2024 CRPF Raising Day, its formation, role and specialized units

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is observing its Raising Day on 27 July 2024. It was on this day the central government’s largest paramilitary force, CRPF was raised as Crown Representative Police in 1939 by the British rulers of India. 

CRPF is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of the government of India, the others being the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Police Force(ITBP), National Security Guard(NSG), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

CRPF is the largest CAPF and is dedicated to the task of internal security

Formation of CRPF

• The CRPF was established as Crown Representative Police on 27 July 1939 by the British as a specialised force to maintain law and order in the country, especially in the princely states.
• After Independence, the provisional Indian parliament passed the Central Reserve Police Force Act in 1949. 
• On 28 December 1949 the name of the force was changed to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as per the provision of the CRPF Act 1949.
• CRPF was made a force of the government of India under the Home Ministry.

CRPF Role In india 

After Independence CRPF played a multifaceted role apart from helping the state government in maintaining law and order .

The CRPF helped the central government in the integration of princely states in India after independence. 

It was deployed on the international borders with Pakistan and China . It  fought alongside the Indian Army in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak war and in the 1962 India-China war in Arunachal Pradesh.

Later on its role was redefined as the government set up more specialised para-military forces.

Specialised Units of CRPF

The CRPF has four specialised units-Mahila Battalion, CoBRA,RAF and VIP Security.

Mahila Battalion 

• CRPF was the first CAPFin the country to raise a Mahila Battalion in 1986. At present it has 6 mahila battalions. These battalions have been deployed within the country and abroad.
• CRPF deployed its first Mahila Battalion along with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1987.

CoBRA Unit

• In 2008, CRPF raised a specialised force, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), to tackle the naxals or left wing extremist challenge in the country.
•  It is a specialised unit trained in guerrilla and jungle warfare, 
• It is deployed in the Left Wing Extremist regions of  Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya.

Rapid Action Force (RAF)

• The Rapid Action Force (RAF) was raised by the CRPF in October 1992 as an anti -riot force.
•  It is a quick response force that can be quickly deployed in areas experiencing riots or public disturbances.
• The RAF also trains male and female contingents for UN peacekeeping missions.

VIP Security 

CRPF also has a specialised VIP (Very Important Person) wing  that provides security to persons as ordered by the Union Home Ministry. 

It provides security to the ministers of the government of India , State Governors, Chief Ministers, Politicians, Government officials, Spiritual leaders, Business tycoons and other prominent individuals.

CRPF Deployment Outside India 

CRPF has also been deployed outside as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission . It has been deployed in Liberia, Haiti, Namibia, Somalia, Maldives ,Kosovo, and Liberia.

CRPF Motto: Service and Loyalty

Headquarters of CRPF: New Delhi

Director General : Anish Dayal Singh