India's elite counter-terrorism force : National Security Guard (NSG)

 

Senior IPS officer Nalin Prabhat has been appointed as the Director-General of National Security Guard (NSG), the country’s counter-terrorism force, according to a Personnel Ministry order.

1. Prabhat, a 1992 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, is presently working as Additional Director General in CRPF.
2. “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment as the Director General, NSG for a period up to August 31, 2028.
3. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) chief Daljit Singh Chawdhary was holding the additional charge of the NSG.

About the National Security Guard (NSG):

1. Special Force Mandate: The NSG is a specialized force primarily dedicated to counter-terrorism activities, serving as the nation's second line of defense.
2. Black Cats: NSG members are commonly known as "Black Cats" due to their distinctive black drill cotton coveralls and balaclavas or helmets.

3. Establishment:

   1. It was raised in 1984,following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
   2. It was created by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National Security Guard Act of the Indian Parliament in 1986.

   3. Inspiration: Modeled after the Special Air Service (SAS) of the UK and the GSG-9 of Germany.

4. Administrative Control: The NSG is under the administrative and operational control of the Union Ministry for Home Affairs.

5. Motto: "Sarvatra Sarvottama Suraksa" (Safety above All, Supreme Safety)

6. Headquarters: New Delhi

7. Director General (DG):

   1. Selection Process: The DG, who heads the NSG, is selected by the Home Ministry.
   2. IPS Officers: All DGs have been officers from the Indian Police Service (IPS).

8. Specific Goals:

   1. Neutralizing terrorist threats
   2. Handling hijacking situations
   3. Bomb disposal and IED management
   4. Post-blast investigations (PBI)
   5. Hostage rescue
   6. VIP security

9. Exceptional Deployment: The NSG is designed for exceptional situations, not intended to replace the functions of State Police Forces or other paramilitary forces.

10. Operational Philosophy: Swift and speedy strikes followed by immediate withdrawal from the theater of action.

11. Two Main Elements:

    1. Special Action Group (SAG): Comprises Army personnel.
    2. Special Ranger Group (SRG): Comprises personnel drawn from the Central Armed Police Forces and State Police Forces.

12. National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC):

    1. Centralized Database: Maintains a centralized database of bombing activities in India and abroad.
    2. Intelligence Gathering: Collects, collates, analyzes, and evaluates terrorist bombing activities, disseminating relevant information to law enforcement agencies.

FAQs:

Q: What is Operation Blue Star?

• Operation Blue Star was a military operation conducted by the Indian Army in June 1984 to remove militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
• The operation was ordered by the Indian government to remove the militants, led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a former head of the Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal, and other Sikh separatists. Bhindranwale died in the operation on June 6, 1984.
• The operation resulted in a violent confrontation between the Indian Army and the militants, and the Golden Temple, a sacred Sikh shrine, was significantly damaged.
• The operation also had severe ramifications for many, including the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, on October 31, 1984.

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