Central Reserve Police Force: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Indian national police force}}{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Short description|Central police force in India}}
{{About|2=militarized police unit in Sudan|3=Central Reserve Forces}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
|agencyname     = Central Reserve Police Force
| agencyname       = Central Reserve Police Force
|nativenamea    = केंद्रीय रिजर्व पुलिस बल
| commonname        = CRP force
|abbreviation   = CRPF
| abbreviation     = CRPF
|logo           = [[File:Central Reserve Police Force emblem.svg|110px|frameless|Central Reserve Police Force emblem]]
| logo             = Central Reserve Police Force emblem.svg
|flag           = [[File:Flag of Central Reserve Police Forces.png|150px|frameless|Flag of Central Reserve Police Forces]]
| flag             = Flag of Central Reserve Police Forces.png
|flagcaption    = CRPF emblem embroidered on sky-blue flag
| flagcaption      = Flag of the Central Reserve Police Force
|logocaption   = CRPF Emblem
| logocaption       = [[Emblem]] of the Central Reserve Police Force
|motto         = "सेवा और निष्ठा"|mottotranslated=Service and Loyalty
| motto             = "सेवा और निष्ठा"
|formed         = {{Unbulleted_list|{{Start date|1939|07|27|df=yes}}<br>{{small|as Crown Representative's Police}}|{{Start date and age|1949|12|28|df=yes}}}}  
| mottotranslated   = Service and Loyalty
|preceding1     = [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]
| formed           = {{Unbulleted_list|{{Start date and age|1939|07|27|df=yes}}<br />{{small|(as Crown Representative's Police)}}|{{Start date and age|1949|12|28|df=yes}}<br />{{small|(as Central Reserve Police Force)}}}}
|employees     = 313,634 Active personnel
| preceding1       =  
|budget         ={{INRConvert|26197.90|c|1}} <small>(2021-22)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Budget 2021: MHA gets ₹1,66,547 cr, majority for border forces, census ops|url=https://www.livemint.com/budget/news/budget-2021-mha-gets-1-66-547-cr-majority-for-border-forces-census-ops/amp-11612186863808.html|publisher=Mint|access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref>
| employees         = 313,678 active personnel
|country       = INDIA
| budget           = {{INRConvert|38517.93|c}} {{small|(2026–2027)}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Feb 2026 |title=DEMAND NO. 51, Demands for Grants, 2026-2027, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS |url=https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/eb/sbe51.pdf |access-date=1 Feb 2026 |website=IndiaBudget.gov.in |pages=5 |publication-place=[[New Delhi]]}}</ref>
|countryabbr    = IN
| country           = India
|governingbody = Ministry of Home Affairs (India){{!}}MHA |constitution1 = The Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949<ref>{{cite web  
| federal          =  
|title         = The Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949
| governingbody     = [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]
|url           = https://mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/crpf_act1949_0.pdf}}</ref>
| constitution1     = Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949<ref>{{cite web|title= The Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949|url=https://mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/crpf_act1949_0.pdf}}</ref>
|paramilitary  = Yes
| gendarmerie      = Yes
|headquarters   = CGO Complex, New Delhi, INDIA
| speciality1      =
|electeetype   = Minister
| speciality2      =
|minister1name = [[Amit Shah]]
| speciality3      =
|minister1pfo   = Union Minister of Home Affairs
| headquarters     = CGO Complex, New Delhi, Delhi
|chief1name     = A. P. Maheshwari, [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]
| electeetype       = Minister
|chief1position = [[Director General]], [[CRPF]]
| minister1name     = [[Amit Shah]]
|child1agency  = [[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action]] (COBRA)
| minister1pfo     = Union Minister of Home Affairs
|child2agency  = [[Rapid Action Force]] (RAF)
| chief1name       = [[Gyanendra Pratap Singh]], [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]
|child3agency   = Special Duty Group
| chief1position   = [[Director General]]
|unittype       = [[Battallion]]|lockuptype=Quarter Guard
| unitname          = {{collapsible list|[[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action]]|[[Rapid Action Force]]|[[CRPF Valley QAT|CRPF QAT]]|Special Duty Group|VIP Security Group}}
|programme1     = Operation All Out (J&K)
| child1agency      =
|activitytype   = Operation
| child2agency      =
|anniversary1   = Valour Day<br>(9 April 1965)
| child3agency     =
|website       = https://crpf.gov.in/
| child4agency      =  
|child4agency  = Parliament Duty Group
| unittype         =  
|anniversary2   = Police Commemoration Day<br>(21 October 1959)
| lockuptype       =  
|programme2     = Anti-Naxal Operations (LWE Region)
| programme1       = Operation All Out (J&K)
|image_size    = 200
| activitytype     = Operation
|dmap          = [[File:Political map of India EN.svg|thumb|Political map of India EN]]
| anniversary1     = {{Unbulleted_list|Valour Day<br>{{small|(9 April)}}<br>Police Commemoration Day<br>{{small|(21 October)}}}}
| website           = {{URL|https://crpf.gov.in/}}
| child5agency      =
| child6agency      =  
| anniversary2     =  
| programme2       = Anti-Naxal Operations (LWE Region)
}}
}}
The '''Central Reserve Police Force''' ('''CRPF''') is India's largest [[Central Armed Police Forces|Central Armed Police Force]]. It functions under the authority of the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] (MHA) of the [[Government of India]]. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter [[insurgency]]. It came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939. After [[Independence Day (India)|Indian Independence]], it became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28 December 1949.
The '''Central Reserve Police Force''' ('''CRPF''') is a [[Central Armed Police Forces|central armed police force]] in [[India]], under the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]. The CRPF assists [[States and union territories of India|states and Union Territories]] in maintaining law and order and [[internal security]]. It is composed of the Central Reserve Police Force ([[Regular army|Regular]]) and Central Reserve Police Force ([[Auxiliaries|Auxiliary]]).
 
It was established on 27 July 1939 as Crown Representative's Police with the objective of providing security to the British Crown Representatives in India. The force was later renamed as the Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament in 1949. The CRPF played a major role in the Parliamentary elections of September 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Nigam |date=2024-08-26 |title=Role Of CRPF In Election Duty, Challenges During Election Duty |url=https://www.pw.live/exams/defence/role-of-crpf-in-election-duty/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=PHYSICS WALLAH |language=en-IN}}</ref>
 
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the largest [[Central Armed Police Forces|central armed police force]] in India, comprising 247 battalions and exceeding a total strength of 301,376 personnel, as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery |url=http://crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705121356/http://crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery.html |archive-date=5 July 2017 |access-date=5 July 2017 |website=crpf.nic}}</ref> CRPF officers are also deployed in United Nations missions.
 
==History==
{{Indian Armed Forces sidebar}}
Originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, CRP was raised in response to the political unrest and agitations in the then [[Princely state|Princely States of India]] following the Madras Resolution of the All-India Congress Committee in 1936 and the ever-growing desire of the Crown Representative to help the vast majority of the native States preserve law and order as part of imperial policy.
 
After Independence, the force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament on 28 December 1949. This Act constituted CRPF as an armed force of the Union. [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]], the then Home Minister, visualised a multi-dimensional role for it in tune with the changing needs of a newly independent nation. The force played a significant role during the amalgamation of the princely States into the Indian Union. It helped the Union Government discipline the rebellious [[Junagadh State|princely State of Junagadh]] and the small principality of Kathiawar in Gujarat which had declined to join the Indian Union.
 
During the early 1950s, the performance of the CRPF detachments in enforcing [[rule of law|law and order]] in Bhuj, the then [[Patiala and East Punjab States Union]] and Chambal ravines was appreciated by all quarters.
 
On 21 October 1959, SI Karam Singh and 20 other CRPF personnel were attacked by the [[People's Liberation Army|Chinese Army]] at [[Hot Springs, Chang Chenmo Valley|Hot Springs]] in [[Ladakh]] resulting in 10 casualties. The survivors were imprisoned. Since then, 21 October has been observed as [[Martyrs' Day (India)#21 October|Police Commemoration]] day nationwide, across all states in India.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Milestones of Bravery |url=http://crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705121356/http://crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery.html |archive-date=5 July 2017 |access-date=5 July 2017 |website=crpf.nic.in}}</ref>


Besides law and order and counter-insurgency duties, the CRPF has played an increasingly large role in India's general elections. This is especially true for the state of [Jammu and Kashmir (erstwhile State), Bihar and in the [[North East India|North East]], with the presence of unrest and often violent conflict. During the Parliamentary elections of September 1999, the CRPF played a major role in the security arrangements. Of late, CRPF contingents are also being deployed in UN missions.
In the late 50s and early 60s, contingents of the CRPF were sent to Kutch, Rajasthan, and Sindh borders to check infiltration and trans-border crimes. They were, subsequently, deployed on the Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir following attacks launched by the Pakistani infiltrators.


With 246 battalions and various other establishments, the CRPF is considered India's largest paramilitary force and has a sanctioned strength of more than 300,000 personnel as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/EnglAnnualReport2016-17_17042017.pdf|title=MHA Annual Report 2016-2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808200948/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/EnglAnnualReport2016-17_17042017.pdf#|archive-date=8 August 2017}}</ref>
During the [[Sino-Indian War]] of 1962, the Force once again assisted the Indian Army in Arunachal Pradesh. Eight CRPF personnel were killed in action. In the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars also the Force fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the Indian Army, both on the Western and Eastern borders.
[[File:A Indian CRPF QRT operator.jpg|thumb|A CRPF QRT operator in full loadout]]


== Mission ==
For the first time in history, thirteen companies of CRPF were airlifted to join the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] in [[Sri Lanka]] to fight the militant cadres. Besides, CRPF personnel were also sent to Haiti, Namibia, Somalia, and Maldives to deal with the law and order situation there, as a part of the UN Peacekeeping Force.
The mission of the Central Reserve Police Force shall be to enable the government to maintain Rule of Law, Public Order and Internal Security effectively and efficiently to preserve National Integrity & Promote Social Harmony and Development by upholding supremacy of the Constitution.


In performing these tasks with utmost regard for human dignity and freedom of the citizens of India, the force shall endeavor to achieve excellence in management of internal security and national calamities by placing Service and Loyalty above self.
In the late seventies, when extremist elements disturbed the peace in Tripura and Manipur, CRPF battalions were deployed in strength. Simultaneously, there was turmoil in the Brahmaputra Valley. The CRPF had to be inducted in strength not only to maintain law and order but also to keep lines of communication free from disruption. The commitments of the Force continue to be very high in the Northeast in dealing with the insurgency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://crpf.gov.in/rec/history-crpf.htm|title=History of CRPF {{!}} About Us {{!}} Central Reserve Police Force, Government of India.|website=crpf.gov.in|access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>


==History==
==Organization==
===Administration===
The CRPF is headed by a [[director general|Director General]] and is assisted by 3 Additional Directors General, 9 Inspectors General, a Financial Advisor, and a Director (Medical). It is divided into ten administrative sectors, each headed by an inspector general. Each sector consists of one or more administrative and/or Operational Ranges, headed by an officer of the rank of deputy inspector general (DIG) of Police. Now, Group Centres are also headed by DIGs. The Financial Advisor of the CRPF has been an [[Indian Revenue Service]] officer of the rank of Joint Secretary and also has Dy Advisors from the Indian Audit and Accounts [[Indian Audit and Accounts Service]] or the Indian Telecom.


* The CRPF was derived from the CRP (Crown Representative's Police) on 27 July 1939 with 2 battalions in [[Nimach]] [Means North Indian Mounted Artillery and Cavalry Headquarter], [[Madhya Pradesh]]. Its primary duty at the time was to protect the [[British resident]]s in sensitive states of India.<ref name="Milestones of Bravery">{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery.htm|title=Milestones of Bravery|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220142551/http://www.crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery.htm|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Subdivisions===
* In 1949, the CRP was renamed under the CRPF Act. During the 1960s, many [[State Armed Police Forces|state reserve police]] battalions were merged with the CRPF. The CRPF has been active against foreign invasion and domestic insurgency.
[[File:The CRPF marching contingents passes through the Rajpath during the 66th Republic Day Parade 2015, in New Delhi on January 26, 2015.jpg|alt=|thumb|CRPF (CoBRA) personnel during the Republic Day Parade, 2015.]]
* On 21 October 1959, SI Karam Singh and 20 soldiers were attacked by the [[People's Liberation Army|Chinese Army]] at [[Hot Springs, Chang Chenmo Valley|Hot Springs]] in [[Ladakh]] resulting in 10 casualties. The survivors were imprisoned. Since then, 21 October is observed as [[Martyrs' Day (India)#21 October|Police Commemoration]] day nationwide, across all states in India.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery.htm|title=Milestones of Bravery|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705121356/http://crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery.htm|archive-date=5 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
There are 247 [[battalion]]s of approximately 1,200 each. Each battalion is commanded by a [[commanding officer]] of the rank [[Commandant]], and consists of seven CRPF companies, each containing 135 men. Each company is headed by an [[Assistant commandant|Assistant Commandant,(Company Commander).]]
* On intervening night of 8 and 9 April 1965, 3500 men of 51st Infantry Brigade of [[Pakistan]], comprising 18 Punjab Bn, 8 Frontier Rifles and 6 Baluch Bn, stealthily launched operation "Desert Hawk" against border posts in [[Rann of Kutch]]. It was to the valour of Head Constable Bhawana Ram deployed on the eastern parameter of Sardar Post whose gallant act was to a great extent instrumental in demoralising the intruders and forcing them to retreat from the post.
There are few parallels of such a battle and the then Union Home Minister very appropriately graded it as a          "Military Battle" not a Police battle. The service and their sacrifice will now not need turning back to old records for appreciation with that historic moment being picked up for celebration as "Valour Day" of the Force after Year.
{{check quotation}}
* The CRPF guarded the [[India-Pakistan Border]] until 1965, at which point the [[Border Security Force]] was created for that purpose.
* On [[2001 Indian Parliament attack]] the CRPF troopers killed all five terrorists who had entered the premises of the [[Indian Parliament]] in New Delhi.
* When 5 armed terrorists tried to storm the [[Ram Janmabhoomi|Ram Janambhoomi]] / [[Babri Masjid]] Complex in [[Ayodhya]] on 5 July 2005 and had penetrated the outer security rings, they were challenged by CRPF which formed the inner security ring. Shri Vijeto Tinyi, AC and Shri Dharambir Singh, Head Constable, who exhibited exemplary gallant were awarded with ‘Shaurya Chakra’.<ref name="Milestones of Bravery"/>
* In recent years, the [[Government of India]] has decided to follow up on recommendations of the Indian cabinet to use each security agency for its mandated purpose. As a result, the [[counter-insurgency]] operations in India have been entrusted to the CRPF.
* In 2008 a wing called [[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action]] (CoBRA) was added to the CRPF to counter the [[Naxalite]] movement.
* On 2 September 2009, 5000 CRPF soldiers were deployed for a search and rescue mission to find the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister [[Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy]] whose helicopter went missing over the Nallamalla Forest Range in Andhra Pradesh.  This was the largest search operation ever mounted in India.


The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the premier central police force of the Union of India for internal security. Originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, it is one of the oldest Central para military forces (now termed as Central Armed Police Force). CRPF was raised as a sequel to the political unrest and the agitations in the then princely States of India following the Madras Resolution of the All-India Congress Committee in 1936 and the ever-growing desire of the Crown Representative to help the vast majority of the native States to preserve law and order as a part of the imperial policy.
The Ministry of Home Affairs planned to raise 2 Group Centers, 2 Range HQs, 1 Sector HQ, and 12 new battalions including a Mahila (all-female) battalion by 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/AR(E)1516.pdf|title=MHA Annual Report 2015-16|website=[[National Informatics Centre]]|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|page=172|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625213524/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/AR(E)1516.pdf|archive-date=25 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>


After Independence, the force was renamed as Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament on 28 December 1949. This Act constituted CRPF as an armed force of the Union. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Home Minister, visualised a multi-dimensional role for it in tune with the changing needs of a newly independent nation.
The CRPF force is organised into a headquarters, three attached wings, and four zones. An attached wing is headed by an additional director general and is subdivided into branches which are headed by an inspector general. A zone is either headed by an additional director general or a special director general. A zone is subdivided into sectors where each sector is headed by an inspector general.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Organisation Structure - CRPF |url=https://crpf.gov.in/Organization-Structure |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=crpf.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Organisation Chart - CRPF |url=https://crpf.gov.in/Organization-Structure/Organization-Chart |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=crpf.gov.in}}</ref>


During the early 1950s, the performance of the CRPF detachments in Bhuj, the then Patiala and East Punjab state Union (PEPSU) and Chambal ravines was appreciated by all quarters. The force played a significant role during the amalgamation of the princely States into the Indian Union. It helped the Union Government in disciplining the rebellious princely States of Junagarh and the small principality of Kathiawar in Gujarat which had declined to join the Indian Union.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Zone
!Branch / zone in-charge
!Branch / sector
|-
| rowspan="5" |Headquarters
| rowspan="5" |Shri Sandeep Khirwar, IPS, SDG
|Establishment
|-
|Personnel
|-
|Provisioning
|-
|Works
|-
|Finance
|-
| rowspan="6" |Operations
| rowspan="6" |Shri Vitul Kumar, IPS, SDG
|Administration
|-
|CoBRA
|-
|Comms & IT
|-
|Intelligence
|-
|RAF
|-
|V.S.
|-
| rowspan="2" |Training
| rowspan="2" |Shri Deepak Kumar, IPS, SDG
|Training Institutions
|-
|ISA Mt. Abu
|-
|CRPF Academy
|Shri Deepak Kumar, IPS, SDG
|CRPF Academy
|-
| rowspan="4" |North-East
 
(Spl. DG-GTY)
| rowspan="4" |Shri Raja Srivastava, IPS, SDG
|Jorhat
|-
|Manipur and Nagaland
|-
|Tripura
|-
|North Eastern
|-
| rowspan="3" |Southern
 
(ADG-HYD)
| rowspan="3" |Shri Ravideep Singh Sahi, CRP, ADG
|Western
|-
|Southern
|-
|Karnataka-Kerala
|-
| rowspan="8" |Central
 
(Spl. DG-KOL)
| rowspan="8" |Shri Amit Kumar, IPS, SDG
|Bihar
|-
|Central
|-
|Madhya Pradesh
|-
|Eastern
|-
|Odisha
|-
|Chhattisgarh
|-
|Jharkhand
|-
|West Bengal
|-
| rowspan="6" |Jammu & Kashmir


Soon after Independence, contingents of the CRPF were sent on Kutch, Rajasthan and Sindh borders to check infiltration and trans-border crimes. They were, subsequently, deployed on the Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir following attacks launched by the Pakistani infiltrators. The CRPF bore the brunt of the first Chinese attack on India at Hot Springs (Ladakh) on 21 October 1959. A small CRPF patrol was ambushed by the Chinese in which ten of its men made their supreme sacrifice for the country. Their martyrdom on 21 October is remembered throughout the country as the Police Commemoration Day every year.
(Spl. DG-JMU)
| rowspan="6" |Shri Rajesh Kumar, IPS, SDG
|Jammu
|-
|Northern
|-
|Rajasthan
|-
|North Western
|-
|Srinagar
|-
|Operations Kashmir
|}
Details of the composition of zones:


During the Chinese aggression of 1962, the Force once again assisted the Indian Army in Arunachal Pradesh. Eight CRPF personnel were killed in action. In 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars also the Force fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the Indian Army, both on the Western and Eastern borders.
* '''Central Zone''' - 8 sectors, 24 Ranges, 19 Group Centres, 91 administrative battalions, 98 operational battalions. 9 Composite Hospitals. 2 Central Workshops, 1 Armament Workshop, 2 Central Training Centres, 3 Recruit Training Centres, and 1 Central Institute of Advanced Training.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Zone - CRPF |url=https://crpf.gov.in/Dte/Zone/Central-Zone/About-Central-Zone |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=crpf.gov.in}}</ref>
* '''Jammu & Kashmir Zone''' - 6 sectors (including 1 Operations Sector). 80 operational battalions (including Chandigarh 1 Mahila Bn) are deployed in the area of responsibility of this Zone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=J&K Zone - CRPF |url=https://crpf.gov.in/Dte/Zone/J-&-K-Zone/About-J-&-K-Zone |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=crpf.gov.in}}</ref>
* '''Southern Zone''' - The zone has 3 sectors consisting of 07 Ranges (including one Operations range), 8 Group Centres, 7 Composite Hospitals, 1 Station Hospital, 1 Central Weapon Store, 2 Arms Work Shop, 2 Central Training College, 2 Recruit Training College, 1 Dog Breeding & Training School at Taralu, 1 Improvised Explosive Device School at [[Pune]], 1 College of Information Technology at [[Bangalore]], 1 National Institute of Jungle Craft at [[Belgaum]], 1 Training Node at [[Hyderabad]], CIAT Chittoor, 3 [[National Disaster Response Force]] Battalions, 3 Mahila Battalions at [[Nagpur]], [[Gandhinagar]] and [[Bangalore]], 38 Administrative Battalions, 19 Operational Battalions and 5 Rapid Action Force (RAF) Battalions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern Zone - CRPF |url=https://crpf.gov.in/Dte/Zone/Southern-Zone/About-Southern-Zone |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=crpf.gov.in}}</ref>
* '''North East Zone''' - The zone has 4 sectors consisting of 6 Group Centres, 60 battalions, 1 CoBRA battalion, 1 Central Institute of Advanced Training, 1 Composite Hospital (100 beds), and 2 Composite Hospitals (50 beds).<ref>{{Cite web |title=North East Zone - CRPF |url=https://crpf.gov.in/Dte/Zone/North-East-Zone/Organization-Structure |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=crpf.gov.in}}</ref>


For the first time in the history of para-military Forces in India, thirteen companies of CRPF including a detachment of women were airlifted to join the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka to fight the militant caders. Besides, CRPF personnel were also sent to Haiti, Namibia, Somalia and Maldives to deal with law and order situation there, as a part of the UN Peace Keeping Force.
==Major Subunits==
===Rapid Action Force===
{{Main|Rapid Action Force}}
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialised unit under the CRPF. It has a total strength of 15 [[battalions]] and was formed in October 1992, as a [[riot control]] force to deal with communal and related civil unrest. The battalions are numbered from 99 to 108. The RAF is a zero-response force intended to quickly respond to a crisis.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/RAFSector.htm|title=RAF Sector|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006112257/http://www.crpf.nic.in/RAFSector.htm|archive-date=6 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>


In the late seventies, when the extremist elements disturbed peace in Tripura and Manipur, CRPF battalions were deployed in strength. Simultaneously, there was a turmoil in the Brahmaputra Valley. The CRPF had to be inducted in strength not only to maintain law and order but also to keep lines of communication free from disruption. The commitments of the Force continue to be very high in the North-East in dealing with the insurgency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://crpf.gov.in/rec/history-crpf.htm|title=History of CRPF {{!}} About Us {{!}} Central Reserve Police Force, Government of India.|website=crpf.gov.in|access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref>
It was the recipient of the President's color presented by Shri [[L.K. Advani]], then Deputy Prime Minister of India, on 7 October 2003 for "its selfless service to the nation in the 11th year of coming into existence".


== Conflicts and operations ==
The smallest functional unit in the force is a 'Team' commanded by an [[inspector]], which has three components — a riot control element, a [[tear gas]] element, and a fire element. It has been organised as an independent strike unit.


=== Sri Lanka Mission ===
One team in each [[Company (military unit)|company]] of the RAF is composed of female personnel to deal more effectively with situations where the force faces women demonstrators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/about-sector-RAF.htm|title=About Sector|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702085405/http://www.crpf.nic.in/about-sector-RAF.htm|archive-date=2 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The role of the CRPF and its services rendered have extended beyond the nation's borders as well. The services rendered by the CRPF in Sri Lanka as part of IPKF, as part of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Namibia, Somalia, Haiti, Maldives and also in Bosnia speaks volumes about the ability, agility, versatility and dependability of the Force to adapt to any conflict-situation round the globe. Presently a contingent of 240 personnel of RAF are deployed in KOSOVO as UN Mission in Kosovo is to provide protection and security to the UN officials/UN civil police/ Crowd control etc. RAF coys will also assist local Police to control /mob during violent demonstration, humanitarian and to assist the activities of the ICTY.


=== Haiti Mission ===
===Special Duty Group===
It is a battalion-sized unit of the CRPF tasked with providing security for the outer cordon of the [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister's]] official residence on [[7, Lok Kalyan Marg]] and his [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|office]] in the North Block as well as during outdoor functions. It comprises around 1,000 personnel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/india/crpf-orders-enquiry-after-expired-polio-vaccines-given-to-some-infants-at-medical-camp.html| title=CRPF orders enquiry after expired polio vaccines given to some infants at medical camp|date=20 May 2020|access-date=17 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/20/crpf-orders-inquiry-in-botched-up-vaccination-drive-among-personnels-children-2145666.html| title=CRPF orders inquiry in 'botched up' vaccination drive among personnel's children|date=20 May 2020|access-date=17 May 2021}}</ref>


==== Background ====
On 20 May 2024, the Parliamentary Duty Group (PDG) of CRPF ceased to function and was merged with the VIP security wing of the force as the security of [[Parliament House, New Delhi|parliament house]] was handed over to the CISF by the government due to a security breach issue.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-05-20 |title=CISF takes over Parliament security from May 20 as CRPF exits |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/cisf-takes-over-parliament-security-from-may-20-following-as-crpf-exits/articleshow/110263017.cms |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
Haiti was under the commandment of National Council of Government in 1986 under Jean Claude Duvalier. The country went through a series of political instability moving from one military Government to other from 1986 to 1991. The country experienced 4 military coup. In 1991 military government was replaced by a young priest Jean Bertrand Aristide who took over as president after election in November 1990, he was overthrown after 7 months in Sept 1991 by General Cadres. The Priest Jean Bertrand Aristide took asylum in USA with U.S troops who prepared to enter Haiti under orders from President Bill Clinton of USA. The Wind was favourable for the return of Aristide to power by holding elections in Haiti in Oct 1994.


A contingent of 120 male personnel selected from CRPF and RAF Units was formed up, trained and equipped for duties at 103 RAF in Delhi and they were sent to Haiti on 31 March’94. This contingent, then called as Company, worked in Haiti for various duties during elections as a part of US Army contingent forming 504 Military Police Battalion (Dragon Fighters) under UN Mission in HAITI (UNMIH).
===CoBRA===
{{Main|Commando Battalion for Resolute Action}}
Commando Battalion for Resolute Action<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/cobra-sector.htm|title=CoBRA Sector|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705110718/http://www.crpf.nic.in/cobra-sector.htm|archive-date=5 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> (CoBRA) is the special operation unit of CRPF created in 2008 to deal the [[Naxalite insurgency]] in India. This specialised CRPF unit is one of the few units of the ''[[Central Armed Police Forces]]'' in the country that is specifically trained in guerilla warfare. This elite fighting unit has been trained to track, hunt, and eliminate small Naxalite groups. There are currently 10 battalion-sized COBRA units.


====Duties performed====
10 CoBRA units raised between 2008 and 2011 have been trained, equipped, and deployed in all LWE/ Insurgent affected areas of the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, as well as Assam & Meghalaya is one of the best Central Armed Police in the country trained to survive, fight and win in the jungle.
The duties performed by the contingent included mobile patrolling, saturation patrolling, manning and guarding of Police Stations and the National Prison, combined mounted/dismounted patrols, Prison monitor teams and security escorts. They also trained the prisoners. All such duties were conducted as a special arrangement for peaceful conduct of Presidential elections in Haiti.


Shri R.S.H.S Sahota then Commandant, was the Contingent Commander. In recognition of the contingent's excellent performance in Haiti, the contingent was awarded on U.S. Army Commendation Medal, 5 US Army Achievement Medals, 80 appreciation coins and UN Medal to all 120 personnel. After successful completion of the assigned task, this contingent was de-inducted from Haiti during November 1995.
CoBRA was awarded four [[Shaurya Chakra]]s, one [[Kirti Chakra]], one [[President's Police Medal|PPMG]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/about-sector-cobra-sector.htm|title=About Sector {{!}} CoBRA Sector {{!}} Central Reserve Police Force, Government of India|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219050329/http://crpf.nic.in/about-sector-cobra-sector.htm|archive-date=19 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 117 PMGs, and 1267 DG commendations.


=== Liberia Mission ===
==Personnel==
On a special request from United Nations and direction of Govt. of India/Ministry of Home Affairs, a fully formed Female Police Unit (FFPU) was formed up with Mahila CRPF personnel which was further deployed in Liberia during Feb 2007, as part of an UN peacekeeping force in the strife-torn African nation.
===Rank structure===
{{Main|List of police ranks in India|Indian Police Service}}
The organization is structured mainly on three rank categories which include Gazetted Officers (GOs), [[Subordinate officer|Subordinate Officers]] (SOs), and Non-Gazetted Officers (NGOs). The [[Assistant commandant|Assistant Commandants]] are Group 'A' Gazetted officers, directly appointed upon clearing an exam conducted by the UPSC which is held yearly.


Out of the 23 nations deployed there, only India has the privilege of having an exclusive women's team there, and it was the first exclusive female team of police which was pressed into action in any UN peacekeeping force.
; Officers
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/India (CRPF)}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=1| '''Police equivalent'''
| colspan=4|
| style="vertical-align:top;" colspan=2 rowspan=1 |
{| style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"
| Director General {{Small|([[Director general of police|DGP]])}}
| Director General {{Small|(DG)}}
| Additional<br />Director General {{Small|([[Additional director general of police|ADGP]])}}
|}
| colspan=2| Inspector General  {{Small|([[Inspector General of Police|IGP]])}}
| colspan=2| Deputy Inspector General {{Small|([[Deputy inspector general of police#India|DIG]])}}
| colspan=2| Senior Superintendent {{Small|([[Superintendent of Police (India)|SSP]])}}
| colspan=2| Superintendent {{Small|([[Superintendent of Police (India)|SP]])}}
| colspan=2| Additional Superintendent {{Small|([[Additional Superintendent of Police|Addl.SP]])}}
| colspan=2| Deputy Superintendent {{Small|([[Deputy Superintendent of Police#India|DSP]]/[[Assistant superintendent#India|ASP]])}}
| colspan=6| ''No equivalent''
|- style="text-align:center;"
| rowspan=1| '''Army equivalent'''
| colspan=4|
| colspan=2| Lieutenant general
| colspan=2| Major general
| colspan=2| Brigadier
| colspan=2| Colonel
| colspan=2| Lieutenant colonel
| colspan=2| Major
| colspan=2| Captain
| colspan=6| Lieutenant
|}


This deployment is still on as part of the UN mission however is now supplemented by a male Contingent also. Tenure of each contingent is for one year. At present, 8th Batch of Female contingents and 5th Batch of Male contingents have been deployed in Liberia.
; Other ranks
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|- style="background:#ccc;"
{{Ranks and Insignia of Indian forces/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/India (CRPF)}}
|}


===Current role and strength===
Being a central Indian police agency and having a high presence of [[Indian Police Service]] officers, CRPF follows ranks and insignia similar to other police organizations in India.
As of 2010, the CRPF is the largest paramilitary organisation of the country and is actively looking after the internal security of every part of India and were operating abroad as part of [[Indian Peace Keeping Force|IPKF]] and the [[United Nations peacekeeping]] missions. It is performing a variety of duties ranging from VIP security to election duties, from guarding of vital installations to the counter-naxal operations.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:CRPF Daredevils.jpg|alt=|thumb|308x308px|CRPF Daredevils Team performing during Republic Day 2020 at Rajpath, New Delhi.]] -->


== List of Chiefs of CRPF ==
=== List of Directors General ===
V. G. Kanetkar was the first Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force, serving from 3 August 1968 to 15 September 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/former-dg.htm|title=Former DG|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220040527/http://www.crpf.nic.in/former-dg.htm|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current Director General is [[Anand Prakash Maheshwari|Dr. A.P. Maheshwari]], in office since 13 January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/former-dg.htm|title=Former DG|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630193831/http://www.crpf.nic.in/former-dg.htm|archive-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
V. G. Kanetkar was the first director general of the Central Reserve Police Force, serving from 3 August 1968 to 15 September 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/former-dg.htm|title=Former DG|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220040527/http://www.crpf.nic.in/former-dg.htm|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current director general is Gyanendra Pratap Singh in office since 20 January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=gp singh - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=gp+singh&tbm=nws&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWtG_mNb-HwafvV8cKK_h1a0WYAF4mXQP8CuyQXqW6TNwFzFqSIycQx-vLTqHkOqpNMC7CWQcbQhu833ia223_4OZxCe8DIWHtrZv8OB6kVknMhX-H5fRBkE0Z9esTvAjbiZQMSoLsxx6sBNyQor4IAvaNglm6nxrD9_hiEh2j1nXqioq63P-pykXdtKxLiW1Ipl-8mg |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=www.google.com}}</ref>  
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Sr No.
!Sr No.
Line 118: Line 271:
|-
|-
|1
|1
| V G Kanetkar
| V. G. Kanetkar
|3 August 1968
|3 August 1968
|15 September 1969
|15 September 1969
Line 128: Line 281:
|-
|-
|3
|3
| B B Mishra
| B. B. Mishra
|1 March 1973
|1 March 1973
|30 September 1974
|30 September 1974
|-
|-
|4
|4
| N S Saxena
| N. S. Saxena
|30 September 1974
|30 September 1974
|31 May 1977
|31 May 1977
|-
|-
|5
|5
| S M Ghosh
| S. M. Ghosh
|1 June 1977
|1 June 1977
|31 July 1978
|31 July 1978
|-
|-
|6
|6
| R C Gopal
| R. C. Gopal
|31 July 1978
|31 July 1978
|10 August 1979
|10 August 1979
|-
|-
|7
|7
| P R Rajgopal
| P. R. Rajagopal
|10 August 1979
|10 August 1979
|30 March 1980
|30 March 1980
Line 158: Line 311:
|-
|-
|9
|9
| R N Sheopory
| R. N. Sheopory
|3 September 1980
|3 September 1980
|31 December 1981
|31 December 1981
|-
|-
|10
|10
| S D Chowdhury
| S. D. Chowdhury
|27 January 1982
|27 January 1982
|30 April 1983
|30 April 1983
Line 173: Line 326:
|-
|-
|12
|12
| J F Ribeiro
| J. F. Ribeiro
|4 June 1985
|4 June 1985
|8 July 1985
|8 July 1985
|-
|-
|13
|13
| T G L Iyer
| T. G. L. Iyer
|July 1985
|July 1985
|Nov 1985
|Nov 1985
|-
|-
|14
|14
| S D Pandey
| S. D. Pandey
|1 November 1985
|1 November 1985
|31 March 1988
|31 March 1988
|-
|-
|15
|15
| P G Harlarnkar
|[[P. G. Harlankar]]
|1 April 1988
|1 April 1988
|30 September 1990
|30 September 1990
|-
|-
|16
|16
| [[Kanwar Pal Singh Gill|K P S Gill]]
| [[Kanwar Pal Singh Gill]]
|19 December 1990
|19 December 1990
|8 November 1991
|8 November 1991
|-
|-
|17
|17
| S Subramanian
| S. Subramanian
|9 November 1991
|9 November 1991
|31 January 1992
|31 January 1992
|-
|-
|18
|18
| D P N Singh
| D. P. N. Singh
|1 February 1992
|1 February 1992
|30 November 1993
|30 November 1993
|-
|-
|19
|19
| S V M Tripathi
| S. V. M. Tripathi
|1 December 1993
|1 December 1993
|30 June 1996
|30 June 1996
|-
|-
|20
|20
| M B Kaushal
| M. B. Kaushal
|1 October 1996
|1 October 1996
|12 November 1997
|12 November 1997
|-
|-
|21
|21
| M N Sabharwal
| M. N. Sabharwal
|2 December 1997
|2 December 1997
|31 July 2000
|31 July 2000
Line 228: Line 381:
|-
|-
|23
|23
| S C Chaube
| S. C. Chaube
|31 December 2002
|31 December 2002
|31 January 2004
|31 January 2004
|-
|-
|24
|24
| [[J. K. Sinha|J K Sinha]]
| [[J. K. Sinha]]
|31 January 2004
|31 January 2004
|28 February 2007
|28 February 2007
|-
|-
|25
|25
| S I S Ahmed
| S. I. S. Ahmed
|1 March 2007
|1 March 2007
|31 March 2008
|31 March 2008
|-
|-
|26
|26
| V K Joshi
| V. K. Joshi
|31 March 2008
|31 March 2008
|28 February 2009
|28 February 2009
|-
|-
|27
|27
| A S Gill
| A. S. Gill
|28 February 2009
|28 February 2009
|31 January 2010
|31 January 2010
Line 258: Line 411:
|-
|-
|29
|29
| [[K. Vijay Kumar|K Vijay Kumar]]
| [[K. Vijay Kumar]]
|7 October 2010
|7 October 2010
|30 September 2012
|30 September 2012
Line 288: Line 441:
|-
|-
| 35
| 35
| [[Anand Prakash Maheshwari|Dr. A. P. Maheshwari]]
| [[Anand Prakash Maheshwari|Dr. Anand Prakash Maheshwari]]
| 13 January 2020
| 13 January 2020
| Incumbent
| 28 February 2021
|}
 
==Organizational structure==
[[File:The CRPF marching contingents passes through the Rajpath during the 66th Republic Day Parade 2015, in New Delhi on January 26, 2015.jpg|alt=|thumb|CRPF(CoBRA) personnel during the Republic Day Parade|377x377px]]
The CRPF is headed by a [[Director general]] who is an [[Indian Police Service]] officer and is divided into ten administrative sectors, each headed by an Inspector General. Each Sector consists of one or more administrative and/or Operational Ranges, headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police. Now, Group Centres are also headed by DIGs. The Financial Advisor of the CRPF has been an [[Indian Revenue Service]] officer of the rank of Joint Secretary and also has Dy Advisors from the Indian Audit and Accounts Service or the Indian Telecom. Service and Indian Civil Account Service.
 
There are 243 [[battalion]]s, (including 204 executive Bns, 6 Mahila Bns, 15 RAF Bns, 10 CoBRA Bns, 5 Signal Bns and 1 Special Duty Group, 1 Parliament Duty Group),<ref>{{cite web |title=Central Reserve Police Force, government of india |url=https://crpf.gov.in/ |website=crpf.gov.in}}</ref> of approximately 1200 constables each. Each battalion is commanded by a [[commanding officer]] of the rank [[Commandant]], and consists of seven CRPF companies, each containing 135 men. Each company is headed by an [[Assistant commandant|Assistant Commandant.]]
 
The Ministry of Home Affairs plans to raise 2 Group Centers, 2 Range HQ's, 1 Sector HQ and 12 new battalions including a Mahila (all female) battalion by 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/AR(E)1516.pdf|title=MHA Annual Report 2015-16|website=[[National Informatics Centre]]|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|page=172|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625213524/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/AR(E)1516.pdf|archive-date=25 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The organization is structured  mainly on three rank categories which includes [[Gazetted Officer (India)|Gazetted Officers(GOs)]], [[Subordinate officer|Subordinate Officers]](SOs) and Non-Gazetted Officers(NGOs).
 
The [[Assistant commandant|Assistant Commandants]] are Group 'A' [[Gazetted Officer (India)|Gazetted officers]], directly appointed upon clearing an exam conducted by the UPSC which is held yearly.
 
The CRPF force is organized into a Headquarters three attached wings and fours zones. A zone is either headed by an additional director general or a special director general. A zone is sub-divided into sectors where each sector is headed by an inspector general.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/organization-chart.htm|title=Organization Chart|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=20 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612170239/http://crpf.nic.in/organization-chart.htm|archive-date=12 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Zone
!Officer
!Sector
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |Directorate General
| 36
| rowspan="2" |DG [[Anand Prakash Maheshwari|Dr. A. P. Maheshwari]], IPS<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/index.htm|title=Home {{!}} Central Reserve Police Force, government of india|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=20 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619032321/http://crpf.nic.in/index.htm|archive-date=19 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Kuldeep Singh
|Rapid Action Force
| 16 March 2021
| 30 September 2022
|-
|-
|Communications
|37
|
| Dr. Sujoy Lal Thaosen
|1 October 2022
|31 December 2023
|-
|-
| rowspan="4" |North-East
|38
(Spl. DG-GTY)
| [[Anish Dayal Singh]]
| rowspan="4" |SDG Shri Arun Kumar Sharma, IPS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crpf.gov.in/north-east-zone.htm|title=North-East Zone {{!}} CRPF|website=crpf.gov.in|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref>
|1 January 2024
|Jorhat
|31 December 2024
|-
|Manipur and Nagaland
|-
|Tripura
|-
|North Eastern
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |Southern
(ADG-HYD)
| rowspan="3" |ADG Shri Sanjay Arora, IPS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crpf.gov.in/southern-zone.htm|title=Southern Zone {{!}} CRPF|website=crpf.gov.in|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref>
|Western
|
|-
|Southern
|-
|Karnataka-Kerala
|-
| rowspan="9" |Central
(Spl. DG-KOL)
| rowspan="9" |SDG Shri Kuldiep Singh, IPS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crpf.gov.in/central-zone.htm|title=Central Zone {{!}} CRPF|website=crpf.gov.in|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref>
|Bihar
|-
|Central
|-
|Madhya Pradesh
|-
|Eastern
|-
|Odisha
|-
|Chhattisgarh
|-
|Jharkhand
|-
|West Bengal
|-
 
|-
| rowspan="6" |Jammu & Kashmir
(Spl. DG-JMU)
| rowspan="6" |SDG Shri V.S.K. Kaumudi, IPS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crpf.gov.in/jk-zone.htm|title=J & K Zone {{!}} CRPF|website=crpf.gov.in|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref>
|Jammu
|-
|Northern
|
|-
|Rajasthan
|
|-
|North Western
|-
|Srinagar
|-
|Operations Kashmir
|
|-
|CRPF Academy
|ADG Shri P. K. Chaudhary<ref name="Organisation Structure">{{Cite web|url=https://crpf.gov.in/organization-chart.htm#|title=Organisation Structure}}</ref>
|CRPF Academy
|-
|Operations & HQ
|ADG Sanjay Arora, IPS<ref name="Organisation Structure"/>
|Operations
Intelligence
 
COBRA
 
RAF
 
Comms & IT
 
Medical
|
<ref name=":3" />
|-
|Works
|SDG Jawed Akhtar
|Personnel
Provisioning
 
Administration
 
Establishment
 
F.A.
 
|
|
|-
|Training
|SDG Shri Sachchidanand Shrivastava, IPS<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://crpf.gov.in/organization-chart.htm#|title=Organisational Structure}}</ref>
|Training
ISA Mt.Abu
|
|}
 
==Designation Structure Gazetted, Group A Officer==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! CRPF DESIGNATIONS !! POLICE RANKS
!ARMY                         
|-
|  Director General (Apex Scale of the Indian Police Service) ||Director General of a State Police Force
|Lieutinent General(Commander's Scale)
|-
|  Special Director General (HAG+ Scale of the Indian Police Service) ||Special Director General
|No Equivalence
|-
|  Additional Director General (HAG Scale of the Indian Police Service) ||C.P, ADG
|Lieutenent General(HAG)
|-
|  Inspector General (IG) || IG / Joint CP
|Major General
|-
|  Deputy Inspector General (DIG) || DIG / Additional CP
|Brigadier
|-
|  Commandant (CO) || SSP / DCP
|Colonel
|-
| Second in Command (2IC) || SP / DCP
|Lieutenent Colonel
|-
|  Deputy Commandant (DC) || SP / Addl. DCP (Delhi) or DCP (Maharashtra)
|Major
|-
| Assistant Commandant (AC) || DSP / ACP
|Captain
|-
|Assistant Commandant/Officer Trainee(AC/OT)
|DSP(Probationer)
|Lieutenent
|-
|-
|39
|[[Gyanendra Pratap Singh]]
|20 January 2025
|''Incumbent''
|}
|}
{{Main|List of police ranks in India|Indian Police Service}}
Being a central Indian police agency and having high presence of [[Indian Police Service]] officers, CRPF follows ranks and insignia similar to other police organisations in India.
<nowiki>*</nowiki><small>There is no equivalence between the ranks of the defense forces and the police forces since there is no government established relativity in terms of rank.</small>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:CRPF Daredevils.jpg|alt=|thumb|308x308px|CRPF Daredevils Team performing during Republic Day 2020 at Rajpath, New Delhi.]] -->
==The Rapid Action Force==
The [[Rapid Action Force]] (RAF) is a specialised 15 [[battalion]] wing of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force. It was formed in October 1992, to deal with communal riots and related civil unrest. The battalions are numbered from 99 to 108.5 more battalion also added in year 2017 by converting GD battalion into RAF battalion. The RAF is a zero-response force intended to quickly respond to a crisis situation.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/RAFSector.htm|title=RAF Sector|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006112257/http://www.crpf.nic.in/RAFSector.htm|archive-date=6 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
This force also has the distinction of having a unique flag signifying peace. The force was the recipient of the President's colour presented by SH [[L. K. Advani|L.K. Advani]], then Deputy Prime Minister of India, on 7 October 2003 for "its selfless service to the nation in the 11th year of coming into existence".
The smallest functional unit in the force is a 'Team' commanded by an [[inspector]], has three components namely a riot control element, a [[Tear smoke gas|tear smoke]] element and a fire element. It has been organised as an independent strike unit.
One team in each [[Company (military unit)|company]] of the RAF is composed of female personnel so as to deal more effectively with situation where the force faces women demonstrators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/about-sector-RAF.htm|title=About Sector|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702085405/http://www.crpf.nic.in/about-sector-RAF.htm|archive-date=2 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Parliament Duty Group==
The '''Parliament Duty Group''' is an elite CRPF unit tasked with providing armed protection to [[Sansad Bhavan|Parliament House]].<ref name="crpf">{{cite news|title=CRPF for Parliament security|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120510/jsp/nation/story_15473003.jsp|access-date=13 August 2012 | location=Calcutta, India|work=The Telegraph|date=10 May 2012}}</ref> It comprises 1,540 personnel drawn from various units of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). PDG members are trained in combating nuclear and bio-chemical attacks, rescue operations and behavioural management.
The Parliament House complex is protected by teams from the Delhi police, CRPF, [[ITBP]] and personnel of the Parliament Security Service. [[Parliament Security Services|The Parliament Security Service]] acts as the overall coordinating agency in close cooperation with various security agencies such as the [[Delhi Police]], [[CRPF]], [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|IB]], [[Special Protection Group|SPG]] and [[National Security Guard|NSG]].
PDG personnel are armed with [[Glock]] Pistols, [[MP5]] Submachine Gun, [[INSAS]] sniper rifles with telescope and hand-held thermal imagers.<ref name="crpf" />
==Weapons==
CRPF uses basic [[Infantry]] weapons which are manufactured indigenously at the [[Indian Ordnance Factories]] under control of the [[Ordnance Factories Board]]:
# [[Pistol Auto 9mm 1A]] and [[Glock 17]] 9&nbsp;mm pistols
# [[Heckler & Koch]] [[MP5]] replacing the Carbine 1A 9&nbsp;mm sub-machine guns
# [[INSAS]] 5.56&nbsp;mm assault rifles
# [[INSAS]] 5.56&nbsp;mm light machine guns replacing the Bren L4 machine guns
[[File:COBRA COMMANDO.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action|CRPF COBRA]] trooper]]
# [[AGS-30]] Plamya 30&nbsp;mm automatic grenade launcher
# [[AKM]] for counter-insurgency
# [[Tavor TAR-21]]
# [[Micro Tavor]] (X95) [[Bullpup]].
# [[FN MAG]]
# OFB 51mm Mortar
# OFB 81mm Mortar
# [[Bofors Carl Gustaf|Carl Gustav]] 84&nbsp;mm recoilless rifles
# [[Modern Sub Machine Carbine|MSMC]] 5.56 minsas
In addition to these, CRPF also uses land mine detectors.
==Women in the CRPF==
CRPF is the only Para Military Force in the Country which has three Mahila (Ladies) Battalions. After its training in March 1987, 88(M) Bn won laurels for its work assisting the [[1987 Meerut communal riots|Meerut riots]] and later with the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force|IPKF]] in Sri Lanka. Personnel of second Mahila battalion (135 Bn) performed creditably during the [[Lok Sabha]] elections 1996 in many states.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/mahila-battalions.htm|title=Mahila Battalions|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630195935/http://www.crpf.nic.in/mahila-battalions.htm|archive-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
At present mahila personnel are deployed in active duty in Jammu & Kashmir, Ayodhya, Manipur, Assam and other parts of the country where they are doing commendable job. In addition each [[Rapid Action Force|RAF]] battalion has a Mahila (Ladies) component consisting of 96 personnel.
With increasing participation of women in politics, agitation and crime, policemen have been feeling handicapped in handling women agitations especially because even a small, real or alleged misdemeanour on their part in dealing with any matter related to women has the potential of turning into a serious law & order problem. To cope with such eventualities the first Mahila Bn in CRPF, the 88(M) Bn was created in 1986 with HQR in Delhi.
The successful experiment of the 88 (Mahila) Bn and the ever-increasing requirement of a Mahila component in dealing with emerging law and order situation as well as the Government emphasis to empower the women Department had taken of raising the second and third Mahila Bn i.e. the 135 (M) Bn with HQR at Gandhinagar (Gujarat) in 1995 and the 213 Bn with HQR at Nagpur (Maharastra) in 2011.<ref name=":1" />
==CoBRA==
In 2008 a wing called [[Commando Battalion for Resolute Action]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/cobra-sector.htm|title=CoBRA Sector|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705110718/http://www.crpf.nic.in/cobra-sector.htm|archive-date=5 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> (CoBRA) was added to the CRPF to counter the [[Naxalite]] movement in India. This specialised CRPF unit is one of the few units of the ''[[Central Armed Police Forces]]'' in the country who are specifically trained in guerilla warfare. This elite fighting unit has been trained to track, hunt and eliminate small Naxalite groups. There are currently 10 COBRA units.
10 CoBRA units raised between 2008 and 2011 have been trained, equipped and deployed in all LWE/ Insurgent affected areas of the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, as well as Assam & Meghalaya is one of the best Central Armed Police in the country trained to survive, fight and win in the jungle. CoBRA is unquestionably/undoubtedly the best CAP in the country.
CoBRA was awarded 04 [[Shaurya Chakra]]s, 01 [[Kirti Chakra]], 01 [[President's Police Medal|PPMG]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://crpf.nic.in/about-sector-cobra-sector.htm|title=About Sector {{!}} CoBRA Sector {{!}} Central Reserve Police Force, Government of India|website=crpf.nic.in|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219050329/http://crpf.nic.in/about-sector-cobra-sector.htm|archive-date=19 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 117 PMG, and 1267 DG Commendation disc and 31 personnel's were Killed in action during operations.


==Awards==
==Awards==
[[File:Medallist2018.jpg|thumb|246x246px|'''List of Gallantry-Medals/Awards as on 14 September 2018''']]
[[File:Medallist2018.jpg|thumb|246x246px|'''List of Gallantry-Medals/Awards as on 14 September 2018''']]
Members of the CRPF has been awarded 1586 medals.<ref name=":2"/>
Members of the CRPF have been awarded 2468 medals.<ref name=":2"/>


{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
Line 537: Line 489:
|04
|04
|[[Kirti Chakra]]
|[[Kirti Chakra]]
|01
|10
|-
|-
|05
|05
Line 549: Line 501:
|07
|07
|[[Shaurya Chakra]]  
|[[Shaurya Chakra]]  
|14
|39
|-
|-
|08
|08
Line 557: Line 509:
|09
|09
|[[President's Police Medal]] for Gallantry
|[[President's Police Medal]] for Gallantry
|192
|202
|-
|-
|10
|10
Line 573: Line 525:
|12
|12
|[[Police Medal (India)|Police Medal for Gallantry]]
|[[Police Medal (India)|Police Medal for Gallantry]]
|1205
|2027
|-
|-
|13
|13
Line 581: Line 533:
|14
|14
|[[Jeevan Raksha Padak]]
|[[Jeevan Raksha Padak]]
|03
|04
|-
|-
|15
|15
|Prime Minister's Police Medal for Life Saving
|Prime Minister's Police Medal for Life Saving
|100
|114
|-
|-
|'''TOTAL'''
|'''Total'''
|
|
|'''1586'''
|'''2468'''
|}
|}
CRPF bagged the highest number of gallantry medals amongst all paramilitary forces. The force was awarded 30 gallantry medals on Republic Day 2022.


== In popular culture ==
== In popular culture ==
The acronym CRPF has been expanded as "''Chalte Raho Pyare Force''" ({{Translation|Keep moving my friend force|Keep Moving, Beloved Force}}) since they are constantly on the move from one troubled place in India to another.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Halarnkar|first=Samar|date=2010-04-07|title=No time for war|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/no-time-for-war/story-OaNnRr8MrCKi2LkOiyIorN.html|access-date=2020-07-09|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Raza|first=M. Maroof|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zn65l2PdfYIC&q=chalte+raho+pyare+force&pg=PA94|title=Confronting Terrorism|date=2009|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-670-08369-5|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Joshi|first=Manoj|date=10 January 2017|title=BSF Jawan's Video Has a Simple Message: India Should be Ready to Pay for Security|url=https://thewire.in/security/bsf-army-jawan|access-date=2020-07-09|website=The Wire}}</ref>  
The acronym CRPF has been expanded as "Chalte Raho Pyare Force" ({{lit|Keep moving my friend force|Keep Moving, Beloved Force}}) since they are constantly on the move from one troubled place in India to another.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Halarnkar|first=Samar|date=2010-04-07|title=No time for war|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/no-time-for-war/story-OaNnRr8MrCKi2LkOiyIorN.html|access-date=2020-07-09|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Raza|first=M. Maroof|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zn65l2PdfYIC&q=chalte+raho+pyare+force&pg=PA94|title=Confronting Terrorism|date=2009|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-670-08369-5|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Joshi|first=Manoj|date=10 January 2017|title=BSF Jawan's Video Has a Simple Message: India Should be Ready to Pay for Security|url=https://thewire.in/security/bsf-army-jawan|access-date=2020-07-09|website=The Wire}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 606: Line 560:
* [[Operation Green Hunt]]
* [[Operation Green Hunt]]
* [[Indian Coast Guard]]
* [[Indian Coast Guard]]
* [[Central Reserve Police Force Sporting Club|Central Reserve Police Force SC]]
* [[Internal Security Academy]]
* [[People's Armed Police]]
* [[National Guard of Russia|Russian National Guard]]


==References==
==References==
Line 614: Line 572:
* {{Official website|www.crpf.gov.in}}
* {{Official website|www.crpf.gov.in}}


{{Law enforcement in India}}
{{Home Ministry (India)}}
{{Law enforcement agencies of India}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Organizations established in 1939]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1939]]
[[Category:Federal law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:Federal law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:Units of the Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
[[Category:Units of the Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
[[Category:Central Armed Police Forces of India]]
[[Category:Central Armed Police Forces of India]]
[[Category:1939 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1939 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:India in World War II]]
[[Category:India in World War II]]
[[Category:Specialist law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:Specialist law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir]]

Latest revision as of 13:20, 7 March 2026


For militarized police unit in Sudan, see Central Reserve Forces.

Central Reserve Police Force
Emblem of the Central Reserve Police Force
Emblem of the Central Reserve Police Force
Flag of the Central Reserve Police Force
Flag of the Central Reserve Police Force
Common nameCRP force
AbbreviationCRPF
Motto"सेवा और निष्ठा"
Service and Loyalty
Agency overview
Formed
  • 27 July 1939; 87 years ago (1939-07-27)
    (as Crown Representative's Police)
  • 28 December 1949; 76 years ago (1949-12-28)
    (as Central Reserve Police Force)
Employees313,678 active personnel
Annual budget₹38,517.93 crore (US$5.4 billion) (2026–2027)[1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionIndia
Governing bodyMinistry of Home Affairs
Constituting instrument
  • Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949[2]
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersCGO Complex, New Delhi, Delhi
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Units
Notables
Programmes
  • Operation All Out (J&K)
  • Anti-Naxal Operations (LWE Region)
Anniversary
    • Valour Day
      (9 April)
      Police Commemoration Day
      (21 October)
Website
crpf.gov.in

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is a central armed police force in India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The CRPF assists states and Union Territories in maintaining law and order and internal security. It is composed of the Central Reserve Police Force (Regular) and Central Reserve Police Force (Auxiliary).

It was established on 27 July 1939 as Crown Representative's Police with the objective of providing security to the British Crown Representatives in India. The force was later renamed as the Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament in 1949. The CRPF played a major role in the Parliamentary elections of September 1999.[3]

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the largest central armed police force in India, comprising 247 battalions and exceeding a total strength of 301,376 personnel, as of 2019.[4] CRPF officers are also deployed in United Nations missions.

History[edit | edit source]

Template:Indian Armed Forces sidebar Originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, CRP was raised in response to the political unrest and agitations in the then Princely States of India following the Madras Resolution of the All-India Congress Committee in 1936 and the ever-growing desire of the Crown Representative to help the vast majority of the native States preserve law and order as part of imperial policy.

After Independence, the force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament on 28 December 1949. This Act constituted CRPF as an armed force of the Union. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Home Minister, visualised a multi-dimensional role for it in tune with the changing needs of a newly independent nation. The force played a significant role during the amalgamation of the princely States into the Indian Union. It helped the Union Government discipline the rebellious princely State of Junagadh and the small principality of Kathiawar in Gujarat which had declined to join the Indian Union.

During the early 1950s, the performance of the CRPF detachments in enforcing law and order in Bhuj, the then Patiala and East Punjab States Union and Chambal ravines was appreciated by all quarters.

On 21 October 1959, SI Karam Singh and 20 other CRPF personnel were attacked by the Chinese Army at Hot Springs in Ladakh resulting in 10 casualties. The survivors were imprisoned. Since then, 21 October has been observed as Police Commemoration day nationwide, across all states in India.[5]

In the late 50s and early 60s, contingents of the CRPF were sent to Kutch, Rajasthan, and Sindh borders to check infiltration and trans-border crimes. They were, subsequently, deployed on the Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir following attacks launched by the Pakistani infiltrators.

During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Force once again assisted the Indian Army in Arunachal Pradesh. Eight CRPF personnel were killed in action. In the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars also the Force fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the Indian Army, both on the Western and Eastern borders.

For the first time in history, thirteen companies of CRPF were airlifted to join the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka to fight the militant cadres. Besides, CRPF personnel were also sent to Haiti, Namibia, Somalia, and Maldives to deal with the law and order situation there, as a part of the UN Peacekeeping Force.

In the late seventies, when extremist elements disturbed the peace in Tripura and Manipur, CRPF battalions were deployed in strength. Simultaneously, there was turmoil in the Brahmaputra Valley. The CRPF had to be inducted in strength not only to maintain law and order but also to keep lines of communication free from disruption. The commitments of the Force continue to be very high in the Northeast in dealing with the insurgency.[6]

Organization[edit | edit source]

Administration[edit | edit source]

The CRPF is headed by a Director General and is assisted by 3 Additional Directors General, 9 Inspectors General, a Financial Advisor, and a Director (Medical). It is divided into ten administrative sectors, each headed by an inspector general. Each sector consists of one or more administrative and/or Operational Ranges, headed by an officer of the rank of deputy inspector general (DIG) of Police. Now, Group Centres are also headed by DIGs. The Financial Advisor of the CRPF has been an Indian Revenue Service officer of the rank of Joint Secretary and also has Dy Advisors from the Indian Audit and Accounts Indian Audit and Accounts Service or the Indian Telecom.

Subdivisions[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
CRPF (CoBRA) personnel during the Republic Day Parade, 2015.

There are 247 battalions of approximately 1,200 each. Each battalion is commanded by a commanding officer of the rank Commandant, and consists of seven CRPF companies, each containing 135 men. Each company is headed by an Assistant Commandant,(Company Commander).

The Ministry of Home Affairs planned to raise 2 Group Centers, 2 Range HQs, 1 Sector HQ, and 12 new battalions including a Mahila (all-female) battalion by 2019.[7]

The CRPF force is organised into a headquarters, three attached wings, and four zones. An attached wing is headed by an additional director general and is subdivided into branches which are headed by an inspector general. A zone is either headed by an additional director general or a special director general. A zone is subdivided into sectors where each sector is headed by an inspector general.[8][9]

Zone Branch / zone in-charge Branch / sector
Headquarters Shri Sandeep Khirwar, IPS, SDG Establishment
Personnel
Provisioning
Works
Finance
Operations Shri Vitul Kumar, IPS, SDG Administration
CoBRA
Comms & IT
Intelligence
RAF
V.S.
Training Shri Deepak Kumar, IPS, SDG Training Institutions
ISA Mt. Abu
CRPF Academy Shri Deepak Kumar, IPS, SDG CRPF Academy
North-East

(Spl. DG-GTY)

Shri Raja Srivastava, IPS, SDG Jorhat
Manipur and Nagaland
Tripura
North Eastern
Southern

(ADG-HYD)

Shri Ravideep Singh Sahi, CRP, ADG Western
Southern
Karnataka-Kerala
Central

(Spl. DG-KOL)

Shri Amit Kumar, IPS, SDG Bihar
Central
Madhya Pradesh
Eastern
Odisha
Chhattisgarh
Jharkhand
West Bengal
Jammu & Kashmir

(Spl. DG-JMU)

Shri Rajesh Kumar, IPS, SDG Jammu
Northern
Rajasthan
North Western
Srinagar
Operations Kashmir

Details of the composition of zones:

  • Central Zone - 8 sectors, 24 Ranges, 19 Group Centres, 91 administrative battalions, 98 operational battalions. 9 Composite Hospitals. 2 Central Workshops, 1 Armament Workshop, 2 Central Training Centres, 3 Recruit Training Centres, and 1 Central Institute of Advanced Training.[10]
  • Jammu & Kashmir Zone - 6 sectors (including 1 Operations Sector). 80 operational battalions (including Chandigarh 1 Mahila Bn) are deployed in the area of responsibility of this Zone.[11]
  • Southern Zone - The zone has 3 sectors consisting of 07 Ranges (including one Operations range), 8 Group Centres, 7 Composite Hospitals, 1 Station Hospital, 1 Central Weapon Store, 2 Arms Work Shop, 2 Central Training College, 2 Recruit Training College, 1 Dog Breeding & Training School at Taralu, 1 Improvised Explosive Device School at Pune, 1 College of Information Technology at Bangalore, 1 National Institute of Jungle Craft at Belgaum, 1 Training Node at Hyderabad, CIAT Chittoor, 3 National Disaster Response Force Battalions, 3 Mahila Battalions at Nagpur, Gandhinagar and Bangalore, 38 Administrative Battalions, 19 Operational Battalions and 5 Rapid Action Force (RAF) Battalions.[12]
  • North East Zone - The zone has 4 sectors consisting of 6 Group Centres, 60 battalions, 1 CoBRA battalion, 1 Central Institute of Advanced Training, 1 Composite Hospital (100 beds), and 2 Composite Hospitals (50 beds).[13]

Major Subunits[edit | edit source]

Rapid Action Force[edit | edit source]

Main article: Rapid Action Force

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialised unit under the CRPF. It has a total strength of 15 battalions and was formed in October 1992, as a riot control force to deal with communal and related civil unrest. The battalions are numbered from 99 to 108. The RAF is a zero-response force intended to quickly respond to a crisis.[14]

It was the recipient of the President's color presented by Shri L.K. Advani, then Deputy Prime Minister of India, on 7 October 2003 for "its selfless service to the nation in the 11th year of coming into existence".

The smallest functional unit in the force is a 'Team' commanded by an inspector, which has three components — a riot control element, a tear gas element, and a fire element. It has been organised as an independent strike unit.

One team in each company of the RAF is composed of female personnel to deal more effectively with situations where the force faces women demonstrators.[15]

Special Duty Group[edit | edit source]

It is a battalion-sized unit of the CRPF tasked with providing security for the outer cordon of the Prime Minister's official residence on 7, Lok Kalyan Marg and his office in the North Block as well as during outdoor functions. It comprises around 1,000 personnel.[16][17]

On 20 May 2024, the Parliamentary Duty Group (PDG) of CRPF ceased to function and was merged with the VIP security wing of the force as the security of parliament house was handed over to the CISF by the government due to a security breach issue.[18]

CoBRA[edit | edit source]

Main article: Commando Battalion for Resolute Action

Commando Battalion for Resolute Action[19] (CoBRA) is the special operation unit of CRPF created in 2008 to deal the Naxalite insurgency in India. This specialised CRPF unit is one of the few units of the Central Armed Police Forces in the country that is specifically trained in guerilla warfare. This elite fighting unit has been trained to track, hunt, and eliminate small Naxalite groups. There are currently 10 battalion-sized COBRA units.

10 CoBRA units raised between 2008 and 2011 have been trained, equipped, and deployed in all LWE/ Insurgent affected areas of the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, as well as Assam & Meghalaya is one of the best Central Armed Police in the country trained to survive, fight and win in the jungle.

CoBRA was awarded four Shaurya Chakras, one Kirti Chakra, one PPMG,[20] 117 PMGs, and 1267 DG commendations.

Personnel[edit | edit source]

Rank structure[edit | edit source]

Main articles: List of police ranks in India and Indian Police Service

The organization is structured mainly on three rank categories which include Gazetted Officers (GOs), Subordinate Officers (SOs), and Non-Gazetted Officers (NGOs). The Assistant Commandants are Group 'A' Gazetted officers, directly appointed upon clearing an exam conducted by the UPSC which is held yearly.

Officers
Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/India (CRPF)
Equivalent
NATO code		 OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) and student officer
Police equivalent
Director General (DGP) Director General (DG) Additional
Director General (ADGP)
Inspector General (IGP) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Senior Superintendent (SSP) Superintendent (SP) Additional Superintendent (Addl.SP) Deputy Superintendent (DSP/ASP) No equivalent
Army equivalent Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant
Other ranks
Template:Ranks and Insignia of Indian forces/OR/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/India (CRPF)

Being a central Indian police agency and having a high presence of Indian Police Service officers, CRPF follows ranks and insignia similar to other police organizations in India.

List of Directors General[edit | edit source]

V. G. Kanetkar was the first director general of the Central Reserve Police Force, serving from 3 August 1968 to 15 September 1969.[21] The current director general is Gyanendra Pratap Singh in office since 20 January 2025.[22]

Sr No. Name From Till
1 V. G. Kanetkar 3 August 1968 15 September 1969
2 Imdad Ali 16 September 1969 28 February 1973
3 B. B. Mishra 1 March 1973 30 September 1974
4 N. S. Saxena 30 September 1974 31 May 1977
5 S. M. Ghosh 1 June 1977 31 July 1978
6 R. C. Gopal 31 July 1978 10 August 1979
7 P. R. Rajagopal 10 August 1979 30 March 1980
8 Birbal Nath 13 May 1980 3 September 1980
9 R. N. Sheopory 3 September 1980 31 December 1981
10 S. D. Chowdhury 27 January 1982 30 April 1983
11 Shival Swarup 30 July 1983 7 May 1985
12 J. F. Ribeiro 4 June 1985 8 July 1985
13 T. G. L. Iyer July 1985 Nov 1985
14 S. D. Pandey 1 November 1985 31 March 1988
15 P. G. Harlankar 1 April 1988 30 September 1990
16 Kanwar Pal Singh Gill 19 December 1990 8 November 1991
17 S. Subramanian 9 November 1991 31 January 1992
18 D. P. N. Singh 1 February 1992 30 November 1993
19 S. V. M. Tripathi 1 December 1993 30 June 1996
20 M. B. Kaushal 1 October 1996 12 November 1997
21 M. N. Sabharwal 2 December 1997 31 July 2000
22 Trinath Mishra 31 July-2000 31 December 2002
23 S. C. Chaube 31 December 2002 31 January 2004
24 J. K. Sinha 31 January 2004 28 February 2007
25 S. I. S. Ahmed 1 March 2007 31 March 2008
26 V. K. Joshi 31 March 2008 28 February 2009
27 A. S. Gill 28 February 2009 31 January 2010
28 Vikram Srivastava 31 January 2010 6 October 2010
29 K. Vijay Kumar 7 October 2010 30 September 2012
30 Pranay Sahay 1 October 2012 31 July 2013
31 Dilip Trivedi 17 August 2013 30 November 2014
32 Prakash Mishra 1 December 2014 29 February 2016
33 K. Durga Prasad 1 March 2016 28 February 2017
34 Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar 27 April 2017 13 January 2020
35 Dr. Anand Prakash Maheshwari 13 January 2020 28 February 2021
36 Kuldeep Singh 16 March 2021 30 September 2022
37 Dr. Sujoy Lal Thaosen 1 October 2022 31 December 2023
38 Anish Dayal Singh 1 January 2024 31 December 2024
39 Gyanendra Pratap Singh 20 January 2025 Incumbent

Awards[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
List of Gallantry-Medals/Awards as on 14 September 2018

Members of the CRPF have been awarded 2468 medals.[5]

Sl No Medal Name Numbers
01 George Cross 01
02 King's Police Medal for Gallantry 03
03 Ashok Chakra 01
04 Kirti Chakra 10
05 Padma Shri 01
06 Vir Chakra 01
07 Shaurya Chakra 39
08 President's Police and Fire Services Medal for Gallantry 49
09 President's Police Medal for Gallantry 202
10 Yudh Seva Medal 01
11 Sena Medal 05
11 Vishisht Seva Medal 04
12 Police Medal for Gallantry 2027
13 IPMG 05
14 Jeevan Raksha Padak 04
15 Prime Minister's Police Medal for Life Saving 114
Total 2468

CRPF bagged the highest number of gallantry medals amongst all paramilitary forces. The force was awarded 30 gallantry medals on Republic Day 2022.

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

The acronym CRPF has been expanded as "Chalte Raho Pyare Force" (lit. 'Keep moving my friend force' or 'Keep Moving, Beloved Force') since they are constantly on the move from one troubled place in India to another.[23][24][25]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "DEMAND NO. 51, Demands for Grants, 2026-2027, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS" (PDF). IndiaBudget.gov.in. New Delhi. 1 February 2026. p. 5. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "The Central Reserve Police Force Act, 1949" (PDF).
  3. ↑ Sharma, Nigam (26 August 2024). "Role Of CRPF In Election Duty, Challenges During Election Duty". PHYSICS WALLAH. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "crpf.nic.in/milestones-of-bravery". crpf.nic. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Milestones of Bravery". crpf.nic.in. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "History of CRPF | About Us | Central Reserve Police Force, Government of India". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "MHA Annual Report 2015-16" (PDF). National Informatics Centre. Ministry of Home Affairs. p. 172. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "Organisation Structure - CRPF". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Organisation Chart - CRPF". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "Central Zone - CRPF". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  11. ↑ "J&K Zone - CRPF". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  12. ↑ "Southern Zone - CRPF". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  13. ↑ "North East Zone - CRPF". crpf.gov.in. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  14. ↑ "RAF Sector". crpf.nic.in. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "About Sector". crpf.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "CRPF orders enquiry after expired polio vaccines given to some infants at medical camp". 20 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "CRPF orders inquiry in 'botched up' vaccination drive among personnel's children". 20 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "CISF takes over Parliament security from May 20 as CRPF exits". The Times of India. 20 May 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  19. ↑ "CoBRA Sector". crpf.nic.in. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  20. ↑ "About Sector | CoBRA Sector | Central Reserve Police Force, Government of India". crpf.nic.in. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  21. ↑ "Former DG". crpf.nic.in. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  22. ↑ "gp singh - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  23. ↑ Halarnkar, Samar (7 April 2010). "No time for war". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  24. ↑ Raza, M. Maroof (2009). Confronting Terrorism. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-670-08369-5.
  25. ↑ Joshi, Manoj (10 January 2017). "BSF Jawan's Video Has a Simple Message: India Should be Ready to Pay for Security". The Wire. Retrieved 9 July 2020.

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