The paramilitary forces of India play a huge role in maintaining the internal and external security of the country. There are 10 paramilitary forces maintained by India and over 10 lakh personnel serve to strengthen the nation’s security.
Out of the 10 forces, eight are governed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and two are governed by the Cabinet Secretariate (CS).
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The ten paramilitary forces are Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Assam Rifles (AR), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Security Forces (BSF), National Security Guards (NSG), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Special Frontier Force (SFF), and Special Protection Group (SPG).
There is much more to know than just the names of these forces, as they hold some unique distinctions.
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Here are some interesting facts about the paramilitary forces of India that every Indian should be proud of:
1. The distinction of being the first all-Mahila battalion in the world is held by CRPF’s 88th Mahila Battalion
It has brought accolades to the nation and abroad when it was presented on 6th February 1986.
2. On 9 April 1965, when Pakistan attacked, two companies of CRPF repulsed the attack in Sardar Post at Rann of Kutch and didn’t let them penetrate the Indian territory and held the ground until the Army arrived and took over.
3. BSF is the only Central Armed Police force to have its own Marine Wing, Air Wing, and artillery regiments
It is to support the General Duty Battalions in their operations.
4. The world’s largest border-guarding force is India’s Border Security Force (BSF)
As a paramilitary force, BSF was established in 1965 in order to guard India’s land border and prevent transnational crimes. With 186 battalions and 2.57 lakh personnel, it is the world’s largest border-guarding force.
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5. The oldest paramilitary force in India is the Assam Rifles formed in 1835
Previously it was called ‘Cachar Levy’, and in 1917 it got its current name Assam Rifles. The force is responsible for guarding India’s 1,640-km long border with Myanmar.
They are also called ‘Sentinels of the North East’ as they have also been carrying out counter-insurgency operations in militancy-infested states in the Northeastern region of India.
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6. BSF also has a Tear Smoke Unit (TSU), which is only present in India
BSF manages the Tear Smoke munitions manufacturing unit in the whole country in Tekanpur, MP.
7. By commissioning the world’s first all-women paramilitary pipe band in 2012, CRPF made history.
An all-women brass band was also formed by CRPF recently.
8. The ‘Silent Drill’, which is followed only by the US Marines worldwide has been reportedly mastered by the CISF personnel.
9. Do you know? The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is the largest industrial security force in the world
It has more than 1,22,000 personnel and provides security cover to 294 units.
10. Several mountain ranges all over the world have been scaled by the soldiers of ITBP including Mount Everest
They have hoisted the Indian flag at more than 165 mountain summits all over the world and they are trained in skiing and mountaineering.
11. OP Dorjila Post, the second-highest outpost in the world at a height of 18,750 feet is guarded by the ITBP jawans
The temperatures at the can go down to -35 degrees Celsius.
12. To deploy in Naxalite areas CISF has trained a separate team of Ninja Commandos in unorthodox warfare
It is believed that even a 4-storey building is not a challenge for these commandos as they can climb in less than a minute.
