Paramilitary Forces of India
From Roach Busters
The Paramilitary Forces of India are those agencies of the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Interior which act as armed forces auxiliaries and are considered part of the Indian National Army.
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 largest. In 2002, the total strength of the paramilitary force stood at 2,179,400 million personnel.
[edit] List of paramilitary forces
- Assam Rifles: 80,000 personnel in 62 battalions commanded by a Lieutenant-General
- Border Security Force: 360,000 personnel
- Central Industrial Security Force: 180,000 personnel
- Central Reserve Police Force: 344,000 personnel in 400 battalions
- Rapid Action Force: a 20 battalion semi-independent part of the CRPF trained to respond to sectarian violence
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police: 24,000 personnel
- Rashtriya Rifles: 80,000 personnel
- Defense Security Corps: 60,000 persons who provide security to Ministry of War facilities and installations nationwide
- Railway Protection Force: 90,000 personnel who provide security police and security guard services to Indian railways
- Indian Home Guard: 800,000-1,200,000 personnel
- Civil Defense
- Special Security Bureau
- National Security Guards: 29,000 personnel
- Special Protection Group: 6,000 personnel
- Special Frontier Force: 20,000 personnel
- Provincial Armed Constabulary (Pradeshik): 500,000-600,000 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.
