Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) comprising of border guarding and internal security forces are million plus arsenal available with union home ministry for external and internal security. These forces comprise of Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Shastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). They are immediate combat pool ever ready continuously entangled in fighting internal and external security battles. Organisational analysis of their charter and duties reveal CAPFs as active omnipresent, never rest, in combat mode 24X7X365. Their combatants have little physical and mental rest in personal and professional lives, thus lead abnormal service life. Post retirement innings is again challenge for men. Post retirement is again spent fighting for stability in destabilised societal and family lives, is also an identity trauma, since CAPFs retirees, do not receive structured attention having little vote weight. Thus, CAPFs personnel keep longing for attention from government while in service and post service.
Nations internal and external security environment projects mirror image of these forces. These forces are continuously engaged in ensuring peace and stabilisation in the internal and external geographical domain by their professionalism, hard work and grit. Considering their role in nation’s internal and external stabilisation, they deserve rapt government attention and focus in terms of human resource development in terms of pay and allowances, promotions and pensions. Despite in war mode in their everyday service life, CAPF are treated at par with civilian counterparts serving in air-conditioned ensconced environment of Delhi and metropolis. Is not that injustice with these silent warriors fighting for nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity? Nation need to recognise their hardships. Their outstanding contribution in national security has received appreciation from Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. It is also testimony that nation recognises their outstanding services also need to be well aware of the difficult service conditions and take human resource development initiatives to improve service conditions in terms of pay and allowances ,promotions and pensions in addition to infrastructure development which also require continuous upgrade.
Let us analyse important role CAPFs play in national security. Border Security Force in recently paused “Operation Sindoor” from 07 May to 10 May 2025 was prepared to fight shoulder to shoulder with army all along the western front and saw pitched battle all along Jammu international border. It pre-empted Pakistani actions in Samba sector, destroyed many of its posts, and caused heavy damage to Pakistani men and material. Similarly, in Jammu sector it destroyed Pakistani post in Sialkot sector in retaliatory fire. In total BSF brought heavy devastation upon Pakistani regulars and rangers and achieved psychological and moral ascendancy over enemy through well-appreciated, planned and executed operations which recived national appreciation. Chief of Army Staff has commended many of BSF personnel during his visits for their outstanding contribution and leadership during short war.
Central Reserve Police Force forms centre of gravity of nation’s internal security. Like border guarding forces omnipresent on borders, CRPF is omnipresent from North to south and east to west in internal security paradigm. Internal security stabilisation and peace is unimaginable without Central Reserve Police Force. In recent past, CRPF has sacrificed maximum men at the altar of national security and was bestowed with maximum gallantry medals for its role in conflict environment. By virtue of its dominant and prominent role in fighting terrorism, insurgency and left wing extremism, it aptly deserve the honour to be called as “MAINSTAY OF NATIONS INTERNAL SECURITY”. It is slowly and steadily expanding its footprints in Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas in jointness with other CAPFs to achieve the government aim of eradicating left wing extremism by March 2026.
ITBP works in one of the most difficult and hostile icy terrain of Himalayas and are aptly called “HIMVEERS”. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is responsible for guarding of line of actual control (LAC) and enhancing its capabilities all along the border. During the Indo-China conflict of 2019, ITBP worked in close coordination with army. It played prominent role along with Army in ensuring security of line of actual control. Many of its personnel were commended for their role during the conflict.
Similarly, SSB guards Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Nepal borders, which are open borders, require round the clock vigil. These two borders termed as safe, will be new combat frontiers. Indo-Nepal border unless strengthened may be new hub for smuggling of drugs and export of terrorism especially from Nepal considering ISI footprints in Nepal. Bhutan may emerge as new combat frontier with Chinese footprints especially its desire to dominate Silliguri corridor. Hence, SSB role assumes great national significance.
CISF is mainstay of security of vulnerable areas like airports, dams and industrial complexes, which drive national economy and has, pan India footprints and is playing major role in ensuring security of our vital installations.
It is beyond doubt that CAPFs form main stay of nation’s internal and external security and their role and tasks are synonymous with external and internal peace. These forces are under the operational and administrative control of ministry of Home affairs. They need government attention to improve their human resource development profile. There is feeling and rightly, so that, being little brother, CAPFs do not receive desired government attention and priority in addressing problems which form major bottlenecks in human resource development. They need urgent attention from government to address, the human resource development issues in terms of improvement in service conditions, pay and allowances, promotions, pensions and rationalisation of ranks as per combat needs since arbitrary abolition and introduction of ranks affect combat and human resource development profile negatively. Main litmus test for government will be the approach it adopts in presenting CAPF issues before eighth pay commission and implementation of recently announced Supreme Court verdict delivered on 23 May 2025. In the judgment, court endorsed the earlier judgment of Delhi High court passed in 2015 on recognition of CAPFs as organised Group “A” services thus addressing the issue of promotions and financial upgradations for cadre officers and similarly fixed strict time lines for cadre review.
CAPFs have displayed their dedication in defending nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, have always rose to occasion to fight enemies and adversaries and lived up to government expectations as sentinels of borders and internal security. Now is the time for government to address their human resource development needs.
Rattan Chand Sharma retired from the Border Security Force as a Commandant. A regular contributor to publications like Outlook, Deccan Herald, India Sentinels, Force Magazine, Chanakya Forum, Saveratimes, Seema Sanghosh, he writes mainly about defence and security personnel issues.
