VARIOUS SECURITY FORCES AND AGENCIES AND THEIR MANDATE
India, with its vast and diverse geography, complex socio-political environment, and strategic location, faces numerous internal and external security challenges. To address these challenges, the country has developed a robust and multi-tiered security apparatus comprising various forces and agencies, each with a specific mandate. These security forces and agencies play a critical role in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, maintaining internal stability, and protecting citizens from a wide range of threats.
India's security architecture is composed of a variety of forces, each with specialized roles and responsibilities. These forces can broadly be categorized into the following groups:
1.Armed Forces: This includes the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, which are responsible for defending the country against external threats and ensuring the security of India’s borders.
2.Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs): These are paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs, tasked with maintaining internal security, guarding borders, and combating insurgency and terrorism. Key CAPFs include the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
3.Intelligence Agencies: These agencies are responsible for gathering, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence to prevent and counter threats to national security. Prominent intelligence agencies include the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO).
4.Specialized Agencies: These include agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which focus on specific security challenges such as terrorism and economic offenses.
5.State Police Forces: Each state in India has its own police force responsible for maintaining law and order, preventing and investigating crimes, and ensuring public safety within their respective jurisdictions.