CAPFs: a million-man backup, the centre’s invisible army

CAPFs provide the government an option short of deploying the army. Erroneously called "paramilitary forces", they are armed police forces, under the central government

 

(Part 3 of a three-part analysis of the defence budget)

 

By Ajai Shukla

Business Standard, 30th July 24

 

In the Union Budget presented on July 23, the central government allocated Rs 6,21,941 crore (about US$ 75 billion) to the four wings of the military – the army, navy, air force and coast guard – for the financial year 2024-25.

 

Separately, the Budget also allocated Rs 96,792 crore – almost one trillion rupees – for the slightly over one million men and women who constitute the seven central armed police forces (CAPFs). 

 

The CAPFs, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, include the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guard (NSG), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Assam Rifles (AR) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

 

Under the “One Border, One Force” principle, the BSF is responsible for the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, the ITBP safeguards the Sino-Indian border, the SSB looks after the borders with Nepal and Bhutan and the AR mans our border with Myanmar.

 

The Indian Army provides robust back-up to the BSF in safeguarding the Line of Control --  the live section of the India-Pakistan border in Kashmir. Similarly, the army assists the ITBP in defending the Line of Actual Control with China.

 

The CAPFs are often erroneously referred to as “para-military forces” (PMFs). In fact, PMFs are armed police with their own rank and file, led by officers on temporary deputation from the regular military. By that definition, only the Assam Rifles are PMFs.

 

The CAPFs are the penultimate intervention force of the central government. When the internal security situation spirals out of control of the provincial law and order machinery, the CAPFs can be called in, providing a security buffer before calling in the army.

 

This provides the central government recourse to sizeable police forces such as the 313,634-strong CRPF and the 265,000-strong BSF, each of which has more than quarter-of-a-million personnel. Alongside them are smaller forces, such as the 163,590-strong CISF and the 90,000-strong ITBP.

During wartime, the CAPFs can be allocated a vital role: Charging them with ensuring security in the rear areas, roads and highways and logistic installations behind the tactical battle area. 

 

Capital allocations as percentage of defence budget

 

The defence budget has been criticized over the years for being short on capital allocations (the part of the Union Budget that pays for equipment modernization) and long on personnel expenditure.

 

An examination of annual capital allocations over the last seven years reveals that the capital budget, as a percentage of the overall budget, has remained static between 25-30 per cent. 

 

Modern military powers spend more than 50 per cent of their budgets on state-of-the-art weaponry and electronics, ensuring a battle-winning technological advantage in combat.

 

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Graphic: Budget highlights

 

·      Rs 6.22 lakh crore allocated to MoD, highest among all ministries

 

·      Union Budget 2024-25 is 4.79% larger than FY 2023-24

 

·      Rs 1.72 lakh crore allocated for capital acquisition;

 

·      Rs 92,088 crore for sustenance and operational readiness

 

·      Defence pension budget up to Rs 1.41 lakh crore;

 

·      Rs 6,968 crore earmarked for ECHS

 

·      Infrastructure push: Rs 6,500 crore to border roads; Rs 7,651 crore for coastal security

 

·      iDEX enhanced to Rs 518 crore from Rs 115 crore in FY 2023-24 to promote innovation

 

[ENDS]