From CRPF to BSF, know the various defence forces of India and their roles 

As a country, India is under constant threat and faces a lot of challenges from external and internal threats which calls for a robust defence mechanism. The Indian Armed Force and the Central Armed Police Force ensure the national security of India. Let’s understand the various defence forces of India better.

Indian Armed Force

The Indian Armed Force is the primary defence wall of India and serve under the authority of the Ministry of Defence. They mainly manage external security threats.

The Indian Armed Force has four main divisions:

1. Indian Army: Check facts on the Indian Army here

2. Indian Air Force: Check facts on the Indian Air Force here

3. Indian Navy: Check facts on the Indian Navy here

4. Indian Coast Guard: Check facts on the Indian Coast Guard here

Central Armed Police Force

The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) serve under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

They mainly manage internal security threats and only aid in combating external threats when necessary.

There are seven main divisions of the CAPF:

1. Assam Rifles

• This is one of the oldest paramilitary forces in the country and was established in 1835
• Its main job is to monitor the North East international borders and counter the insurgency operations in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland

2. Border Security Force (BSF)

• The BSF was established in 1965
• Their main role is to keep a watch over international borders against intrusion

3. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

• The CISF was set up in 1969 after the recommendations of Justice B Mukherji
• Its job is to monitor the Central Government industrial complexes

4. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

• The CRPF was set up in 1939
• Its main job is to assist the State Police or Union Territory Police in maintaining law and order
• The Mahila Battalion (88^th Battalion of CRPF) commissioned on March 30, 1986, is the world’d first paramilitary force comprised entirely of women

4. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

• They were established in 1962 after the Chinese attack
• They are employed in the North India borders
• They monitor the borders and also stop smuggling and illegal immigration

5. National Security Guards (NSG)

• NSG was established in 1984 to counter the surge of militancy in the country
• It is a highly trained force which deals with militants effectively

6. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

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• The SSB was established in 1963
• Their main objective is to control anti-national activities and inculcate a feeling of nationalism among the border population
• They guard the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders
• They were earlier called the Special Service Bureau

Paramilitary Forces of India

'Paramilitary forces' is not an official term. It is usually used to refer to:

• Indian Coast Guard (from the Indian Armed Force)
• Assam Rifles (AR) (from the CAPF)
• Special Frontier Force (SFF) (from the Intelligence agencies)

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