Paramilitary forces of India

The Paramilitary forces of India are those agencies of the Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of Home Affairs which act as armed forces auxiliaries and are considered part of the Indian Armed Forces.

There are a large number of such paramilitary forces with a wide range of roles. The different forces tend to share a broadly gendarmerie role and generally perform counter-insurgency or anti-terrorist missions.

The paramilitary forces of India are regarded as the world's second largest after the Chinese People's Armed Police which has 1.5 million personnel. In 2002, the total strength of the paramilitary force stood at 1.3 million personnel.

List of paramilitary forces

* Assam Rifles: 40,000 personnel in 31 battalions commanded by a Lieutenant-General
* Border Security Force: 180,000 personnel
* Central Industrial Security Force: 90,000 personnel
* Central Reserve Police Force: 172,000 personnel in 200 battalions
** Rapid Action Force - a 10 battalion semi-independent part of the CRPF trained to respond to sectarian violence. The Anti-Riot Police of the Indian Union.
** Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA): A 10,000 strong anti-Naxal force being raised under the command and control of the CRPF. [ [http://www.financialexpress.com/news/COBRA-to-sting-Naxal-virus-new-force-gets-Centre-nod/354579/ COBRA to sting Naxal virus: new force gets Centre nod] ]
* Indo-Tibetan Border Police - 12,000
* Rashtriya Rifles: 40,000 personnel
* Defence Security Corps - 30,000 persons who provide security to Ministry of Defense facilities and installations nationwide.
* Railway Protection Force - 45,000 personnel who provide security police and security guard services to Indian Railways
* Indian Home Guard: 400 to 600,000 personnel
* Civil Defence
* Sashastra Seema Bal: 4,5000 personnel which guard the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan Borders
* National Security Guards: 14500 personnel
* Special Protection Group: 3000 personnel
* Special Frontier Force - 10,000 personnel
* The Provincial Armed Constabulary (Pradeshik) - 250 to 300,000 persons who act as a mobile armed reserve maintained at key locations in some states and activated only on the orders from the deputy inspector general or higher-level. Armed constabulary are usually not in contact with the public until they are assigned to VIP duty or assigned to maintain order during fairs, festivals, athletic events, elections, and natural disasters. They may also be sent to quell outbreaks of student or labor unrest, organized crime, and communal riots; to maintain key guard posts; and to participate in antiterrorist operations. Depending on the type of assignment, the Provincial Armed Constabulary may carry only lathis or they may be equipped with infantry weapons.

ee also

*Indian Army
*Indian Air Force
*Indian Navy
*Indian Coast Guard
*National Security Guard
*Special Forces of India
*Special Protection Group
*National Cadet Corps (India)
*constabulary
*gendarmerie

References

Further reading

External links

* [http://www.assamrifles.com/ Assam Rifles official site]
* [http://www.indiadefence.com/PMF.htm Analysis of the PMF]
* [http://www.photius.com/countries/india/national_security/india_national_security_paramilitary_and_res~8898.html An informative article on the PMF]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/bsf.htm Global Security article on Border Security Force]