Special Protection Group
The Special Protection Group (SPG) is a specialized federal security agency in India tasked with delivering continuous proximate protection to the Prime Minister and members of their immediate family residing with them.[1] Established on 8 April 1985 under the Cabinet Secretariat, the SPG was formed in the aftermath of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984, which highlighted deficiencies in existing security arrangements for the head of government.[2] Personnel are deputed from central armed police forces such as the CRPF and BSF, undergoing intensive training in close protection tactics, weapons handling, and counter-assault measures to form inner security rings around the protectee.[3] The SPG operates under the Special Protection Group Act, 1988, which empowers it to secure the Prime Minister during official duties, travel, and residence, both domestically and abroad, utilizing advanced equipment including armored vehicles and surveillance systems.[4] Amendments to the Act, including the 2019 revision, narrowed the scope to exclude former Prime Ministers after a transitional period, assigning them alternative security from other agencies to prioritize resources for the current officeholder.[5] This adjustment followed assessments of threat levels and operational efficiency, though it sparked parliamentary debate on security equity for ex-leaders. The agency's defining characteristic remains its zero-tolerance for breaches, with no successful attacks on protected Prime Ministers since inception, attributable to rigorous protocols and inter-agency coordination.[6]History
Origins and Formation
The assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984 by members of her own security detail revealed critical deficiencies in the existing protection mechanisms for India's top leadership, which relied on a mix of state police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and ad hoc arrangements lacking specialized coordination.[7] This event, occurring amid heightened internal security threats including Sikh separatism, necessitated a dedicated, elite unit capable of proactive threat neutralization rather than reactive response.[8] In response, the government constituted the Birbal Nath Committee in early 1985 to review and recommend reforms for Prime Ministerial security, emphasizing a compact, multi-agency force trained in close protection tactics.[3] Acting on the committee's findings, President Zail Singh issued an executive order on 30 March 1985 establishing the Special Protection Unit (SPU) under the Cabinet Secretariat, with 819 dedicated posts created to draw personnel from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), CRPF, Delhi Police, and other central forces.[7] The unit was re-designated as the Special Protection Group (SPG) shortly thereafter, marking its operational inception on 8 April 1985 when Dr. S. Subramaniam, a Joint Director from the IB's VIP Security division, assumed charge as its first Director (designated Inspector General of Police). Initial formation focused on assembling a core team of approximately 200-300 operatives, prioritizing those with prior VIP protection experience, to provide 24/7 proximate security to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi both domestically and abroad, without statutory backing at this stage.[1] The SPG's early structure emphasized interoperability among seconded personnel—typically on three-year tenures—to foster specialized skills in advance reconnaissance, sterile zones, and counter-assault, distinct from broader counter-terror units like the National Security Guard (NSG) formed in 1984.[9] This ad hoc genesis under executive fiat allowed rapid deployment but highlighted dependencies on parent agencies for logistics and sustainability, setting the stage for later legislative formalization.[4]Legislative Establishment
The Special Protection Group (SPG) received its legislative foundation through the Special Protection Group Act, 1988, enacted by the Parliament of India to formalize the elite security unit initially formed in 1985 in response to the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.[10][3] The Act, which received presidential assent and came into force shortly thereafter, defined the SPG's primary mandate as providing proximate security to the Prime Minister, their immediate family members, and former Prime Ministers as specified, thereby transitioning the group from an ad hoc formation under executive orders to a statutorily empowered organization with dedicated funding and legal authority.[10][11] Under Section 4 of the Act, the SPG is empowered to exercise special powers during security operations, including the authority to arrest without warrant, search premises, and use firearms in self-defense or to prevent threats, with provisions for accountability through inquiries into excessive force.[10] Section 13 establishes the SPG as a distinct force under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, with personnel drawn from central armed police forces and granted ranks equivalent to those in the Indian Army for operational equivalence.[10][12] This legislative framework ensured the SPG's independence from routine police duties, prioritizing specialized protection protocols informed by post-assassination security reviews, including the Birbal Nath Committee recommendations of 1985.[4] The 1988 Act's enactment during Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's tenure reflected heightened concerns over political assassinations, extending protections beyond the sitting Prime Minister to safeguard continuity of leadership amid escalating threats from insurgent and terrorist groups.[3][12] It prohibited SPG members from engaging in other employment or political activities, reinforcing operational focus and discipline, while Section 14 provided for penalties including imprisonment up to two years for unauthorized disclosures of security information.[10] This statutory establishment distinguished the SPG from other Indian security agencies by vesting it with exclusive proximate security responsibilities, backed by an initial authorized strength of approximately 3,000 personnel.[4]Post-Independence Evolutions and Amendments
The Special Protection Group Act, 1988, which formalized the SPG's mandate to provide proximate security to the Prime Minister, underwent several amendments in the subsequent decades to adjust the scope of protection. In 1991, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991, the Act was amended to extend SPG cover to former Prime Ministers and members of their immediate families for a period of five years after demitting office.[12][3] Further amendments in 1994, 1999, and 2003 refined these provisions, allowing for extensions beyond the initial five-year period based on threat assessments conducted by the government, effectively providing ongoing security to specified former Prime Ministers and their families in practice.[13][10] These expansions increased the SPG's operational demands, as the force, drawn from elite units like the Central Reserve Police Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, had to allocate personnel across multiple protectees, with manpower growing to over 3,000 by the early 2000s to handle domestic and international movements.[4] The amendments reflected responses to heightened threats, including multiple assassination attempts and successes against political leaders, but also led to debates on resource allocation for an elite unit originally designed for singular high-value protection.[5] The most significant post-1988 change came with the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, 2019, enacted on November 27, 2019, which restricted statutory SPG protection to the sitting Prime Minister and members of his immediate family (defined as spouse, children under 16 residing with him, and dependent parents).[5][14] Protection for former Prime Ministers and their families was removed from mandatory provisions, shifting it to discretionary status granted by the Central Government solely on threat perception evaluated by an inter-ministerial committee; such cover, if provided, would last up to five years post-tenure unless extended.[5][13] This reform narrowed the SPG's focus to its core function, freeing resources for specialized operations amid criticisms that prior lifetime extensions had strained the unit's capacity for real-time, high-threat scenarios.[5]Organizational Structure
Command and Leadership
The Special Protection Group (SPG) operates under the administrative control of the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India and is commanded by a Director, who serves as the functional head responsible for command and control, operational implementation of protection duties under the Special Protection Group Act, 1988 (as amended), and overall administration of the force.[15] [16] The Director holds the ex officio rank of Joint Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat, ensuring direct alignment with national security policy formulation and execution.[4] Appointment to the position of Director is made by the Central Government from officers of the Indian Police Service (IPS), with rules notified on May 26, 2023, mandating a minimum rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADG) to enhance leadership seniority and expertise in high-threat protective operations.[17] [15] Prior to this stipulation, Directors were typically Inspectors General of Police (IGP), though ADG-level appointments occurred sporadically; the change formalizes elevated command authority to address evolving security challenges, including proximate physical protection of the Prime Minister and specified family members.[17] [16] The Director oversees a hierarchical structure integrating IPS officers in senior roles with specialized SPG personnel, coordinating multi-layered security protocols that involve advance teams, close protection details, and liaison with agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau and Central Reserve Police Force.[9] This leadership framework emphasizes rapid decision-making and inter-agency synchronization, with the Director empowered to assign additional duties as directed by the government, ensuring the SPG's mandate remains focused on empirical threat assessment and causal mitigation rather than expansive law enforcement.[15] As of November 17, 2023, IPS officer Alok Sharma (1991 batch) was appointed Director General of the SPG, succeeding prior leadership and bringing extensive experience in internal security domains.[18] The command role demands rigorous accountability, with performance tied to verifiable metrics such as incident prevention rates and operational readiness drills, underscoring the SPG's prioritization of evidence-based protective efficacy over procedural formalism.[9]Recruitment and Personnel
The Special Protection Group (SPG) recruits personnel exclusively through deputation from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Railway Protection Force, rather than conducting open public examinations or direct civilian enlistment.[19][20] Eligible candidates must be serving personnel who volunteer for SPG duty, typically meeting criteria such as Indian citizenship, an age limit of 18 to 35 years, completion of at least 10+2 education (with graduates preferred for certain roles), and adherence to strict physical standards including a minimum height of 5 feet 6 inches for men and exceptional fitness levels.[21][20] Deputation tenure is generally three years, with possibilities for extension based on performance and organizational needs.[22] Selection involves a multi-stage process emphasizing physical endurance, mental acuity, and operational aptitude, beginning with voluntary applications from parent forces followed by initial screening. Candidates undergo rigorous physical tests assessing speed, strength, and agility (e.g., running, obstacle courses), psychological evaluations for stress resilience and decision-making under pressure, medical examinations for overall health and vision, and specialized interviews including photo interpretation for threat assessment.[23][24] Only a small fraction of applicants succeed, with the process designed to identify individuals capable of proximate protection duties requiring rapid response and discretion.[21] SPG personnel comprise approximately 3,000 to 4,000 commandos, predominantly other ranks drawn from CAPF units, supplemented by a cadre of officers on deputation, often including Indian Police Service (IPS) members for leadership roles.[22][25][26] The force maintains a balanced composition across specialized sub-units such as close protection teams and quick reaction elements, with personnel repatriated to parent organizations upon tenure completion or adjustments in protectee numbers, as occurred in 2020 when over 200 were returned amid reduced VIP coverage.[25] This deputation model ensures infusion of experienced operatives while leveraging the discipline and training of originating forces.[19]Rank Structure and Hierarchy
The Special Protection Group (SPG) maintains a hierarchical structure with leadership drawn from the Indian Police Service (IPS) for senior positions and other ranks deputed from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) such as the CRPF, BSF, and ITBP, as well as the Railway Protection Force. The force is headed by a Director, appointed from the IPS at a level not below Additional Director General of Police, a change formalized in rules notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 25, 2023, to ensure specialized command experience.[15][27] Previously, the Director held the rank of Inspector General of Police, with occasional elevations to Additional Director General.[17] Senior operational roles, including Joint Directors and Deputy Directors, are filled by IPS officers at Deputy Inspector General or Inspector General levels, overseeing divisions such as combat, communications, and logistics.[28] These officers report directly to the Director, who functions as the operational head under the Cabinet Secretariat, with authority over policy implementation, training, and deployment protocols.[4] The mid-level and executive ranks feature specialized designations aligned with CAPF equivalents. Security Officer-I (SO-I) corresponds to the Inspector rank, handling supervisory duties in protection teams, while Security Officer-II (SO-II) aligns with Sub-Inspector, focusing on field execution.[29][30] Lower echelons include Junior Security Officers or equivalents to Assistant Sub-Inspectors and Head Constables, with the base level comprising Constables deputed for close protection and support roles.[20] Deputation terms for non-IPS members are typically three years, extendable to six, ensuring rotation and fresh expertise from parent forces.[15]| Designation Level | Equivalent Rank | Role Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Additional Director General (IPS) or higher | Overall command and policy |
| Joint/Deputy Director | Inspector General/Deputy Inspector General (IPS) | Divisional oversight (e.g., operations, training) |
| Security Officer-I | Inspector | Team supervision and coordination |
| Security Officer-II | Sub-Inspector | Operational execution in protection details |
| Junior Security Officer/Constable | Head Constable/Constable | Ground-level security and support |