Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)

Seven paramilitary forces — BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG, and AR — constitute the CAPFs under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Each rests on statutory authority (e.g., BSF Act 1968, CRPF Act 1949) and carries mandated roles in border guarding, counter-insurgency, VIP protection, and critical infrastructure security. Command-and-control relationships with state police during internal security operations are significant. Border management is governed through the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS). A key distinction is between CAPF deployment and Indian Army operations in internal security contexts.