Longest serving SPG chief Arun Kumar Sinha dead

Arun Kumar Sinha ,Director of Special Protection Group (SPG) passed away at a Gurugram hospital after a brief illness on 6thSeptember 2023 .He was 61 years old.

A 1987-batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre, Sinha was the SPG chief since March 2016, and was granted a one-year extension in service on31st May 31 2023, a day before his retirement by the central government.  Arun Kumar Sinha was the longest serving chief of the SPG (2016-2023).

Special Protection Group (SPG)

The Special protection Group was set up in India after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 to provide security to the Prime Minister. 

The SPG came into being on 8 April 1985 when Dr. S. Subramaniam, then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the Intelligence Bureau assumed office.

The SPG was granted legal status by the  Special Protection Group Act 1988.  The SPG act was amended in 2019 .

It comes under the Cabinet Secretariat of the Union government.

Function of SPG 

It provides security to the;

• Prime Minister and his immediate family members residing with him at his official residence,
• It also provides security to the former Prime Ministers and his family living with him at the residence allotted to him for five years from the date the former Prime Minister ceased to hold office.

Director of the SPG 

The Director of the  SPG is appointed by the Central government . An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of at least Additional Director General of Police rank shall be appointed as the Director of SPG. 

The members of the SPG come on deputation from Central Armed Force Police like BSF,CRPF etc and Railway Protection Force. 

Motto of SPG 

The Motto of SPG is "Shauryam Samarpanam Surakshanam" (i.e. bravery, devotion and protection).

Headquarters of the SPG: New Delhi 

Foundation Day of SPG : 8 April

First Director of SPG : Dr. S. Subramaniam