New Delhi: The Modi Government 3. 0 is likely to undertake a significant overhaul in the VIP security setup in the coming months, leading to the transfer of security duties for over a dozen high-risk individuals from the National Security Guard (NSG) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to other paramilitary forces. This exercise will will cover political figures, ex-Ministers, retired bureaucrats and some others. Sources said, it has been decided to completely withdraw the 'black cat' commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) from VIP security duties.
Sources said that a meeting to this effect was convened at the Home Ministry recently where senior officials from Home Ministry, CRPF director general Anish Dayal Singh, NSG DG Nalin Prabhat and several senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) were present.
Sources privy to the development told ETV Bharat that the initiative was taken following the fact that CRPF’s PDG, which was assigned for Parliament security duty have been withdrawn after the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took over the responsibility of providing overall security in Parliament.
Once the VIP security is taken over by the CRPF, the NSG will be assigned solely with its responsibility to combat terror activities. “The PDG of the Central Armed Force is well trained and aware of the latest technology, including latest weaponries,” sources said and added “the duty of guarding VIPs and VVIPs can be taken care of by the CRPF.”
According to sources another possibility is also under consideration to have a common policy to include all other agencies assigned to provide VIP and VVIP security. As of now, NSG, CRPF, CISF and ITBP provide VIP security.
Another official in the Home Ministry told this correspondent that Home Minister Amit Shah had actually asked the officials to work on the idea of making NSG free from VIP duty. “We have our special unit for protecting VIPs and VVIPs. We will definitely take over the responsibility if we are asked to take such duty from the NSG,” a senior CRPF official said.
Let us have a look at the evolution of VIP security in India over the years, various types of VIP security and the protocol followed for the security.
EVOLUTION OF VIP SECURITY IN INDIA
In India, the idea of providing security to political leaders was born after Naxalism became a threat in the 1960s. The SPG was formed in 1985, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. The Union home ministry codified the protocols for protection in the “Blue Book” and “Yellow Book”. The names come from the colour of the covers of the books, slightly larger than pocket books, which were used to first write down the procedures.
BLUE BOOK: Security protocol for the President, Vice President , Prime Minister and family members residing with them. Lists micro and macro steps to be taken to protect them and protocols for exigencies.
YELLOW BOOK: Security categorisation and arrangemen protocols for protected individuals and responsibilities of security agencies and the state police.
The Union Home Ministry, in coordination with different intelligence agencies issues guidelines from time to time.
The SPG guards the Prime Minister and his/her immediate family. It was formed in 1985.
SPG is a force of 3,000 security personnel with a squad of highly trained dogs.
The Central Government has full authority over the SPG. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) grants security cover based on an individual's threat perception.
The SPG Act came into force on June 02, 1988 it provisions work in tandem with those in the Blue book.
After the assasination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, the act was amended to extend cover to former prime ministers and immediate family.
This provision was reversed with an amendment in 2019.
All union ministers get a minimum of Y category security and a maximum of Z+
According to a Bureau of Police Research and Development report, the levels of security coverage provided in India, in ascending order, are X, Y, , Z, Z-plus and the Special Protection Group (SPG).
The SPG also provides security for the PMO office and communciation systems, during foreign tours and also takes care of issues pertaining to the Prime Minister's health and well being.
KEY REASONS FOR THE OVERHAUL AND WHEN IT STARTED
The strategy to withdraw the National Security Guard (NSG) from VIP security duties has been under consideration since 2012. This is due to NSG commanders anticipating a scenario where simultaneous terrorist attacks could occur at various locations across the country, necessitating the rapid deployment of commandos in multiple directions.
The plan to relieve NSG from VIP security tasks has been in the making since 2012 when NSG commanders foresaw an event where simultaneous terror attacks could be witnessed at one time on multiple centres in the country and the commandos will have to be rushed in different directions.
In January, 2020 that after the removal of the SPG from the Gandhi family -- Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -- a committee of the MHA had decided to withdraw NSG from VIP security tasks.
Till date, government has provided NSG security to several personalities, including Lal Krishna Advani, former chief minister of J&K Farooq Abdullah, Gulam Nabi Azad, BSP supremo Mayawati, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Chandra Babu Naidu among others.
NSG To Concentrate On Its ‘Original Charter’: The Union government believes that the NSG should focus on its core mission of conducting counter-terrorist and counter-hijack operations, as securing high-risk VIPs has become a “burden” on its specialized and limited capabilities. Approximately 450 ‘black cat’ commandos are anticipated to be released from VIP security duties once the NSG is withdrawn.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF VIP SECURITY IN INDIA
According to a Bureau of Police Research and Development report, the levels of security coverage provided in India, in ascending order, are X, Y, , Z, Z-plus and the Special Protection Group (SPG).
X LEVEL SECURITY: This is India's fifth critical security level, and its protection cover comprises two security professionals, both of whom are armed police officers.It is offered to several people around the country by a single Personal Security Officer.
Y LEVEL SECURITY: It is India's fourth security level, and the protective cover comprises an 11-member crew, which includes 1-2 NSG commandos and police personnel.It also comes with two PSOs. Many people in India fall into this category of security.
Z LEVEL SECURITY:The protective cover comprises a 22-member crew, comprising of 4-5 NSG commandos + police personnel, and is India's third-highest degree of security.I supplied Z level protection to members of the Delhi Police, the Indo-Tibetan Police (ITBP), and the CRPF, as well as an escort car.Baba Ramdev and actor Aamir Khan have been assigned Z security.
Z+ LEVEL SECURITY: It has the second-highest level of security protection. This security coverage protects a 55-person workforce, which includes 10+ NSG commandos and police officers.
Each commando has received expert martial arts and unarmed combat training.This security protection has been offered to dignitaries such as BJP President Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Finance Minister, and others.
SPG LEVEL SECURITY: The Prime Minister of India, former Prime Ministers of India, and members of their families are afforded this degree of security everywhere on the globe, since it ensures their safety.Following the death of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the need for this level of protection became apparent.It was established in 1988 by an Act of the Indian Parliament.
The Central Government has complete control over the SPG Group. The unit's commander, known as the Director, is an IPS officer who is in charge of the unit's command and overall supervision.In their rank, about 4000 people are always reserved. It is also the most expensive security force in comparison to others because it provides maximum security cover.
ABOUT THE PERSONNEL WHO PROVIDE VIP SECURITY
According to the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), over 60,000 security personnel were deployed in India for the protection of more than 19,000 current and former ministers, MPs, MLAs, judges, bureaucrats and some other VIPs in the year 2019.
Personnel are drawn from central paramilitary forces, such as the central Reserve Police Force, and the Indo- Tibetan Border Police Force, and the National Security Guard ( Black Cats).
State Police departments make arrangements for guarding chief ministers, ministers and MLAs as per threat perception analysis done at the state level.
The CRPF and CISF VIP security wings are responsible for the safety of over 200 individuals. The CRPF’s duties include safeguarding the Union Home Minister and the Gandhi family, among others, while the CISF VIP security wing is charged with the protection of NSA Ajit Doval, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, and others.
According to Home Ministry data, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protects the maximum number of VIPs. It provides security to 144 people, of which 9 are VIPs in Z-plus category and 11 in Z category.
Data shows the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the National Security Guards (NSG) provide Z-plus and Z category security to some 70 people.
COSTS OF VIP SECURITY : "On a rough average, Z-plus costs ₹ 50 lakh and Z costs Rs 40 lakh per month," which means about Rs 1.5 lakh daily. The cost for the SPG's wide array of tasks comes to approximately Rs 1.18 crore a day. The CRPF provides security to 144 people,"There are 247 battalions in the CRPF, of which six battalions are dedicated for VIP security. They got about Rs 772 crore sanctioned for duties related to VIPs in the year 2023-24 Budget.The facility of more than 30000 vehicles is being made available in this work, on which more than 12000 crore rupees of public's hard earned money are being spent. Thousands of crores of rupees are being spent separately on these security personnel for their accommodation, food, transport, health, etc.
Read more: Over 250 More CISF Personnel To Be Deployed For Parliament Security Soon
