Central Armed Police Forces

The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are Union security forces responsible for functions such as border guarding, internal security and specialised protection. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) groups seven forces under this heading, including Assam Rifles and the National Security Guard.

Border-guarding forces

These forces have designated border-security responsibilities, although their duties can also include internal-security operations.

• The Border Security Force (BSF) primarily guards India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) guards the India-China border.
• The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) guards India's borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
• The Assam Rifles guards the India-Myanmar border and performs counter-insurgency duties in the Northeast.

Internal and specialised security forces

The remaining forces perform distinct internal-security, installation-protection and counter-terrorism functions.

• The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assists states and Union Territories in maintaining public order and conducts counter-insurgency and anti-Naxal operations.
• The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protects designated industrial establishments and other installations, including airports.
• The National Security Guard (NSG) is a specialised counter-terrorism force tasked with operations such as counter-hijacking and hostage rescue.

Administrative and operational distinctions

Administrative placement under MHA does not make these forces interchangeable: each has a distinct mandate and deployment pattern.

• The Assam Rifles is under MHA's administrative control but the Indian Army's operational control.
• The CAPFs are distinct from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, which fall under the Ministry of Defence.