VIP Security Covers in India

Context:

• Recently, Students’ Federation of India (SFI) activists tried to hit the vehicle of the Governor of Kerala in the Kollam District. Following this incident, the Union Home Ministry has decided to provide Z+ VIP Security cover to the Governor.

What is the Student's Federation of India (SFI)?

1. It is a left-wing student organization in India. 
2. It was formed in 1970 and is affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), a major political party in India. 
3. SFI mainly works on university and college campuses nationwide. 
4. It focuses on education, student rights, and social and political issues from a left-leaning viewpoint.

What are the VIP Security Covers?

1. VIP security is a special protection given to important people from the central and state governments.
2. These important people could be from the government as well as civil society.
3. The special protection is given considering the threat the person might face.
4. There are 2 categories of individuals who receive VIP security protection:

What are the types of VIP Security covers provided in India?

1. There are a total of 6 types of VIP Security covers provided in India. 
2. The importance of the person and the potential threat he/she has are the main parameters using which the level of security to be provided is decided. 

Note: 

1. Armed personnel are trained people with guns for security, while commandos are elite soldiers trained for special missions like rescues or counter-terrorism.

Who takes the responsibility for providing these protections?

1. Residence Security: The protection of residence is ensured by the State Police.
2. Mobile Security: Mobile Security is the security provided to an individual when he/she moves from 1 place to another. Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) such as CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) are tasked with providing mobile security.
3. Exceptions: Special protection is provided to some high-profile individuals:

Who pays for the Security covers?

1. Government-funded: For those individuals, whom the government provides security based on intelligence assessment, the funding is completely provided by the government.  However, there may require some individuals to provide accommodation to security personnel, especially in the case of Z or Z Plus Security.
2. Private Individuals: Private individuals such as celebrities who require security cover may be charged for it.  

What are the concerns about these Security covers?

1. The intelligence information regarding whether an individual requires protection is not disclosed to the public, and those responsible for making such assessments are not held accountable to any statutory body. 
2. A statutory body is an organization established by law and vested with authority to carry out specific tasks or functions.
3. This lack of transparency raises concerns about potential misuse.
4. There is also a unit called the National Security Guard (NSG), which is a counter-terrorism unit in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The involvement of the NSG in VIP security diverts focus from its core responsibility of counter-terrorism, which may compromise our national security.

What is the way forward?

1. Threat Assessment: It is important to evaluate threats carefully to decide how much security VIPs need. This helps us use resources wisely and manage risks effectively.
2. Transparency and Accountability: We need to be open and accountable about how VIP security works. This builds trust and prevents misuse of security measures.
3. State Governments' Role: The State governments need to improve overall law and order in the state.

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