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The Special Protection Group (SPG) (Hindi: विशेष सुरक्षा दल) is a security force of India formed in 1988 by an act of the Parliament of India for "providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and former Prime Minister of India and members of their immediate families". Family members of a serving Prime Minister (PM) may decline security. Former PMs and their immediate family members may also, if they choose, decline SPG security.
The "general superitendence, direction and control" of the SPG is exercised by, the Central Government.[3] The head of the force, called a Director, is appointed by the Central Govt. He is responsible for "the command and supervision" of the force. The director of the SPG since its inception has been an officer from the Indian Police service. Personnel of the Special Protection Group are drawn from Central Armed Police Forces & Railway Protection Force.
They are generally armed with FN F2000 Assault Rifles and Glock 17 Pistols (hidden in their suits) and are well connected with the rest of the security detail, through a myriad of communication devices. The CATs usually form the second cordon. They are tasked with providing 'suppressing and covering' firepower to allow enough time for the Protective Detail to get the PM to safety, in case of any eventuality. It is a defensive force which always follow the PM in his motorcade and are in position well before the PM arrives at his destination
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q91hyv7Q2jc/UsG6LGCEu7I/AAAAAAAADhk/DeAjAMInffk/s1600/images1.jpg
Securing Prime Minister of India has always been a critical issue for the security agencies. But, no one thought of handling this in a professional manner before 1981. Prior to 1981, PM’s security was handled by a special group within the Delhi Police which provided both proximate security and also protected the residence and offices of the PM. In 1981, a special task force was constituted within the Intelligence Bureau to take over the proximate security in and out of the capital.
TRAINING - This category deals with the training of personnel on a continuous basis; The SPG imparts training in physical efficiency, firing, anti-sabotage checks, communication and other operative aspects connected with close protection drills and having a bearing on VVIP security with a view to maintaining a high level of physical fitness and to fine-tune the operational skills of SPG officers. The Syllabi of the training program is constantly reviewed and updated to effectively thwart threats from newer areas and in keeping with existing threat perception.
INTELLIGENCE and TOURS - This category looks after the threat assessment, internal intelligence pertaining to personnel, verification of character and antecedents, tours and other allied jobs.
ADMINISTRATION - This category deals with personnel, procurement and other related matters.
Before 1981 the security of the Prime Minister at his residence and offices used to be looked after by Special Security District of Delhi Police under the charge of DCP. In October 1981 a Special Task Force was raised by I.B. to provide ring-round and escort to the Prime Minister during his movements both in Delhi and outside. Then after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in October, 1984, a review was undertaken by a Committee of Secretaries and it was decided to entrust security of the Prime Minister to a Special Group under unitary and direct control of designated officer and S.T.F. to provide immediate security cover both in Delhi and outside. These decisions were taken as short term measures. Then subsequently in February 18, 1985, MHA set up Birbal Nath committee to go into the issue in its entirety and submit its recommendation. In March, 1985, the Birbal Nath Committee submitted its recommendations of raising a Special Protection Unit.
On March 30, 1985, ( vide Government of India, Cabinet Secretariat Order No. A-11013/16/85 DO- I)(Annexure S- 3) President of India created 819 posts for the unit under Cabinet Secretariat. The SPU was then rechristened Special Protection Group, and the post of IGP was redesignated as Director. The SPG came into being on 8th April, 1985 when Dr.S.Subramaniam, then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the IB assumed Office.Creation of SPG required an elaborate exercise in order to clearly deleniate responsibility of various agencies concerned with the security of the Prime Minister. The provisions contained in the 'Blue Book' - which lays down security guidelines for the protection of the Prime Minister - had to be harmoniously blended with this new concept of proximate security. Intelligence Bureau and the State/UT Police concerned were responsible for coordination, collection and dissemination of intelligence affecting VIP security. State/UT Police concerned and the SPG were responsible for providing physical security arrangements for the Prime Minister; the Intelligence Bureau was to provide the required intelligence inputs to these operational agencies.
The Special Protection Group functioned as a security group purely on the strength of an Executive Order for three years without a legislation, from April 1985 through 02 June 1988. The Special Protection Group was constituted and trained specially to provide protection to Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister, in view of very high threat to him from several sources. But the organisation created for the proximate security of Shri Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister did not contemplate provision of protection to him when he ceased to be the Prime Minister, and faced magnified threats.
After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the SPG Act was amended in 1991 to provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate families for a period of five years from the date on which the former Prime Minister ceased to hold office. The SPG cover for Sonia Gandhi and her children lapsed in December 1994, and was been extended for 10 years from the date Rajiv Gandhi demitted office as PM.
An increase of about 40 per cent was made in the 1997-98 Union Budget in the allocation for the Special Protection Group. The allocation for the SPG was Rs. 46 crores in the last Budget which increased to Rs. 54.39 crores in the 1996-97 revised estimate. The Union Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, allocated Rs. 75.59 crores for 1997-98, reflecting pressure on the SPG and expansion of the security cover provided by SPG
However, this was still not commensurate with the criticality of the security for the leader of world’s largest democracy. The assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 brought this loop hole to limelight and security for PM was considered from scratch. And thus was sown the seeds for a specialized organization dedicated to needs for the security of the Prime Minister and his family members.
As a first short term measure in this direction, high level committee of secretaries reviewed the security needs and constituted a special task force under dedicated leadership for the purpose. Based on recommendation of the Birbal Nath Committee to create a Special Protection Unit, the President of India created around 800 posts for the unit under the Cabinet Secretariat. Shortly thereafter the SPU was then re-christened as Special Protection Group (SPG) led by a director of a rank equivalent to the Inspector General of Police. Thus, 8th April 1985 became the foundation day for this elite agency SPG with Dr. S. Subramaniam, then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the IB, as its first Director.
Contrary to what many may think, it was not just a matter of constitution of a new agency under a director. A special team responsible for proximate security of PM having vast powers to empower it for the tasks was a very new concept for the security agencies. Thus creation of SPG required elaborate exercise to decide protocols for their activities, developing operating procedures and delineating responsibilities of multiple agencies involved in various aspects of the security. . The provisions contained in the Blue Book, which lays down security guidelines for the protection of the Prime Minister, had to be harmoniously blended with this new concept of proximate security. IB and the State/UT Police concerned were responsible for coordination, collection and dissemination of intelligence affecting VIP security. State/UT Police and the SPG were responsible for providing physical security arrangements for the Prime Minister, while the IB was to provide the required intelligence inputs to these operational agencies.
As it is today, SPG is headed administratively by a Secretary (Security) who is responsible for monitoring the security arrangements for the Prime Minister. SPG today is comprised of about 3000 personnel and is entrusted with sole responsibility of protection of the Prime Minister, former PMs, and their close family members. Recruits for SPG are sourced from local Police and the NSG Commandos and they are trained on line of the elite US Secret Service. SPG is responsible especially for the proximate security for its protectees including protection provided from close quarters, journey on foot, road, rail, aircraft, watercraft or any other means of transport, and includes places of functions, engagements, residence, etc. They comprise ring round teams, isolation cordons, the sterile zone, and the rostrum & access control to the person or members of his immediate family. This is purely a defensive force for which protection of the VIP is more important than taking down the attacker.
Operationally, this security group is divided into the four departments or teams named Operations (looks after the actual protection duties and includes the Communications Wing, Technical Wing and Transport Wing), Training (deals with the training of personnel on a continuous basis including training in physical efficiency, firing, anti-sabotage checks, communication and other operative aspects connected with close protection drills), Intelligence & Tours (looks after the threat assessment, internal intelligence pertaining to personnel, verification of character and antecedents, tours and other allied jobs) and Administration (deals with personnel, procurement and other related matters).
As one would expect, this agency with such critical responsibility is provided with the best in class equipment to help them fulfil their duties. Belgian seems to be a favorite source for this agency as far as weaponry is considered. A 5.56x45mm NATO caliber, Belgium-made rifle is the weapon of choice for this agency. This 3.5kg rifle fires 850 rounds per minute and has an effective range of 500m. Commandoes are also equipped with an FN Five-Seven semiautomatic pistol with an effective range to fire 5.7mm caliber bullets up to 50m which is also of Belgian make. However, this is not their only equipment. Personnel with such a huge responsibility cannot work merely with attack weapons. A lot more goes into their gears. SPG commandoes use tactical eyewear which provides them protection against splinters and a ballistic shield to prevent any distraction from foreign objects. Agency procures light weight and high grade bulletproof vests categorized as level-3 Kevlar. These specialized vests weighing over 2.2 kgs can withstand a 7.62- caliber bullet fired from 10m from an AK-47 which can be considered an impressive capability. Further special knee and elbow pads along with non-skid combat boots are part of the gear.
Security of elite is not a one-time plan and needs to evolve with time. Keeping with this requirement, SPG has grown over time in terms of size and specialization. Their protocols and trainings are reviewed and updated frequently. Their equipment is maintained at par with the best in the world. The scope of agency also undergoes changes with time. Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi brought forth the need for securing a PM after he relinquishes the office and hence a provision was allowed to provide SPG protection to prime ministers and their family for up to 5 years after office. A special case was made for family of Rajiv Gandhi based on threat perception of central agencies. Similarly, with changing demographics and trends in the country where women have started taking up key positions and availability of female workforce, the agency has recently empaneled a team of women commandoes ready to take up any challenge which comes in their way of protecting a VIP. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife has become the first Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee to have women commandos in her immediate security cordon.
The "general superitendence, direction and control" of the SPG is exercised by, the Central Government.[3] The head of the force, called a Director, is appointed by the Central Govt. He is responsible for "the command and supervision" of the force. The director of the SPG since its inception has been an officer from the Indian Police service. Personnel of the Special Protection Group are drawn from Central Armed Police Forces & Railway Protection Force.
They are generally armed with FN F2000 Assault Rifles and Glock 17 Pistols (hidden in their suits) and are well connected with the rest of the security detail, through a myriad of communication devices. The CATs usually form the second cordon. They are tasked with providing 'suppressing and covering' firepower to allow enough time for the Protective Detail to get the PM to safety, in case of any eventuality. It is a defensive force which always follow the PM in his motorcade and are in position well before the PM arrives at his destination
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q91hyv7Q2jc/UsG6LGCEu7I/AAAAAAAADhk/DeAjAMInffk/s1600/images1.jpg
Securing Prime Minister of India has always been a critical issue for the security agencies. But, no one thought of handling this in a professional manner before 1981. Prior to 1981, PM’s security was handled by a special group within the Delhi Police which provided both proximate security and also protected the residence and offices of the PM. In 1981, a special task force was constituted within the Intelligence Bureau to take over the proximate security in and out of the capital.
TRAINING - This category deals with the training of personnel on a continuous basis; The SPG imparts training in physical efficiency, firing, anti-sabotage checks, communication and other operative aspects connected with close protection drills and having a bearing on VVIP security with a view to maintaining a high level of physical fitness and to fine-tune the operational skills of SPG officers. The Syllabi of the training program is constantly reviewed and updated to effectively thwart threats from newer areas and in keeping with existing threat perception.
INTELLIGENCE and TOURS - This category looks after the threat assessment, internal intelligence pertaining to personnel, verification of character and antecedents, tours and other allied jobs.
ADMINISTRATION - This category deals with personnel, procurement and other related matters.
Before 1981 the security of the Prime Minister at his residence and offices used to be looked after by Special Security District of Delhi Police under the charge of DCP. In October 1981 a Special Task Force was raised by I.B. to provide ring-round and escort to the Prime Minister during his movements both in Delhi and outside. Then after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in October, 1984, a review was undertaken by a Committee of Secretaries and it was decided to entrust security of the Prime Minister to a Special Group under unitary and direct control of designated officer and S.T.F. to provide immediate security cover both in Delhi and outside. These decisions were taken as short term measures. Then subsequently in February 18, 1985, MHA set up Birbal Nath committee to go into the issue in its entirety and submit its recommendation. In March, 1985, the Birbal Nath Committee submitted its recommendations of raising a Special Protection Unit.
On March 30, 1985, ( vide Government of India, Cabinet Secretariat Order No. A-11013/16/85 DO- I)(Annexure S- 3) President of India created 819 posts for the unit under Cabinet Secretariat. The SPU was then rechristened Special Protection Group, and the post of IGP was redesignated as Director. The SPG came into being on 8th April, 1985 when Dr.S.Subramaniam, then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the IB assumed Office.Creation of SPG required an elaborate exercise in order to clearly deleniate responsibility of various agencies concerned with the security of the Prime Minister. The provisions contained in the 'Blue Book' - which lays down security guidelines for the protection of the Prime Minister - had to be harmoniously blended with this new concept of proximate security. Intelligence Bureau and the State/UT Police concerned were responsible for coordination, collection and dissemination of intelligence affecting VIP security. State/UT Police concerned and the SPG were responsible for providing physical security arrangements for the Prime Minister; the Intelligence Bureau was to provide the required intelligence inputs to these operational agencies.
The Special Protection Group functioned as a security group purely on the strength of an Executive Order for three years without a legislation, from April 1985 through 02 June 1988. The Special Protection Group was constituted and trained specially to provide protection to Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister, in view of very high threat to him from several sources. But the organisation created for the proximate security of Shri Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister did not contemplate provision of protection to him when he ceased to be the Prime Minister, and faced magnified threats.
After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the SPG Act was amended in 1991 to provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate families for a period of five years from the date on which the former Prime Minister ceased to hold office. The SPG cover for Sonia Gandhi and her children lapsed in December 1994, and was been extended for 10 years from the date Rajiv Gandhi demitted office as PM.
An increase of about 40 per cent was made in the 1997-98 Union Budget in the allocation for the Special Protection Group. The allocation for the SPG was Rs. 46 crores in the last Budget which increased to Rs. 54.39 crores in the 1996-97 revised estimate. The Union Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, allocated Rs. 75.59 crores for 1997-98, reflecting pressure on the SPG and expansion of the security cover provided by SPG
However, this was still not commensurate with the criticality of the security for the leader of world’s largest democracy. The assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 brought this loop hole to limelight and security for PM was considered from scratch. And thus was sown the seeds for a specialized organization dedicated to needs for the security of the Prime Minister and his family members.
As a first short term measure in this direction, high level committee of secretaries reviewed the security needs and constituted a special task force under dedicated leadership for the purpose. Based on recommendation of the Birbal Nath Committee to create a Special Protection Unit, the President of India created around 800 posts for the unit under the Cabinet Secretariat. Shortly thereafter the SPU was then re-christened as Special Protection Group (SPG) led by a director of a rank equivalent to the Inspector General of Police. Thus, 8th April 1985 became the foundation day for this elite agency SPG with Dr. S. Subramaniam, then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the IB, as its first Director.
Contrary to what many may think, it was not just a matter of constitution of a new agency under a director. A special team responsible for proximate security of PM having vast powers to empower it for the tasks was a very new concept for the security agencies. Thus creation of SPG required elaborate exercise to decide protocols for their activities, developing operating procedures and delineating responsibilities of multiple agencies involved in various aspects of the security. . The provisions contained in the Blue Book, which lays down security guidelines for the protection of the Prime Minister, had to be harmoniously blended with this new concept of proximate security. IB and the State/UT Police concerned were responsible for coordination, collection and dissemination of intelligence affecting VIP security. State/UT Police and the SPG were responsible for providing physical security arrangements for the Prime Minister, while the IB was to provide the required intelligence inputs to these operational agencies.
As it is today, SPG is headed administratively by a Secretary (Security) who is responsible for monitoring the security arrangements for the Prime Minister. SPG today is comprised of about 3000 personnel and is entrusted with sole responsibility of protection of the Prime Minister, former PMs, and their close family members. Recruits for SPG are sourced from local Police and the NSG Commandos and they are trained on line of the elite US Secret Service. SPG is responsible especially for the proximate security for its protectees including protection provided from close quarters, journey on foot, road, rail, aircraft, watercraft or any other means of transport, and includes places of functions, engagements, residence, etc. They comprise ring round teams, isolation cordons, the sterile zone, and the rostrum & access control to the person or members of his immediate family. This is purely a defensive force for which protection of the VIP is more important than taking down the attacker.
Operationally, this security group is divided into the four departments or teams named Operations (looks after the actual protection duties and includes the Communications Wing, Technical Wing and Transport Wing), Training (deals with the training of personnel on a continuous basis including training in physical efficiency, firing, anti-sabotage checks, communication and other operative aspects connected with close protection drills), Intelligence & Tours (looks after the threat assessment, internal intelligence pertaining to personnel, verification of character and antecedents, tours and other allied jobs) and Administration (deals with personnel, procurement and other related matters).
As one would expect, this agency with such critical responsibility is provided with the best in class equipment to help them fulfil their duties. Belgian seems to be a favorite source for this agency as far as weaponry is considered. A 5.56x45mm NATO caliber, Belgium-made rifle is the weapon of choice for this agency. This 3.5kg rifle fires 850 rounds per minute and has an effective range of 500m. Commandoes are also equipped with an FN Five-Seven semiautomatic pistol with an effective range to fire 5.7mm caliber bullets up to 50m which is also of Belgian make. However, this is not their only equipment. Personnel with such a huge responsibility cannot work merely with attack weapons. A lot more goes into their gears. SPG commandoes use tactical eyewear which provides them protection against splinters and a ballistic shield to prevent any distraction from foreign objects. Agency procures light weight and high grade bulletproof vests categorized as level-3 Kevlar. These specialized vests weighing over 2.2 kgs can withstand a 7.62- caliber bullet fired from 10m from an AK-47 which can be considered an impressive capability. Further special knee and elbow pads along with non-skid combat boots are part of the gear.
Security of elite is not a one-time plan and needs to evolve with time. Keeping with this requirement, SPG has grown over time in terms of size and specialization. Their protocols and trainings are reviewed and updated frequently. Their equipment is maintained at par with the best in the world. The scope of agency also undergoes changes with time. Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi brought forth the need for securing a PM after he relinquishes the office and hence a provision was allowed to provide SPG protection to prime ministers and their family for up to 5 years after office. A special case was made for family of Rajiv Gandhi based on threat perception of central agencies. Similarly, with changing demographics and trends in the country where women have started taking up key positions and availability of female workforce, the agency has recently empaneled a team of women commandoes ready to take up any challenge which comes in their way of protecting a VIP. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife has become the first Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee to have women commandos in her immediate security cordon.
