Various Security Forces and Agencies and Their Mandate

Which are the security forces of  India dealing with internal and external threats? What is the mandate of different security forces and their agencies? Read further to know more.

Various Security Forces and Agencies and Their Mandate is a topic in UPSC Civil Services Mains GS Paper 3. Splitting up the keywords – we get two areas to focus – (1) Various Security Forces and Agencies (2) Their Mandate – ie. the authority to carry out a policy or action.

There are external and internal threats to the security of India and different specialized forces of India deal with these threats.

The external threats are handled often by the Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defense, while internal threats are managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Security Forces

1. Indian Armed Force
2. Central Armed Police Force

Security Forces Dealing with External Threats

The defence forces (Indian Armed Force) are the primary force responsible for the security of the country, and they come under the authority of the Ministry of Defense. Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) too aid in combating external threats (they mainly manage internal security issues) but are managed by Ministry of Home Affairs.

Indian Armed Force

The defense forces are divided into four sub-heads.

1. Indian Army Personnel.
2. Indian Air Force Personnel.
3. Indian Navy Personnel.
4. Indian Coast Guard Personnel.

Security Forces Dealing with Internal Threats

There are many divisions of Central Armed Police Force, which deal with internal threats.

Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)

1. Assam Rifles (AR)
2. Border Security Force (BSF)
3. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
4. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
5. Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
6. National Security Guard (NSG)
7. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

ClearIAS.com has already covered the detailed list of Defense Forces and Paramilitary Forces of India in an earlier post. Apart from the paramilitary forces, there are intelligence and investigation agencies in India, which are handled in an earlier post.

The mandate of Various Security Forces and Agencies

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has multifarious responsibilities, important among them being internal security, management of para-military forces, border management, Centre-State relations, administration of Union Territories, disaster management, etc.

Article 355 of the Constitution enjoins the Union to protect every State against external aggression and internal disturbance and to ensure that the Government of every State is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

Additional materials related to ‘Various Security Forces and Agencies and Their Mandate’ : Download as PDF

1. India Year Book – Click the link to Buy Online.
2. Ministry of Home Affairs Annual Report.
3. India’s Security Challenges – National Bureau of Asian Research.
4. India’s Contemporary  Security Challenges – Woodrow Wilson.
5. India’s Security Challenges.
6. India’s internal and external security – KAS.
7. India’s security in the 21st century.
8. India’s security in the 21st century – Threats