Paramilitary forces of India

Last updated October 05, 2025

Paramilitary Forces of India refer to a group of 10 armed organisations responsible for supporting the Indian military and ensuring internal security.^[1]

List of paramilitary forces

From 1986 to 2011 the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were considered as Central Police Organisations (CPOs).^[2] However, as per their respective acts they all are Armed Forces of the Union of India.^[2]^[3]

The paramilitary forces are made up of:^[1]

Central Armed Police Forces ^[4]
- Border Guarding Forces
  - Assam Rifles (AR)
  - Border Security Force (BSF)
  - Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
  - Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- Special Task Force
  - National Security Guard (NSG)
- Forces for Internal Security
  - Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
  - Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
Railway Protection Force (RPF)
Special Frontier Force (SFF)
Special Protection Group (SPG)

Paramilitary Forces^[1]
Paramilitary force	Active Strength	Governing Body	Operational area	Role
Assam Rifles	65,143^[5]	Ministry of Home Affairs (administrative) Ministry of Defence (operational)^[6]	Northeast India, India–Myanmar border	Border guard
Border Security Force	290,000^[5]	Ministry of Home Affairs	India–Pakistan border and India–Bangladesh border ^[7]	Border guard
Central Industrial Security Force	190,000^[5]		Industries, public sector undertakings, space installations, airports, seaports and Delhi Metro	Protection and security of operational areas
Central Reserve Police Force	313,678^[5]		All India Force	Counter-insurgency and general elections
Indo-Tibetan Border Police	89,432^[5]		India–China border ^[8]	Border guard
National Security Guard	10,000		Active Special operations in India	Counter-terrorism
Sashastra Seema Bal	97,244^[9]		India–Nepal border and India–Bhutan border ^[10]	Border guard
Railway Protection Force	76,563	Ministry of Railways	Indian Railways	Protection and security of operational areas
Special Frontier Force	10,000^[9]	Cabinet Secretariat ^[11]		Covert operations
Special Protection Group	3,000^[9]	Cabinet Secretariat ^[11]	Security of Prime Minister of India	Executive Protection
Total	1,145,060

Ranks and insignia

Officers

Rank group

General / flag officers

Senior officers

Junior officers

Assam Rifles ^[12]^[13]


Director-general ^{[note 1]} -	Special director-general ^{[note 2]} -	Additional director-general ^{[note 3]} -

Inspector general ^{[note 4]}
-

Deputy inspector-general ^{[note 5]}
-

Commandant ^{[note 6]}
-

Second-in-command ^{[note 7]}
-

Deputy commandant ^{[note 8]}
-

Assistant commandant ^{[note 9]}
-

Border Security Force


Director-general -	Special director-general -	Additional director-general -

Inspector general
-

Deputy inspector-general
-

Commandant
-

Second-in-command
-

Deputy commandant
-

Assistant commandant
-

Central Industrial Security Force ^[14]^[15]


Director-general -	Special director-general -	Additional director-general -

Inspector general
-

Deputy inspector-general
-

Senior commandant
-

Commandant
-

Deputy commandant
-

Assistant commandant
-

Central Reserve Police Force ^[16]^[17]


Director-general -	Special director-general -	Additional director-general -

Inspector general
-

Deputy inspector-general
-

Commandant
-

Second-in-command
-

Deputy commandant
-

Assistant commandant
-

Indo-Tibetan Border Police ^[18]

Director-general
-

Additional director-general
-

Inspector general
-

Deputy inspector-general
-

Additional deputy inspector-general
-

Commandant
-

Second-in-command
-

Deputy commandant
-

Assistant commandant
-

National Security Guard ^[19]

Director general
-

Additional director general
-

Inspector general
-

Deputy inspector general
-

Group commander
-

Second in command
-

Deputy commander
-

Team commander
-

Railway Protection Force

Director general

Additional director general

Inspector general/
Principal chief security commissioner

Deputy inspector general/
Chief security commissioner

Senior commandant/
Senior divisional security commissioner

Commandant/
Divisional security commissioner

Assistant commandant/
Assistant security commissioner

Sashastra Seema Bal ^[20]

Director-general
-

Additional director-general
-

Inspector general
-

Deputy inspector-general
-

Commandant
-

Second-in-command
-

Deputy commandant
-

Assistant commandant
-

Special Frontier Force

Brigadier

Colonel

Lieutenant colonel

Major

Captain

First Lieutenant

Second Lieutenant

Rank group

General / flag officers

Senior officers

Junior officers

Personnel below officer rank

Rank group	Subordinate Officers (SO)				Non commissioned officers (NCO)				Enlisted
Assam Rifles ^[21] v t e									No insignia
Assam Rifles ^[21] v t e	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर	Subedar सूबेदार		Naib subedar नायब सूबेदार	Warrant officer -	Havildar ^{[note 10]} हवलदार			Rifleman ^{[note 11]} -
Border Security Force v t e									No insignia
Border Security Force v t e	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर	Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub-inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक	Head constable हवलदार				Constable कनिष्ठबल
Central Industrial Security Force ^[14]^[15]^[22] v t e									No insignia
Central Industrial Security Force ^[14]^[15]^[22] v t e		Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक	Head constable हवलदार				Constable कनिष्ठबल
Central Reserve Police Force ^[16]^[17] v t e									No insignia
Central Reserve Police Force ^[16]^[17] v t e	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर	Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub-inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक	Head constable हवलदार				Constable कनिष्ठबल
Indo-Tibetan Border Police ^[18] v t e									No insignia
Indo-Tibetan Border Police ^[18] v t e	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर	Subedar/Inspector सूबेदार/निरीक्षक	Sub inspector उप निरीक्षक		Head constable हवलदार		Naik नायक	Lance naik लांस नायक	Constable कनिष्ठबल
National Security Guard ^[19] v t e									No insignia
National Security Guard ^[19] v t e	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर	Assistant commander-1 -	Assistant commander-2 -	Assistant commander-3 -	Ranger grade I -		Ranger grade II -		Combatised tradesmen -
Railway Protection Force v t e									No insignia
Railway Protection Force v t e		Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक	Head constable हवलदार				Constable -
Sashastra Seema Bal ^[20] v t e									No insignia
Sashastra Seema Bal ^[20] v t e	Subedar major सूबेदार मेजर	Inspector निरीक्षक	Sub inspector उप निरीक्षक	Assistant sub-inspector सहायक उप निरीक्षक	Head constable हवलदार		Naik नायक	Lance naik लांस नायक	Constable कनिष्ठबल
Special Frontier Force v t e									No insignia
Special Frontier Force v t e	Subedar Major	Subedar		Naib Subedar	Havildar		Naik	Lance Naik	Sepoy
Rank group	Subordinate Officers (SO)				Non commissioned officers (NCO)				Enlisted

Notes

↑ Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)
↑ Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)
↑ Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)
↑ Equivalent to the rank major general (मेजर - जनरल)
↑ Equivalent to the rank brigadier (ब्रिगेडियर)
↑ Equivalent to the rank colonel (कर्नल)
↑ Equivalent to the rank lieutenant colonel (लेफ्टिनेंट - कर्नल)
↑ Equivalent to the rank major (मेजर)
↑ Equivalent to the rank captain (कप्तान)
↑ Equivalent to the rank head constable (-)
↑ Equivalent to the rank constable (-)

References

1 2 3 IISS (2012). "Chapter Six: Asia". The Military Balance. 112 (1). London: Routledge: 205–302. doi:10.1080/04597222.2012.663215. S2CID 219626887.
1 2 "Office Memorandum" (PDF). MHA. MHA, GoI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
↑ Dholabhai, Nishit (26 March 2011). "For the paramilitary, all's in a new name". The Telegraphy .
↑ Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs (12 December 2018). Working conditions in Border Guarding Forces Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Border Security Force) (PDF). Rajya Sabha. p. 1. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
1 2 3 4 5 "Annual Report 2016-17" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
↑ Tiwary, Deeptiman (7 December 2021). "Explained: Assam Rifles' dual control structure, and its role". The Indian Express .
↑ "Introduction". bsf.nic.in. Border Security Force. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
↑ "Home | Indo Tibetan Border Police, Ministry of Home Affairs". itbpolice.nic.in. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
1 2 3 (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (14 February 2020). The Military Balance 2020. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9780367466398 – via Google Books.
↑ "Role- SSB Ministry Of Home Affairs, Govt. Of India". ssb.nic.in. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
↑ Chhina, Man Aman Singh; Kaushik, Krishn (2 September 2020). "Explained: What is the Special Frontier Force, referred to as Vikas Battalion?". The Indian Express . Retrieved 2 September 2020.
↑ "असम राइफल्स विनियमन 2016 - Assam Rifles Regulation 2016" (PDF). 18 November 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
↑ "Two Hundred Thirteenth Report - Security Situation in the North Eastern States of India" (PDF). Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. 19 July 2018. pp. 6–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
1 2 "All ranks inclusive annual governing body meeting". Central Industrial Security Force. 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022 – via Facebook.
1 2 "The Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968 (50 of 1968): (As Modified Vide Act No.14 of 1983, 20 of 1989, 40 of 1999 and 22 of 2009)" (PDF). Central Industrial Security Force. 2009. p. 18.
1 2 "The Central Reserve Police Force Rules/Regulations/Scheme,1955" (PDF). 24 February 1955.
1 2 "Career Prospects". Central Reserve Police Force . Archived from the original on 23 March 2022.
1 2 "XI Miscellaneous - 153. Rank structure". The Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992 (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. 1 September 1992.
1 2 "The National Security Guard Act, 1986 (47 of 1986)" (PDF). Government of India. 22 September 1986. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
1 2 "Sashastra Seema Bal Rules, 2009" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. 2009.
↑ "Two Hundred Thirteenth Report - Security Situation in the North Eastern States of India" (PDF). Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. 19 July 2018. pp. 6–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
↑ "The Central Industrial Security Force Rank Structure". Network18 Group. 2022.

External links

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[14] Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)

[15] Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)

[16] Equivalent to the rank lieutenant general (लेफ्टिनेंट - जनरल)

[17] Equivalent to the rank major general (मेजर - जनरल)

[18] Equivalent to the rank brigadier (ब्रिगेडियर)

[19] Equivalent to the rank colonel (कर्नल)

[20] Equivalent to the rank lieutenant colonel (लेफ्टिनेंट - कर्नल)

[21] Equivalent to the rank major (मेजर)

[22] Equivalent to the rank captain (कप्तान)

[31] Equivalent to the rank head constable (-)

[32] Equivalent to the rank constable (-)

[IISS_2012-1] 1 2 3 IISS (2012). "Chapter Six: Asia". The Military Balance. 112 (1). London: Routledge: 205–302. doi:10.1080/04597222.2012.663215. S2CID 219626887.

[Memorandum-2] 1 2 "Office Memorandum" (PDF). MHA. MHA, GoI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2015.

[3] Dholabhai, Nishit (26 March 2011). "For the paramilitary, all's in a new name". The Telegraphy .

[StandingCommitteeReport-4] Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs (12 December 2018). Working conditions in Border Guarding Forces Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Border Security Force) (PDF). Rajya Sabha. p. 1. Retrieved 23 January 2024.

[Annual_Report_16-17-5] 1 2 3 4 5 "Annual Report 2016-17" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.

[6] Tiwary, Deeptiman (7 December 2021). "Explained: Assam Rifles' dual control structure, and its role". The Indian Express .

[7] "Introduction". bsf.nic.in. Border Security Force. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2019.

[8] "Home | Indo Tibetan Border Police, Ministry of Home Affairs". itbpolice.nic.in. Retrieved 9 December 2019.

[:0-9] 1 2 3 (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (14 February 2020). The Military Balance 2020. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9780367466398 – via Google Books.

[10] "Role- SSB Ministry Of Home Affairs, Govt. Of India". ssb.nic.in. Retrieved 9 December 2019.

[Chhina_and_Kaushik-11] Chhina, Man Aman Singh; Kaushik, Krishn (2 September 2020). "Explained: What is the Special Frontier Force, referred to as Vikas Battalion?". The Indian Express . Retrieved 2 September 2020.

[Regulation_2016-12] "असम राइफल्स विनियमन 2016 - Assam Rifles Regulation 2016" (PDF). 18 November 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2022.

[213_Report-13] "Two Hundred Thirteenth Report - Security Situation in the North Eastern States of India" (PDF). Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. 19 July 2018. pp. 6–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.

[All_ranks_2018-23] 1 2 "All ranks inclusive annual governing body meeting". Central Industrial Security Force. 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022 – via Facebook.

[CISF_Act-24] 1 2 "The Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968 (50 of 1968): (As Modified Vide Act No.14 of 1983, 20 of 1989, 40 of 1999 and 22 of 2009)" (PDF). Central Industrial Security Force. 2009. p. 18.

[CRPG_Regs-25] 1 2 "The Central Reserve Police Force Rules/Regulations/Scheme,1955" (PDF). 24 February 1955.

[CRPF_Website-26] 1 2 "Career Prospects". Central Reserve Police Force . Archived from the original on 23 March 2022.

[Sashastra_Seema_Bal_Rules,_1992-27] 1 2 "XI Miscellaneous - 153. Rank structure". The Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992 (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. 1 September 1992.

[NSG_ACT-28] 1 2 "The National Security Guard Act, 1986 (47 of 1986)" (PDF). Government of India. 22 September 1986. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2014.

[Sashastra_Seema_Bal_Rules,_2009-29] 1 2 "Sashastra Seema Bal Rules, 2009" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. 2009.

[30] "Two Hundred Thirteenth Report - Security Situation in the North Eastern States of India" (PDF). Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. 19 July 2018. pp. 6–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.

[CISF_Rank_Structure-33] "The Central Industrial Security Force Rank Structure". Network18 Group. 2022.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[note 1]

[note 2]

[note 3]

[note 4]

[note 5]

[note 6]

[note 7]

[note 8]

[note 9]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[note 10]

[note 11]

[22]

Paramilitary forces of India

Contents

List of paramilitary forces

Ranks and insignia

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links