Abbreviation SPG Federal agency(Operations jurisdiction) India | Formed 2 June, 1988 | |
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Motto शौर्यम् समर्पणम् सुरक्षणम्Bravery, Dedication, Security Annual budget ₹389.25 crore (US$58 million)(2017-18 est.) Legal personality Governmental: Government agency | ||
The Special Protection Group (SPG) (Hindi: विशेष सुरक्षा दल) is "an armed force of the Union for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and former Prime Minister of India and members of their immediate families wherever they are." It was formed in 1988 by an act of the Parliament of India.
Contents
- History
- Command and control
- Organization
- Uniform and Dress
- Arms
- Vehicles
- Air Transport
- Contact with the Media
- References
Former PMs, their immediate family members, and Family members of a serving Prime Minister (PM) may, if they choose, decline SPG security
History
Before 1981, the security of the Prime Minister of India at the Prime Minister's residence was the responsibility of the Special Security District of the Delhi Police under the charge of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). In October 1981, a Special Task Force (STF) was raised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to provide ring-round and escort to the Prime Minister in and out of New Delhi.
After the assassination of Prime Minister 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 a designated Officer and the STF to provide immediate security cover both in New Delhi and outside. These decisions were taken as short-term measures.
Then on February 18, 1985, the Ministry of Home Affairs set up the 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 (SPU). On 30 March 1985, the President of India created 819 posts for the unit under the Cabinet Secretariat. The SPU was then re-christened Special Protection Group and the post of Inspector General of Police was re-designated as Director.
The SPG came into being on 8 April 1985 when Dr. S. Subramaniam, then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the Intelligence Bureau assumed office. Creation of the SPG required an elaborate exercise in order to clearly delineate 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.
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. The SPG functioned as a security group purely on the strength of an Executive Order for three years without a legislation, from April 1985 to June 1988.
The SPG was constituted and trained specially to provide protection to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, in view of the threats to him from several sources. But, the organization created for the proximate security of Prime Minister Gandhi, did not contemplate provision of protection to him when he ceased to be Prime Minister, and faced magnified threats. SPG cover for Rajiv Gandhi was withdrawn once he ceased to be Prime Minister. After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991, the SPG Act was amended in 1991 to provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate families for a period of 10 years from the date on which the former Prime Minister ceased to hold office.
Command and control
The "general superintendence, direction and control" of the SPG is exercised by, the Central Government. The head of the force, called a Director, who 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 and Railway Protection Force, but the officers are from the IPS or officers of the RPF.
Organization
The Director of the SPG, an officer of IG and some times Director General rank, is assisted by number of Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, Joint Assistant Directors. The SPG is divided broadly into the following four categories:
Multiple sources have alleged that the Special Protection Group has an unofficial policy whereby Muslims or Sikhs are not recruited for this service.
Uniform and Dress
In summer, the SPG men dress in the trademark safari suits, and in winter, formal suits, with reflective sunglasses and a communication earpiece, and concealed personal weapons. Personal equipment includes Nomex Coveralls, Tactical Goggles Bulletproof vest Level III NIJ, Kevlar tactical gloves, Elbow and knee pads, Non-skid tactical boots.
Arms
Vehicles
The Prime Minister's motorcade comprises a dozen odd vehicles,including two armoured BMW 7 Series Sedan, six BMW X5 and a Mercedes Benz ambulance. A Tata Safari jammer also accompany the convoy, besides a few more escort vehicles.
These custom made vehicle, are believed to be able to secure the occupants from landmine blasts to Kalashnikov's bullets. They can run for kilometers even on flat tyres and are fitted with advance heat sensors to ward off missiles and bombs .While the fuel tanks are made such that they don't explode during an attack, their cabins also turn into gas-proof chambers and ensure oxygen supply to secure the occupants in cases of gas attacks. They are also believed to defend the occupants against chemical and biological attacks. For official movement, the vehicle is affixed with the Indian flag. For unofficial events the vehicles are left sterile and unadorned.
These SUV's carry the agents assigned to the protection detail and are themselves highly armoured. At least 5 accompany the Motorcade at all times.
These are armored tactical medical support to the PM which is always spotted to the rear of the motorcade.
This vehicle is used to counter guided attacks, such as IEDs, Rocket Propelled Grenades, and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. The antennas mounted on the roof are solely used in barrage jamming applications, the primary method used to counter IED threats. The antenna configuration can be changed according to threat level, for instance, taller antennas are used to increase the jamming protection distance, or change jamming frequency ranges. There are two dome-shaped EW Sensors. The EW sensors are most likely Millimeter-Wave radars used to detect the launch of an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenades) or laser range finder illumination and launch of an Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM).
Air Transport
Air India One, an aircraft of Air India, the national airline of India, (also referred to as AI-1 or AIC001 ) is the call sign of aircraft carrying the Prime Minister of India, President of India or the Vice President of India. The aircraft is operated as VIP flights by the Indian Air Force(IAF). Apart from the Boeing 747-400 owned by Air India and used on international state visits, the IAF currently owns four 14 seate Embraer 135 and three customized 46 seater Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) that have a VIP cabin and are used for VIP movement. Of these the Boeing 747s are used by either the Prime Minister,President or Vice President when on official overseas visits.The Government has chosen the ultra long-haul Boeing 777-300 (extended range) aircraft to replace the ageing B747s for Prime Minister's use. The PM is also known to have used C-130 J Indian Air Force during Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Sri Lanka.
Contact with the Media
Members of the SPG are barred by the SPG Act,1988, from contact with the media and from publishing or collaborating in publication of "any book, letter or other document".