Various Security forces and agencies

Indian intelligence agencies

1. Research and Analysis Wing
The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW or R&AW) is the elite external intelligence agency
of the Republic of India. It was formed in September 1968 under the helmsman-ship of its
first Director, R. N. Kao. Its creation was necessitated post the Sino-Indian War(1962) and
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 which posed various gaps in intelligence gathering undertaken
by Intelligence Bureau (which then handled both internal and external intelligence). This
convinced the Government of India that a specialised, independent agency was required for
competent external intelligence gathering.
The primary function of the R&AW is collection of external intelligence and counterterrorism. In addition, it is responsible for obtaining and analysing information about
foreign governments, corporations and persons to advise Indian policymakers. R&AW
is an effective and one of the primary instrument of India's national power. It is also involved
in the security of India's nuclear programme.
Headquartered in New Delhi, R&AW's current director is Alok Joshi a 1976-batch IPS
officer of Haryana cadre.
Functions and methods
The R&AW offices abroad are largely geared to the collection of military, economic,
scientific and political intelligence. R&AW monitors the activities of certain organisations
abroad only insofar as they relate to their involvement with narco terrorist elements and
smuggling arms, ammunition, explosives, etc. into India
The primary mission of R&AW includes aggressive intelligence collection via espionage,
psychological warfare, subversion and sabotage. R&AW maintains active collaboration
with other secret services in various countries. Its contacts with FSB of Russia, NDS, the
Afghan agency, Israel's Mossad, the CIA and MI6 have been well-known, a common
interest being Pakistan's nuclear programme. R&AW has been active in obtaining
information and operating through third countries like Afghanistan, the United Kingdom,
Hong Kong, Myanmar and Singapore.
R&AW obtains information critical to Indian strategic interests both by overt and covert
means. The data is then classified and filed with the assistance of the computer networks.
International business houses, information technology sector and media centres can easily
absorb R&AW operatives and provide freedom of movement.
2. Intelligence Bureau
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is India's internal intelligence agency and reputedly the
world's oldest intelligence agency. It was recast as the Central Intelligence Bureau in
1947 under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The reason for the perception may be because, in
1885, Major General Sir Charles MacGregor was appointed head of the Intelligence

Department for the British Indian Army at Simla. The objective was to monitor Russian troop
deployments in Afghanistan, fearing a Russian invasion of British India through the NorthWest during the late 19th century. In 1909, the Indian Political Intelligence Office was
established in England in response to the development of Indian revolutionary activities,
which came to be called the Indian Political Intelligence (IPI) from 1921. This was a staterun surveillance and monitoring agency. The IPI was run jointly by the India Office and the
Government of India and reported jointly to the Secretary of the Public and Judicial
Department of the India Office, and the Director of Intelligence Bureau (DIB) in India, and
maintained close contact with Scotland Yard and MI5.
Serving since December 2012, Syed Asif Ibrahim is the current director of the IB, the first
Muslim to hold the position.
Responsibilities & Activities
Shrouded in secrecy, the IB is used to garner intelligence from within India and also
execute counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism tasks. In addition to domestic
intelligence responsibilities, the IB is particularly tasked with intelligence collection in
border areas, following the 1951 recommendations of the Himmatsinhji Committee (also
known as the North and North-East Border Committee), a task entrusted to military
intelligence organisations prior to independence in 1947. All spheres of human activity within
India and in the neighborhood are allocated to the charter of duties of the Intelligence
Bureau.
One known task of the IB is to clear licences to amateur radio enthusiasts. The IB also
passes on intelligence between other Indian intelligence agencies and the police. The
Bureau also grants the necessary security clearances to Indian diplomats and judges
before they take the oath. The IB is also rumoured to intercept and open around 6,000
letters daily. It also has an email spying system similar to FBI's Carnivore system. The
Bureau is also authorised to conduct wiretapping without a warrant.
Operations
The Intelligence Bureau reportedly has a lot of successes to its credit, but operations
conducted by the IB are rarely declassified. The IB was trained by the Soviet KGB from the
1950s onwards until the collapse of the Soviet Union. The IB was initially India's internal and
external intelligence agency. Due to lapses on the part of the Intelligence Bureau to predict
the Sino-Indian War of 1962, and later on, intelligence failure in the India-Pakistan War in
1965, it was bifurcated in 1968 and entrusted with the task of internal intelligence only. The
external intelligence branch was handed to the newly created Research and Analysis Wing.
The IB has had mixed success in counter-terrorism. It was reported in 2008 that the IB had
been successful in busting terror modules. It alerted the police before the Hyderabad blasts
and gave repeated warnings of a possible attack on Mumbai through the sea before the
November 2008 Mumbai attacks. On the whole, however, the IB came in for some sharp
criticism by the media after the relentless wave of terror attacks in 2008. The government
came close to sacking top intelligence officials soon after 26/11 attacks because of serious
lapses that led to the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Heavy politics, under-funding and a shortage of

professional field agents are the chief problems facing the agency. The overall strength of
the agency is believed to be around 25,000, with 3500-odd field agents operating in the
entire country. Of these, many are engaged in political intelligence.
3. National Technical Research Organisation
The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) is a premier apex scientific agency
under the National Security Adviser in the Prime Minister's Office, India. It was set up in
2004. It also includes National Institute of Cryptology Research and Development
(NICRD), which is first of its kind in Asia. The National Technical Research Organisation
(NTRO), originally known as the National Technical Facilities Organisation (NTFO), is a
highly specialised technical intelligence gathering agency. While the agency does not affect
the working of technical wings of various intelligence agencies, including those of the Indian
Armed Forces, it acts as a super-feeder agency for providing technical intelligence to
other agencies on internal and external security. The agency is under the control of
India's external intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing, although it remains
autonomous to some degree.
Activities
The agency develops technology capabilities in aviation and remote sensing, data
gathering and processing, cyber security, cryptology systems, strategic hardware
and software development and strategic monitoring.
It is believed that it deals with imagery and communications intelligence using various
platforms, including satellites. It is believed that the NTRO, with ISRO, launched the
Technology Experiment Satellite. The Indian Infrastructure Protection Centre, an
agency to monitor and assess threats to crucial infrastructure and other vital installations
has also been set up under the National Technical Research Organisation. The Technology
Experiment Satellite (TES) has a pan chromatic camera for remote sensing. The camera is
which is capable of producing images of 1 Metre resolution. 1 metre resolution means the
camera is able to distinguish between two objects which are separated at least a metre. The
launch of TES made India the second country in the world after the USA that commercially
offers images with one metre resolution. It is used for remote sensing of civilian areas,
mapping industry and geographical information services.
NTRO plans to go on an offensive against Chinese hackers. NTRO along with a scientific
non-profit foundation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) in November 2011
initiated the National Security Database (NSD) project as a prestigious accreditation
program to identify credible & trustworthy Information security experts with proven skills to
protect the National Critical Infrastructure & economy of the country.
4. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
It functions under the Central Board of Excise and customs(CBEC), in the Ministry of
Finance, Department of Revenue. Headed by Director General in New Delhi, it is presently
divided into seven zones, each under the charge of an Additional Director General, and
further sub-divided into Regional Units, Sub-Regional Units and Intelligence Cells with a

complement of Additional Directors, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors,

Senior Intelligence Officers and Intelligence Officers. Its charter includes the following
functions:

Collection of intelligence about smuggling of contraband goods, narcotics, underinvoicing etc. through sources of India and abroad, including secret sources.
Analysis and dissemination of such intelligence to the field formations for action.
Working out of intelligence by the Directorate officers themselves to a successful
conclusion, where necessary.
Keeping watch over important seizures and investigation cases.
Associating or taking over the investigations which warrant specialised handling by the
Directorate.
Guiding important investigation/prosecution cases.
Functioning as the liaison authority for exchange or information among ESCAP
countries for combating international smuggling and customs frauds in terms of
the recommendation of the ESCAP conference.
Keeping liaison with foreign countries, Indian Missions and Enforcement agencies
abroad on anti-smuggling matters.
To keep liaison with Central Bureau of Investigation and through them with
the INTERPOL.
To co-ordinate, direct and control anti-smuggling operations on the Indo-Nepal
border.
To refer cases registered under the Customs Act to the Income Tax Department for
action under the Income Tax Act.
To keep statistics of seizures and prices/rates etc. for watching trends of smuggling and
supply required material to the ministry of Finance and other Ministries.
To study and suggest remedies for loopholes in law and procedures to combat
smuggling.

5. Defence Intelligence Agency

The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an organisation responsible for providing and
coordinating intelligence for the Indian armed forces. It was created in March 2002 and
is administered within the Union Ministry of Defence. DIA has control of Indian Army's prized
technical intelligence assets the Directorate of Signals Intelligence and the Defence
Image Processing and Analysis Centre (DIPAC). While the Signals Directorate is
responsible for acquiring and decrypting enemy communications, the DIPAC controls
India's satellite-based image acquisition capabilities. The DIA also controls the Defence
Information Warfare Agency (DIWA) which handles all elements of the information
warfare repertoire, including psychological operations, cyber-war, electronic intercepts and
the monitoring of sound waves.
Organisation
The Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency is the head of the entire
organisation. The director general is the principal advisor on intelligence to the Minister of

Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff. The post of the director general will be held in
rotation between the three armed services. The first Director General of the DIA was Lt.
Gen. Kamal Davar, former director of the mechanised forces of the Indian Army. The
Director General of the Agency is assisted by the Deputy Director General, held first by Air
Marshal S. C. Malhan. The DIA will also be involved in intelligence support groups with the
IB and RAW to coordinate military and civilian intelligence agencies and create an
intelligence community.
Functions
Before the creation of the Defence Intelligence Agency, the military intelligence capability of
India's armed forces was limited to Field Intelligence Units (FIU), the Directorate of Military
Intelligence and separate intelligence arms of the services. These distinct services were not
able to effectively coordinate intelligence operations and sharing of information. The armed
forces also heavily relied on civilian intelligence agencies such as the Research and
Analysis Wing and the Intelligence Bureau. With wide-ranging resources and functions, the
DIA will be superior to and coordinate the Directorate of Military Intelligence,
Directorate of Air Intelligence and the Directorate of Naval Intelligence.
6. Joint Cipher Bureau
The Joint Cipher Bureau is an agency of the Indian armed forces responsible for
signals intelligence and cryptanalysis and co-ordinating similar activities and operations
of military intelligence agencies.
The Joint Cipher Bureau works closely with the IB and R&AW. It is responsible for
cryptanalysis and encryption of sensitive data. The inter-services Joint Cipher Bureau has
primary responsibility for cryptology and SIGINT, providing coordination and direction to the
other military service organizations with similar mission. Most current equipment providing
tactical intelligence is of Russian origin, including specialized direction finding and
monitoring equipment.
The Joint Cipher Bureau is also responsible for issues relating to public and private key
management. Cryptographic products are export-controlled licensed items, and licenses to
India are not generally available for products of key length of more than 56 bits. The
domestic Indian computer industry primarily produces PCs, and PC-compatible
cryptographic products have been developed and are being used commercially. More robust
cryptologic systems are not commercially produced in India, and progress in this field has
been slow due to the general unavailability of technology and know-how. Customised
cryptographic products have been designed and produced by organizations in the defense
sector are engaged in the implementation of cryptographic techniques, protocols and the
products.
7. All India Radio Monitoring Service
All India Radio Monitoring Service (AIRMS) is the central monitoring service that monitors
broadcasts in India as well as from all foreign of Interest to India. AIRMS is located in Simla.
It works in liaison with RAW and Military intelligence.

8. Signals Intelligence Directorate

The Signals Intelligence Directorate is a joint service organisation, manned by personnel
from the Army, Navy and Air Force. It has a large number of WEUs (Wireless
Experimental Units) that carry out the task of monitoring military links of other
countries.
The Central Monitoring Organisation (CMO) is directly under the Ministry of Defence. It has
several monitoring companies, located at different locations around the country. Task is to
monitor use of radio spectrum by all users, such as Defence, Police, AIR, Railways, PSUs
etc.
9. Aviation Research Centre
The Aviation Research Centre (ARC) is a part of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)
of the Cabinet Secretariat, India. The first head of the ARC was R. N. Kao, the legendary
founding chief of R&AW. Over the years the ARC has grown into a large operation and flies
a large and varied fleet that till recently included the high-flying Mach 3 capable MIG-25.
Inventory
From its humble origin consisting of Helio Twin Courier Courier loaned from the USAF, ARC
today boasts of having fixed-wing transport aircraft like Russian IL-76s and AN-32s. It also
has General Dynamics Gulfstream III and upgraded Gulfstream IV jets. The helicopter
inventory comprises Russian Mi-8s and a mix of locally built Cheetahs (modified French
Alouette IIs) and Chetaks (Alouette IIIs). The weapon of choice for ARC was the MIG-25
(also christened as Foxbat by NATO) which was used for high altitude reconnaissance
(the plane was decommissioned in 2006 and is no longer in service). Rumors abound that
the second strike capability of India vests on the ARC. ARC is also believed to be the first
wing of Indian intelligence agencies to induct the indigenously built 'Pilotless Target
Aircraft' (PTA) Lakshya. Lakshya is equipped with advanced support system to help it
perform tactful aerial exploration in the battlefield, including target acquisition. The 6-footlong (1.8 m) Lakshya is fitted with a digitally controlled engine that can be operated from the
ground using a remote. Lakshya had been designed by Aeronautical Development
Establishment, Bangalore. Lakshya is a surface/ship launched high subsonic reusable aerial
target system, remotely piloted from ground. It provides training to the gun and missile crew
and to air defence pilots for weapon engagement.
Bases
Although highly secretive in its operation it is believed that there are five R&AW Aviation
Research Centre operating bases: at Charbatia Air Base in Cuttack being the largest; at
Sarsawa Air Base near Saharanpur on the Uttar Pradesh-Haryana border; Dum Duma Air
Base near Tinsukia in Assam; at the Palam Air Base in Delhi; and at the Farkhor Air
Base, the only Indian military base situated in a foreign country, at Farkhor/Ayni in
Tajikistan.
Function

Aerial surveillance, SIGINT operations, photo reconnaissance flights (PHOTINT),

monitoring of borders, imagery intelligence (IMINT) are the main functions of the
Aviation Research Centre (ARC). The aircrafts are fitted with state-of-the-art electronic
surveillance equipment and long range cameras capable of taking pictures of targets
from very high altitudes. ARC also takes the responsibility along with the IAF to
transport Special Frontier Force (SFF) commandos from their trans-location at Sarsawa,
250 km north of New Delhi, though the SFF's own base is in Chakrata in Uttarakhand (UK)
state.
Kargil War
In 1999 during the Kargil War, after the Pakistani intrusion was detected, ARC was tasked to
check if the Pakistanis had indeed crossed the Line of Control to the Indian side and
violated the border agreement. A number of missions were flown by the ARC on request
from the Indian Army and the PMO. Senior officials of the Indian armed forces including the
Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Army staff highly commended the work done by ARC, quoting
"The electronic and optical information provided by the ARC before and during the actual
operations was of immense value to the conduct of air strikes." Also the K. Subrahmanyam
committee report into the Kargil war observed that "No intelligence failures had been
attributed on account of functioning of RAW and ARC. However, certain equipment
inadequacies were highlighted such as satellite imagery and UAVs".
10. Directorate of Air Intelligence
The Directorate of Air Intelligence is the intelligence arm of the Indian Air Force. Air Force
intelligence responsibilities include imagery intelligence collection MiG-25R and Jaguar
reconnaissance aircraft. During the 1971 war with Pakistan, Russian satellite imagery
provided India with information on Chinese force deployments. And with advances in the
Indian space program, the Indian Air Force will be acquiring independent space-based
imagery intelligence capabilities.
11. Directorate of Naval Intelligence
The Directorate of Naval Intelligence is the intelligence arm of the Indian Navy.
12. Directorate of Income Tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation)
This is the Income Taxs intelligence arm and India's official FATF unit. The DGIT
(Intelligence) reports directly to the Member (Investigation), Central Board of Direct Taxes.
The Directorate is required to take up intensive investigation of selected cases/class of
cases and develop them for further action/specialized operation; study and analyze
emerging trends in tax evasion, new modus operandi etc.; create an economic
offence data base; develop a profiling system etc. both in traditional and nontraditional fields. The Directorate liaise/interact with other intelligence/investigating
agencies such as FIU, NCB, ED, DRI, DGCEI, SFO, CEIB etc. The Directorate has access
to all the information received by the Department viz. AIR, TDS, BCTT, STT, CIB, AST etc.
Departmental national network, Departmental records etc.

The DGIT and his directorate are located at Delhi. They have an all India jurisdiction and are
assigned concurrent powers with the other DGsIT (Inv.). Criminal Investigation (CI)
investigates potential criminal violations of the Direct Tax Code and related financial crimes
in a manner intended to foster confidence in the tax system and compliance with the
law. While other federal agencies also have investigative jurisdiction for money laundering
and some bank secrecy act violations, the Income Tax Department is the only federal
agency that can investigate potential criminal violations of the Direct Tax Code.
Criminal Investigation must investigate and assist in the prosecution of those significant
financial investigations that will generate the maximum deterrent effect, enhance voluntary
compliance, and promote public confidence in the tax system.
The DCI is headed by the Director General of Intelligence (Income Tax) and was notified to
tackle the menace of black money with cross-border ramifications. Commissioners of
the Intelligence directorate of Income Tax are posted in cities such as Delhi, Chandigarh,
Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Lucknow will also take up criminal
investigation work under the DCI.
13. Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation
The Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation is the law enforcement agency under
the Ministry of Finance responsible for investigating violations of India's tax laws,
including fraud, evasion and money laundering. It is tasked to,

Collect intelligence and information regarding aspects of the black economy that
requires close watch and investigation. Also, keeping in view the scene of economic
offences, the Bureau is required to collect information and provide periodical and special
reports to the concerned authorities;
Keep a watch on different aspects of economic offences and the emergence of new
types of such offences. The Bureau was made responsible for evolving counter measures required for effectively dealing with existing and new types of economic
offences;
Act as the nodal agency for cooperation and coordination at the international level
with other customs, drugs, law enforcement and other agencies in the area of
economic offences.
The implementation of the COFEPOSA (i.e. Conservation of Foreign Exchange &
Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1971 which provides for preventive detention of
persons involved in smuggling and foreign exchange rackets under certain specified
circumstances)
Act as a Secretariat of the Economic Intelligence Council which acts as the apex body to
ensure full co-ordination among the various Agencies including Central Bureau of
Investigation, Reserve Bank of India, Intelligence Bureau etc.
Head the investigation wing of the Income Tax Department at the Regional Level;
The collection of intelligence pertaining to evasion of Direct Taxes;
Organize search action to unearth black money- from time to time;
The dissemination of information and intelligence collected- by passing on the same to
the concerned authorities including assessing authorities;

Keep liaison and hold meetings with other organisations in the region to ensure coordination and smooth flow of information;
Take appropriate steps to ensure that information and other persons having information
about tax evaders come forward with the same to the Department. Disbursement of
rewards would be one of the measures.

Indian Security Agencies

14. Central Reserve Police Force
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the largest of India's Central Armed Police
Forces. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of
India. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police
operations to maintain law and order and contain insurgency. It came into existence as the
Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939. After Indian Independence, it became the
Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28 December 1949.
Besides Law and Order and counter-insurgency duties, the role of CRPF in the General
Elections, held repeatedly during the past few years, has been very significant and vital.
This is especially true for the trouble-ridden states of J&K, Bihar and in the North East.
During the Parliamentary elections of September 1999, the CRPF played a major role in the
security arrangements. Of late, CRPF contingents are also being deployed in UN missions.
As of 2010, the CRPF is the largest paramilitary organisation of the country and is actively
looking after the internal security of every part of India and are 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.
The Rapid Action Force
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialised 10 battalion wing of the Indian Central
Reserve Police Force. It was formed in October 1992, to deal with communal riots and
related civil unrest. The battalions are numbered from 99 to 108.
Parliament Duty Group
Parliament Duty Group is an elite CRPF unit tasked to provide armed protection to
Parliament House, it comprises 1,540 personnel drawn from various units of Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF). PDG members are trained in combating nuclear and biochemical attacks, rescue operations and behavioural management.
The Parliament House complex is shielded by four layers of security, each under teams from
Delhi police, CRPF, ITBP and personnel of Parliament Security Service. The last was
formed in the aftermath of December 2001 attack and its 200-odd personnel will be part of
the PDG.
PDG personnel are armed with Glock pistols, MP5 assault rifles, INSAS telescopic sniper
rifles and hand-held thermal imagers.

15. Central Industrial Security Force

The Central Industrial Security Force (established in its present form: 15 June 1983) is a
Central Armed Police Force in India.
It was set up under an Act of the Parliament of India on 10 March 1969 with a strength of
2,800. CISF was subsequently made an armed force of the Union of India by another Act of
Parliament passed on 15 June 1983. Its current strength is 165,000. The strength will be
raised to 200,000 over the next 23 years. CISF is the largest industrial security force in the
world.
It is directly under the federal Ministry of Home Affairs and its headquarters are at New
Delhi.
The CISF provides security cover to 300 industrial units and other establishments located all
over India. 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. It thereby covers installations all over India straddling a
variety of terrain and climatic conditions. CISF also provides consultancy services to private
industries as well as other organisation within the Indian government.
CISF to protect Non Nationalised industry/Corporate sector
The Indian Parliament on 2009 authorised the provision of Central Industrial Security Force
security to private and cooperative establishments across the country for a fee with the
passage of the CISF (Amendment) Bill, 2008.The Bill 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
Infosys Mysore, the Reliance Refinery, Jamnagar and the Delhi Metro Airport Express Line
are the latest additions to the list of private sector establishments to be placed under CISF
cover.
Airport security
The CISF is in charge of airport security at all commercial airports in India. Airport security,
in the past, was under the control of airport police (under the relevant state government).
However, following the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in 1999, the topic of handing
over security of the airports to the CISF was first proposed. While this proposal lay low for
the next two years, the central government decided to respond to the security threat faced
by all major nations of the world after the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and
decided to adopt the suggestion. The Jaipur Airport was the first airport that came under the
CISF's control on 3 February 2000. Following this, the majority of the commercial airports in
India were brought under its purview. As of now CISF is protecting a total of 58 international
and domestic airports in the country.
Security for Delhi Metro
Security on the Delhi Metro is handled by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who
has been guarding the system ever since they took over from the Delhi Police in 2007.

Closed-circuit cameras are used to monitor trains and stations, and feed from these is
monitored by both the CISF and Delhi Metro authorities at their respective control rooms.
Over 3500 CISF personnel have been deployed to deal with law and order issues in the
system, in addition to metal detectors, x-ray baggage inspection systems and dog squads
which are used to secure the system. Intercoms are provided in each train car for
emergency communication between the passengers and the driver. Periodic security drills
are carried out at stations and on trains to ensure preparedness of security agencies in
emergency situations.
Fire Wing
CISF is unique as a force in that it has a Fire Wing comprising 4,625 officers and personnel
giving fire protection to 77 industries.
16. Railway Protection Force
The Indian Railway Protection Force (RPF) is an Indian Central Armed Police Force charged
with protecting the Indian Railways. The strength of RPF is about 65,000.
The duties of the Railway Protection Force include:
To do all conducive means for the free movement of the railways.
Protection and safeguarding of railway property.
Protection and safeguarding of passenger, their belongings and passenger areas.
The origin of this force was 'Watch & Ward' and functioned under the administrative control
of railway administration. Later on this force was renamed as Railway Protection Force and
its members were provided with the power of arrest without warrant for the unlawful
possession of railway property. The term railway property included only the properties
owned by the railway administration. In due course of time, the definition for the term
Railway Property was extended and it included the properties owned by, or in the charge of
or entrusted with the railways. The offenders are booked under the Railway Property
(Unlawful Possession) Act 1966 which is shortly known as RP(UP) Act 1966. Now the
Railway Protection Force has a separate administrative system and functions under the
general supervision of the Railway Administration
17. Border Security Force
The Border Security Force (BSF) is a border guarding force of the Government of India.
Established on December 1, 1965, it is one of the Central Armed Police Forces. Its primary
role is to guard India's international borders during peacetime and also prevent trans border
crime. Like all Central Armed Police Forces of India, the BSF is under the administrative
control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is one of the many law enforcement agencies of
India. It is one of the world's largest border patrol forces. K F Rustomji, the BSF's first
Director General is referred to as the founding father of the BSF.
Although originally charged with guarding India's external boundaries, the BSF has more
recently been given the task in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. 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 up

with the spiraling violence, and the Indian government deployed the BSF to Jammu and
Kashmir to combat Islamic militants.
The BSF initially suffered casualties from insurgent attacks but later saw successes,
including the arrest of militant leaders, after setting up an intelligence network and working
with local civilians.BSF contribution in reducing militancy in j&k is widely acknowledged. The
BSF killed Ghazi Babasecond-in-command of Jaish-e-Mohammed and the mastermind of
the 2001 Indian Parliament attackin August 2003. The BSF raided Baba's hideout in
Srinagar and he was killed in the ensuing gunbattle.
But with increasing Naxal violence in Central India, government decided to diversify the Anti
Naxal operation with the induction of ITBP and BSF. BSF was deployed in Kanker district of
Chhattisgarh, where Naxal strength is comparatively thinner than that of other parts of
Bastar region. At present total 6 battalions of BSF are stationed in different parts of Kanker
district to combat Naxal menace.
BSF's role during peace time
1. To promote sense of security among the people living in the border areas. 2. To prevent
trans-border crimes, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India. 3. To prevent
smuggling and any other illegal activities on the Border. 4. Anti-infiltration duties. 5. To
collect trans-border intelligence.
BSF's role during war time
1. Holding ground in assigned sectors. 2. Limited aggressive action against Central Armed
Police or irregular forces of enemy. 3. Maintenance of Law and Order in enemy territory
administered under the Army's control. 4. Guarding of Prisoners of War camps. 5. Acting as
guides to the Army in border areas. 6. Assistance in control of refugees. 7. Provision of
escorts. 8. Performing special tasks connected with intelligences including raids.
18. Para Commandos
19. Special Frontier Force
20. Ghatak Force
21. Marine Commandos
22. Garud Commando Force
23. 51 Special Action Group, National Security Guards
24. Special Protection Group
25. COBRA
COBRA (acronym for COmmando Battalion for Resolute Action) is a specialised unit of the
CRPF created to counter the Naxalite problem in India. This specialised CRPF unit is one of
the few units of the Central Armed Police Forces in the country who are specifically trained
in guerilla warfare. This elite fighting unit has been trained to track, hunt and eliminate small
Naxalite groups. There are currently 10 COBRA units.