• The government has approved Rs 1,523 crore for procuring state-of-the-art weapons and improving IT infrastructure of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the next five years.

• The CAPFs include the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Assam Rifles (AR) and National Security Guard (NSG).

• The implementation of Modernisation Plan-IV for the CAPFs will equip the forces to improve the overall operational efficiency and preparedness which will positively impact the internal security scenario in the country.

• The modernisation Plan-IV for CAPFs with a total financial outlay of Rs 1,523 crore is to be implemented by the MHA from February 1, 2022 to March 31, 2026.

• The scheme will equip the CAPFs with modern state-of-the-art weapons and equipment as per their operational requirement, keeping in view their deployment pattern in different theatres.

• This would bolster the government’s ability to address the challenges faced along the International Border, LoC, LAC as well as in different theatres, such as areas affected by Left Wing Extremism, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and insurgency affected Northeastern states. 

Central Armed Police Forces

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to the common nomenclature of seven security forces. It is under administrative control of the home ministry. 

The CAPF consists of:

1) Border Security Force (BSF)

2) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

3) Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

4) Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

5) Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

6) Assam Rifles (AR) 

7) National Security Guard (NSG).

• Out of these, AR, BSF, ITBP and SSB are the ‘Border Guarding Forces’ while CRPF is deployed to assist the civil administration under the state governments/UT administrations in matters relating to maintenance of Public Order, internal security and counter insurgency. 

• The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) are specialised wings of the CRPF to deal with the riots and Left Wing Extremism / insurgency. 

• CISF provides protection to vital installations of national/strategic importance. 

• The National Security Guard (NSG) is a specialised strike force trained in the counter terrorism and anti-hijacking operations. It is also entrusted with the task of securing the high risk VIPs and acts as sky marshal for securing the domestic and international flights. 

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