Director-general - Special director-general - Additional director-general -
							Inspector general -		Deputy inspector-general -		Senior commandant -		Commandant -		Deputy commandant -		Assistant commandant -
Central Reserve Police Force[17][18] v t e					Director-general - Special director-general - Additional director-general -
							Inspector general -		Deputy inspector-general -		Commandant -		Second-in-command -		Deputy commandant -		Assistant commandant -
Indo-Tibetan Border Police[19] v t e
					Director-general -	Additional director-general -	Inspector general -		Deputy inspector-general -	Additional deputy inspector-general -	Commandant -		Second-in-command -		Deputy commandant -		Assistant commandant -
National Security Guard[20] v t e
					Director general -	Additional director general -	Inspector general -		Deputy inspector general -		Group commander -		Second in command -		Deputy commander -		Team commander -
Railway Protection Force v t e
					Director general	Additional director general	Inspector general/ Principal chief security commissioner		Deputy inspector general/ Chief security commissioner		Senior commandant/ Senior divisional security commissioner		Commandant/ Divisional security commissioner				Assistant commandant/ Assistant security commissioner
Sashastra Seema Bal[21] v t e
					Director-general -	Additional director-general -	Inspector general -		Deputy inspector-general -		Commandant -		Second-in-command -		Deputy commandant -		Assistant commandant -
Special Frontier Force v t e
									Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		First Lieutenant		Second Lieutenant
Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers

Personnel below officer rank

Rank group	Subordinate Officers (SO)										Non commissioned officers (NCO)																		Constables
Assam Rifles[22] v t e [failed verification]																													No insignia
	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर						Subedar सूबेदार		Naib subedar नायब सूबेदार		Warrant officer -						Havildar[note 10] हवलदार												Rifleman[note 11] -
Border Security Force v t e																													No insignia
	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर						Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub-inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक		Head constable हवलदार																		Constable -
Central Industrial Security Force[15][16][23] v t e																													No insignia
							Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक		Head constable हवलदार																		Constable -
Central Reserve Police Force[17][18] v t e																													No insignia
	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर						Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub-inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक		Head constable हवलदार																		Constable -
Indo-Tibetan Border Police[19] v t e																													No insignia
	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर						Subedar/Inspector सूबेदार/निरीक्षक	Sub inspector उप निरीक्षक			Head constable हवलदार												Naik नायक				Lance naik लांस नायक		Constable -
National Security Guard[20] v t e																													No insignia
	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर						Assistant commander-1 -	Assistant commander-2 -	Assistant commander-3 -		Ranger grade I -												Ranger grade II -						Combatised tradesmen -
Railway Protection Force v t e																													No insignia
							Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक		Head constable हवलदार																		Constable -
Sashastra Seema Bal[21] v t e																													No insignia
	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर						Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक		Head constable हवलदार												Naik नायक				Lance naik लांस नायक		Constable -
Special Frontier Force v t e																													No insignia
	Subedar Major						Subedar		Naib Subedar		Havildar												Naik				Lance Naik		Sepoy
Rank group	Subordinate Officers (SO)										Non commissioned officers (NCO)																		Constables

See also

• Indian Armed Forces
• Central Armed Police Forces
• State Armed Police Forces
• Special forces of India

Notes

1. Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)
2. Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)
3. Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)
4. Equivalent to the rank major general (मेजर - जनरल)
5. Equivalent to the rank brigadier (ब्रिगेडियर)
6. Equivalent to the rank colonel (कर्नल)
7. Equivalent to the rank lieutenant colonel (लेफ्टिनेंट - कर्नल)
8. Equivalent to the rank major (मेजर)
9. Equivalent to the rank captain (कप्तान)
10. Equivalent to the rank head constable (-)
11. Equivalent to the rank constable (-)