Central Armed Police Force
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were formerly known as Central Para-Military Forces
(CPMF), Central Police Organisations (CPOs), Para-Military Forces (PMF) and Central Police
Forces (CPF) interchangeably. In 2011, the Government of India adopted a uniform
nomenclature of the forces to Central Armed Police Forces.
Central Armed Police Forces refers to seven security forces (Paramilitary forces) of India:
- Assam Rifles (AR)
- Border Security Force (BSF)
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- National Security Guard (NSG)
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
It functions under the:
Administrative control - Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.
Operational control – Ministry of Defence.
Functions of Central Armed Police Force:
Border Security –
To ensure safety of borders of India and to stop any criminal activity and transinational
crimes, smuggling, and unauthorised entry into or escape from Indian territory.
Internal Security –
Counter-insurgency operations, Anti-Naxal operations, internal security responsibilities, lead intelligence agency, security for diplomatic missions abroad, disaster management, VIP protection and civic action nodal agency for UN police missions.
Forces guarding international borders:
- Indo- Pak Border- Border Security Force (BSF)
- Indo- Bangladesh Border- Border Security Force (BSF)
- Indo- China Border- Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Indo- Nepal Border- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- Indo- Bhutan Border- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
- Indo- Myanmar Border- Assam Rifles (AR)
How can you get into Central Armed Police Force?
Recruitment for Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) is done through the Central Armed Police
Force Exam. This exam is conducted by UPSC once in a year in the months of July- August.
This year exam will be conducted on 6 August,2023.
Selection Process consists of three stages –
- Written Exam,
Medical Test,
Interview / Personality Test.
For complete information regarding schedule, eligibility and other conditions of the exam,
visit https://www.upsc.gov.in/
How CAPF is different from Indian Army?
Indian Army is the land-based branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is
the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is a four-star general,
the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are security forces in India working to defend the
national interest mainly against internal threats.
Year of foundation of CAPFs-
- BSF was founded on 1st December 1965.
- CRPF was founded on 27th July 1939.
- CISF was founded on 10th March 1969.
- ITBP was formed on 24 October 1962.
- NSG was formed in 1986.
- SSB was formed in 1963.
