CRPF ASKS FOR RS 1,100 CRORE AS STATE’S SHARE

With the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) facing a tough time due to acute drainage of resources, it has slapped a bill of whopping Rs 1,100 crore on the Odisha Government to pay its share of expenses for the security duties.

While the State Government is asking for more battalions of Central paramilitary forces to handle the Maoist menace, the CRPF authorities have demanded this huge payment.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been opposing such move by the CRPF on the plea that it is a joint effort by the State and Centre to combat the threat of internal security by the Leftwing Extremists (LWE)s.

While the Union Government deploys Army Battalions in Jammu & Kashmir, it never slaps any pay-up slips for security duties, why the CRPF is allowed to ask for funding from other States, wondered a senior State Government official.

Odisha is having 17 battalions of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) consisting CRPF, CoBRA and BSF deployed in the Maoist regions. The State is asking for more Central forces on the borders of Chhattisgarh.

Two additional battalions of CAPF are required for matching deployment in Nuapada, Bargarh and Balangir districts and effective anti-Maoist Operations. But the CRPF authorities have been sending constant reminders for payment to be made through the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The State Government feels that it has hardly any scope to pay the amount as the Union Government has been sending the CAPF without any such prior stipulations, said a senior State officer.

However sources in the CRPF said the States are supposed to pay 60 per cent of the expenditure incurred and they are just not fulfilling their commitments, for which the CRPF is facing acute shortage of funds to carry on its jobs.

Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/crpf-asks-for-rs-1100-crore-as-states-share.html

UPDATING OF DATA OF EX-CAPF PERSONNEL

The Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB) for the Ex-Central Armed Police Force Personnel under the Ministry of Home Affairs has been set up to look after their welfare, rehabilitation and redressal of grievances.

The Board has decided to update the latest data of retired CAPF personnel and upload the same on the website of the Board.

The Board request ex-CAPF personnel to update their latest address, Mobile No. on the WARB website www.warb-mha.gov.in

All ex-CAPF personnel may update their data accordingly. They can also send the data by e-mail secywarb-mha@nic.in to the Board.

Creating a Diplomatic Security Force: The need to go beyond cosmetic exercises

If media reports are to be believed, a Diplomatic Security Force (DSF) and a Parliament Duty Group (PDG) are in the offing. The Ministry of Home Affairs is said to be in the process of fast-tracking a Delhi Police proposal to set up a dedicated force to protect foreign missions and envoys. Israel is rumoured to have expressed its willingness to train the Force. It has also been stated that the specialized force may be deputed to protect India’s diplomatic missions abroad subsequently. The PDG, it is understood, would draw its personnel from the best trained men and women of the CRPF with commando and tactical training besides expertise in dealing with biological and nuclear emergencies.

Security methodologies do not change with individuals

Professionally speaking, the methodologies for providing security to an individual, a group or to structures do not change based on who the protected is. The level of security to be provided would be based on intelligence inputs and assessment. The location and the circumstances too will have a say in the matter. If protection is the criteria, the state police providing security to the Chief Minister could not be any different from the Special Protection Group (SPG) providing security to the Prime Minister. The degree of protection is based on the threat and not on whose life is more important.

Rationalization vs. empire building

A number of organizations including the SPG, National Security Guard (NSG), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), various state police and other agencies provide security to an assortment of people of different risk categories. Each of these organizations adopts its own method based on training, competence and perception. In a number of cases more than one agency is drawn in and the responsibility is shared. Should so many agencies adopting different methodologies be involved in providing security, a job that requires almost similar competencies? The needs of financial prudence, efficiency, professionalism and accountability suggest rationalization of the entire system.

Creating a concoction by milking personnel from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), each with a different culture and ethos, would be nothing more than adding one more to the already existing alphabet soup of security forces. An IPS officer, who is more of a manager than a leader, to head the organisation would be a further disaster. Training a few officers and men by specialists from some foreign country or the other would be a mere publicity stunt. Turnover, promotions and wastages would further nullify the anticipated dividends. The creation of DSF or PDG, in the manner as has been suggested, would be a mere empire building exercise without any tangible upgrade to professionalism, which is missing in all the existing security establishments.

Create a system and not physical numbers

If the Government is indeed serious about creating an institution with a difference and break from the present work culture and ethos of the Police Forces in the country, this is an opportunity that should not be wasted.

The aim should be to create a single Security Group (SG) consisting of a training establishment specializing in security issues and a number of units to meet different areas of security as per the requirement. The organisation should be capable of handling all envisaged security situations of the protected throughout the country in an unobtrusive manner. It should have an inbuilt bomb detection, disposal and electronic surveillance capability.

Personnel may be transferred from one unit to the other to avoid them becoming stale. The establishment needs to take into account the need for regular training to maintain the standards of physical fitness and professional skills. The best of the lot could be picked and posted to the DSF and PDG. As and when more numbers are trained, they could be utilized to replace the existing arrangements manned by the other agencies of the centre. If need be our diplomatic establishments abroad could be staffed by these personnel subsequently. As and when this force is made operational, corresponding numbers could be offset from the other establishments. If ego is not an issue, the best of the lot could also replace the SPG. States could make use of the central selection and training facilities for bringing their apparatus at par with the central agency.

As a first step, it may be prudent to put a training infrastructure in place as a feeder organisation for the SG as against creating the DSF or PDG from personnel milked from various organisations. A pool of instructors for the training establishment could be trained in selected foreign countries. The instructors need to be trained to meet our specific requirements and the course content specifically designed to meet our needs and demands. The training would be at two levels; one for the officers and the other for the rest.

Designing and creating the organisation

Two to three selected experts with practical experience and knowledge in the field should be entrusted with the task of designing and creating this organisation. This selected team of consultants could visit training establishments in selected countries and have extensive discussions on the possible course content and organizational models. They may also witness their training, view training facilities, infrastructure, weapons and equipment in use. It would be in the interest of the organisation to exclude personnel from the existing security establishments or police personnel in this mission. This organisation should under no circumstances be allowed to acquire the Police culture or ethos.

Back home, the consultants should be able to contour the organizational structure of these establishments. The infrastructure, training facilities, weapons, equipment and other needs of the organisations would be a logical output. Incidentally, the training establishment need not necessarily be situated in or around Delhi.

The Manpower

Fresh graduates should be recruited on an all-India basis for manning the organisations. Besides others, the criteria would include social adaptability and attitudinal suitability. The initial lot could be put under a selected team of Army instructors for preliminary training preferably at the Infantry school. The syllabus could include physical fitness, marksman training, field craft and minor tactics besides a few academic subjects including law. The emphasis should be on creating the right kind of ethos, culture and soft skills. At the end of the training, based on the instructional capabilities exhibited by the trainees, a team of potential instructors could be sent abroad for specialized training as a prelude to being employed as instructors at the Training Establishment. The balance could be part of the SG.

As for officers, it would be most appropriate to select the required number of officers from the cadets passing out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) for permanent absorption to SG. Those selected should be allowed to do the Young Officers (YO) course and preferably a six month attachment with an infantry unit. Those found suitable as instructors could be sent abroad for training. This lot would be physically fit, motivated and with basic military training capable of absorbing specialized training abroad.

It may be preferable to have a serving or a retired Lieutenant General to head the organisation with a mandate to develop the right ethos, work culture and attitude in the Force.

Other issues for consideration

While creating such an agency, its specific role as well as division of responsibility between the state police and the SG need clear definition. Directions regarding briefing and assistance by local police and intelligence agencies including at outstations need to be spelt out. Logistic arrangements for out station duties need to be formalized with a one point contact for efficient functioning. The aspect of investigations also need clarity as unlike the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security, our Security agency may not have the wherewithal and resources to carry out investigations. Instructions for the protected should be scripted and communicated to the users for better utilization of the force.

Conclusion

A lot has been said about the politicization, inefficiency and corruption in the ranks of our Police Forces. These issues have affected their public image and ability to discharge duties efficiently. It is time we find a way to cleanse the system. The creation of a SG without any streak of the Police in it would be a step in that direction. A single agency to take care of all the security needs within the country would instil accountability, professionalism and continuity.

By V. Mahalingam in http://idsa.in/idsacomments/CreatingaDiplomaticSecurityForce_vmahalingam_180213

Aviation assets for India's paramilitary forces

Heightened operational tempo as well increased area of responsibility for India's Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) necessitates the induction of more integral aviation assets for roles ranging from surveillance to casualty evacuation (CASEVAC). The inadequacy of road infrastructure in forested and mountainous regions puts a premium on rapid movement that can be mitigated only through airlift in the medium term. Moreover area domination patrols conducted by CAPFs in such theatres can benefit immensely with scouts in the air equipped with new generation sensors. As such, most CAPF's under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are looking to take advantage of larger homeland security (HS) budgets than in the past to bring in integral aviation assets whenever they can. Some state police departments are also looking to follow suit for surveillance and quick response roles.

Late last year the Border Security Force (BSF) sought an unspecified number of additional helicopters from the MHA in aid of its new role of guarding the 1643 km long border with Myanmar - a role it is taking over from the Assam Rifles. The border with Myanmar is characterized in the main by forested mountains and the BSF will be setting up a number of 'air-maintained border outposts' in addition to ones already present on the ground. These air-maintained outposts are likely to prove crucial to the effective operation of some 50000 personnel, the BSF is planning to deploy on this border where road connectivity is virtually non-existent at many spots.

These additional helicopters are likely to be Mi-17Vs, eight of which are already on order for the BSF with the first two from that batch expected to be delivered by September this year. The Mi-17V is a step up from the Mi-17IV, eleven of which are currently part of the BSF's air wing (although some are actually owned by the Indian Air force) in that it possesses a new KNEI-8 navigation system, multifunctional displays, next generation night vision goggles (NVGs), helmet mounted cueing system and a state-of-the art autopilot, all of which are expected to enable smoother day/night operations. The Mi-17V's avionics suite also includes a 'weather radar' that proved extremely useful in the recent rescue operations conducted by the IAF in Uttarakhand last year. Incidentally the first two Mi-17Vs will be pressed into action in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) for general duties, CASEVAC and Search and Rescue (SAR) roles.

However owing to their size, Mi-17s sometimes cannot enter hot zones during times of inclement weather. For instance during an encounter in 2012 between Central forces and Maoists in Jharkhand, a MI-17IV sent for CASEVAC had to turn back on account of unfavourable weather and a HAL Dhruv instead was deployed for the job. Indeed, the BSF air wing also consists of some eight HAL Dhruvs with proposals to add more being muted.

It is important to note that larger numbers in the BSF's helicopter fleet have also become possible on account of an agreement it signed with the IAF a few years ago which has allowed the former to get pilots from the latter on deputation leading to vastly improved mission capable rates. In the mid-2000s the BSF was actually finding it difficult to put even 10 percent of its fleet in the air on account of an acute shortage of pilots.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) till now dependent on the BSF and IAF for air support is keen to get its own dedicated air wing and is probably going to induct a couple of hired HAL Dhruvs to begin with. The HAL Dhruv owing to past experiences such as the issues mentioned above has been deemed more suitable for the CRPF. Moreover, the HAL Dhruv is clearly better suited for quick response insertions in LWE affected areas. The CRPF's future 'Dhruv Park' as it were, may end up resembling the Indian Army's (IA’s) 'Soaring Gideons' unit which operates HAL Dhruvs in support of special operations against terrorists in the valley. In the CRPF's case such a unit will of course carry COBRA commandos.

Like in the case of the Soaring Gideons, intelligence for operations by a future CRPF aviation unit could come from the latter's own unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wing. Tired of tasking battles with the National Technical Reconnaissance Office (NTRO), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has bitten the bullet on the Nishant UAV which is already in service with the IA and some 16 units of a customized version are set to find pride of place in its inventory. Given the terrain in which the CRPF variant will be operated, DRDO labs have worked together to reduce the number of support vehicles for it by a third. Importantly, the CRPF version will fly with an indigenously developed wankel rotary engine with a rating of 55 HP replacing its current ALVIS AR-801 engine. This engine developed by DRDO's Vehicle Research and Development Establishment is already under production at a private facility operated by SMC in Hyderabad with eight sets scheduled to be delivered soon. 

The MHA has also given the CRPF the go-ahead to acquire 10 Skylark Mini-UAVs from HAL in principle; however the final contract is pending on account of price negotiations.

The CRPF already operates the DRDO developed Netra quad-copter UAV produced by Mumbai based private firm Ideaforge. This portable vertical take-off UAV (VTUAV) weighs just 1.5 kgs and can fly up to a distance of 2.5 km from its take-off point with an operational altitude of 200 metres. Handling is via line of sight (LOS) up to a distance of 1.5 kms with an endurance of 30 minutes on a single battery charge. Equipped with a high resolution CCD camera, Netra can identify human activity up to 500 metres away while sending live video feed of objects within a radius of 5 km. It can also carry a thermal camera for night operations.

The Netra seems to have done quite well in the Indian market given that some state and police forces have already procured it besides CAPFs, with many more police units evincing interest. In fact the domestic market for small VTUAVs is believed to be quite large given typical crowd management requirements in Indian conditions. Nevertheless future growth of this segment will require VTUAVs mounted with cameras of better resolution and zoom capability and perhaps even more importantly - greater endurance.

The BSF too incidentally (along with the ITBP) operates the Netra in LWE affected areas. However the BSF like the CRPF is also keen to bring in larger fixed wing UAVs to monitor the Western sector with Pakistan. These new UAVs could either be in the class of the Nishant or perhaps even the larger IAI Herons operated by the IAF. In either case the BSF will have to work closely with the IAF for these inductions keeping airspace restrictions in mind. It is of course not clear as to where these UAVs might be based. Repair and overhaul could however well be carried out at New Delhi where the BSF bases all its fixed wing aircraft including Embraer-135 Js, Avros (HS-748) and some Super King B-200 aircraft.

Incidentally, the BSF's move to add two new fixed wing medium transport aircraft (MTA) came unstuck a couple of years ago when it was revealed that signatures on technical documents related to the 300 million dollar tender may have been forged. The forged documents apparently 'downscaled training and safety equipment and maintenance contracts'. The alleged rigging in the contract led to the entire process being re-tendered. The now cancelled contract had been won by the EADS CASA C-295W which beat out Alenia's C-27J Spartan.

While the precise status of this tender is unclear, it is understood that the BSF will require multiple MTAs in the future given its need to greatly augment troop transport and logistic capability. Added to this will be the requirements of other CPMFs, especially the CRPF and ITBP in the years to come. India's security management architecture seems to have a need to procure MTAs that can fly hot and high and in all weather conditions. It is in this context that the IAF's Avro replacement programme must be seen. The HS-748 replacement programme will not end up being for just 56 units, but probably four times that number given that the CPMF's as well as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are very likely customers. It is time that the Indian government cogently assessed the size of the domestic market and made decisions in a manner that leveraged India's scale requirements effectively.

By Saurav Jha in http://m.ibnlive.com/blogs/sauravjha/2976/65192/aviation-assets-for-indias-paramilitary-forces.html

UPSC Central Armed Police Force Recruitment Exam 2014

Union Public Service Commission

Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination 2014

The Union Public Service Commission will hold a written Examination on 13 July 2014 (As per UPSC Schedule) For Recruitment Assistant Commandants in (Group A) in The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) viz. Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) And Indo Tibetan Police Force (ITBP). The Examination will be held in the Accordance with the Rules for the Examination to be published by Ministry of Home Affairs in the Gazette of India Dated 12th April 2014. The Date of holding Examination as Mentioned Above is liable to be changed at the desecration of the Commission.

Detail of Vacancies:

Assistant Commandants (in CAPF, BSF, CRPF, CISF and ITBP)

Age Limit: The age of candidates should be between 20-25 Years.

Education Qualification: - A Candidate Must Hold a Bachelor’s Degree of A University incorporated by an act of central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament or Declared to be deemed as a university Grants Commission Act, 1956 or Possess an equivalent qualification.

Application Fee: Candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs.200/- either by depositing the money in any Branch of SBI by Cash, or by using NET banking facility of SBI.

NOTE- Female/SC/ST Category candidates are exempted from payment of Fee.

How to Apply: Eligible and Interested candidates are required to apply Online only by using the UPSC website www.upsconline.nic.in. Facility of filling Online Application will be started from 12 April 2014 to 12 May 2014

LAST DATE: 12 May 2014*

NOTE – For more detail regarding educational qualification, No. of vacancies, application procedure, please wait till detailed notification which will be available on UPSC website http://www.upsc.gov.in/ on 12.04.2014.

National Security Guard: Are we destroying its elitism?

The Times of India reported that the National Security Guard (NSG) has pulled out around 900 of its commandos from VIP guarding duties and sent them for training in counter – terror operations as part of their original charter. The news would have cheered the Indian public on two counts. Firstly, guarding of VIPs by trained commandos is a monumental waste, such tasks being within the ambit of local police forces. Personnel from the NSG are specially selected and trained at great expense for a specialised counter terrorism role and using them for mundane security duties was counter-productive. The second count would pertain to the belief that this step would increase the counter terrorism capability and enhance the security of the environment. The latter hope is however misplaced.

Reinventing a role for the Special Rangers Group

The original charter of NSG visualised an organisation consisting of five major units each with approximately 900 personnel besides other minor units. Of these, two were the strike elements designated as the Special Action Groups (SAG), one for counter terrorism and the other on a counter hijack role. These units are capable of interchanging their roles if the situation so warrants. Both these units were to be manned by handpicked army personnel with on ground soldiering experience from the combat arms of the Army. The other three major units titled the Special Ranger Group (SRG) were to be manned by personnel selected from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). These units were meant to provide combat support to the SAGs by establishing cordon or a firm base as deemed necessary

.

The hidden aim of inducting the CAPF in the NSG stems from a desire of the bureaucracy and the political class to maintain a balance between the Army and the Police Forces in the elite force. The fabrication of the outfit in the present form was at the cost of the tax payers’ money without any tangible benefit in terms of counter terrorism capability. The absurdity and impracticality of the idea were too overwhelming to be missed or ignored.

NSG is a federal contingency force meant for employment anywhere in the country. Every time an operation is planned, a huge SRG contingent, at least four to five times the strength of the strike elements will be required to be airlifted for establishing the cordon. In certain situations, a cordon may have to precede the surgical strike. Their actions may require police powers and local expertise in terms of knowledge of the area and the local language, all of which the SRGs lack. NSG is dependent on local police for logistic support, follow up investigations, legal actions in terms of filing FIRs, as well as producing witnesses and evidences. The security implications of mobilising such a huge force for a Special Forces operation are manifold. These issues have all along been an impediment in employing SRGs in counter terrorism operations. It is precisely for these reasons, that the assistance of the local Army formation was sought to establish a cordon during the Hazratbal crisis in 1993. They were also not employed during the 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai.

Consequently, at one point in time the SRGs were jobless and the VIP security duties were invented to keep them going as a part of the NSG, a turf requirement. The fact that VIP security duties and Special Forces operations had nothing in common was of no consequence. Now that some of the VIP security duties have been withdrawn, an effort is being made to re-reinvent a role for the SRGs by putting them through the counter terrorism training.

Need for restructuring NSG

NSG’s strength at present is very nearly ten thousand troops with four hubs spread around the country. Two regional centres are also proposed to be raised. Additional squadrons each have already been added to the SAGs and SRGs. Can we equip them with state of the art weapons and equipment? The efforts required to train and maintain the skills of such a large force are colossal.

We still do not appear to have grasped the essence of structuring or employing Special Forces. Strength of these forces does not lie in numbers as the powers that be seem to think. They are not meant to be employed on routine law and order or insurgency situations. It is not meant for neutralising common tactical targets like a militant, a criminal or capture weapons in an insurgency area and that too without any intelligence back up. They are the instruments meant to carry out surgical strike to neutralise or secure strategic objectives and undertake missions of national importance. One of the reasons why this force is losing sight of its raison d'êtrefor creation is its CAPF status as part of the Home Ministry. Their demands for weapons and equipment get diluted when viewed collectively with the other forces. It is time this force is shifted under the Cabinet Secretariat preferably under a body created to coordinate Special Operations.

Hubs and Numerical Strength

Considering the number of operations launched by the NSG since its raising, troops employed in each of them and their time plot, do we really need such a huge force, the hubs and the regional centres? Are they meant to handle both counter hijack and counter terrorist situations? Is it practicable? Will the time gained by positioning the hubs in various parts of the country make any difference in the launching of a major terrorist operation of the type envisaged for Special Forces? Will they improve the counter terrorism capability in the country? Delivering the NSG raising day lecture, MK Narayanan the erstwhile National Security Advisor felt that creating four NSG hubs were redundant and unnecessary.

Time Frame for Launching Special Operations

When a mission is conceived, tremendous amount of effort and time is required to gather process and produce the intelligence inputs needed to launch an operation. Forces require time to study the information, carryout reconnaissance, understand the objective, plan the operation, choose the weapon systems for the envisaged task, carry out rehearsals where necessary, deploy their strike elements and protective elements at selected places and be sure of certain critical issues before carrying out the strike. The strike will always be at a time of their choosing for tactical reasons.  Operations cannot be rushed or pressure brought on the Force to act instantaneously. There are battle procedures and other means available to gain time in situations like the 26/11 which needs to be applied scientifically and diligently. Operation “Neptune Spear” conducted by the DEVGRU of the US SEAL to get Bin Laden took over five years to mature and execute. We can take a few lessons from the operation.

Need for Coordination and Support

However talented a special force may be, it needs the support and the backup of the state government, local police and the intelligence community besides the other security forces and agencies within the country.  All these elements need to be trained alongside to achieve synergy. An apex body like the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in the US with necessary authority is needed to requisition and coordinate all the necessary efforts. The confusion that prevailed outside the Taj Hotel in Mumbai during Operation Black Tornado cannot be allowed in the future.

Leadership

Another important aspect pertains to the leadership of this Force. While junior leaders will have to have adequate operational experience besides professional training, the head of this organisation will have to have practical on ground experience of leading troops and conducting operations at the formation level. Police officers undoubtedly have very good knowledge of law and order and security issues, but lack practical experience in conducting military operations which an Army Officer especially from the Infantry gain right through their service starting from the platoon level. There can be no compromise on experience in a Special Force.

Conclusion

Special Forces cannot be allowed to multiply or bloat the way CAPF have expanded in our country. Turf issues and aspirations of empire building cannot be allowed to determine their role or the structure. Elitism, superior skills, state of the art weapons and equipment and not numbers will dictate the outcome of their operations. These Forces are of no value if they are not supported by every single organ of the country. That will require the creation of an authority to demand, coordinate and employ such resources.

The strike elements in the NSG are as good as, if not better than some of the world’s best Special Forces. Failure to keep politics out in the matter of structuring, training, employing and providing resources to the elite Special Force will cost the nation very dearly at a crucial moment.

By Brig. V. Mahalingam in www.claws.in

Brig V Mahalingam (Retd) is a Defence Analyst based in New Delhi

Views expressed are personal

Central Armed Police Forces CAPF Assistant Commandant Exam - Scheme and Syllabus

CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCES (CAPF)

EXAM SYLLABUS

Selection Procedure & Scheme:

(i) Written Examination:

The written examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), and it comprises two papers. Paper I and Paper II.

Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence - 250 Marks

The questions in this paper will be of Objective (Multiple Answers) Type in which the questions will be set in English as well as Hindi.

Paper II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension - 200 Marks

In this paper candidates will be allowed the option of writing the Essay Component in English or Hindi, but the medium of Precis Writing, Comprehension Components and other communications/language skills will be English only.

NOTE-I: Candidates should ensure that in Paper II they write the answers only in the medium allowed by the Commission for the different Components as mentioned above. No credit will be given for answers written in a medium other than the one allowed in the Paper. Candidates will be required to indicate the medium of Essay Component in the Attendance Lists and on the Answer Book. No credit will be given for the Essay Component if the candidate indicates a medium on the Attendance List and on the Answer Book other than the one in which he/she has written the Essay.

NOTE-II: There will be minimum qualifying marks separately in each Paper as may be fixed by the

Commission in their discretion. Paper-I will be evaluated first and evaluation of Paper-II will be done only of those candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in Paper-I.

(ii) Physical Standards/Physical Efficiency Tests and Medical Standards Tests:

Candidates who are declared qualified in the written examination will be summoned for Physical

Standards/Physical Efficiency Tests and Medical Standards Tests. Those candidates who meet the prescribed Physical Standards, specified in Appendix-VI, will be put through the Physical Efficiency Tests as indicated below:

Physical Efficiency Tests (PET)

 (a) 100 Meters race:

 Males: In 16 seconds

 Females: In 18 Seconds

 (b) 800 Meters race

 Males: In 3 minutes 45 seconds

 Females: In 4 minutes 45 seconds

 (c) Long Jump (3 chances):

 Males: 3.5 Meters

 Females: 3.0 Meters

 (d) Shot Put (7.26 Kgs.) 

 Males: 4.5 Meters

 Females: --

Pregnancy at the time of PET will be a disqualification and pregnant female candidate will be rejected.

Medical Standards Tests, to check the standards specified in Appendix-VI, will be conducted only in respect of candidates who are declared qualified in the Physical Efficiency Test.

The Physical Standards/Physical Efficiency Tests and Medical Standards Tests will be conducted under the supervision of a Nodal Authority to be appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. These tests will be conducted at various centres to be notified after the results of the written examination. Appeals will be entertained only against the Medical Standards Tests and will have to be made to the Appellate Authority designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs within a period of 15 days from the date of declaration of the results of these tests.

(iii) Interview/Personality Test:

Candidates who are declared qualified in the Medical Standards Tests, will be called for Interview/Personality Test to be conducted by Union Public Service Commission. Candidates who are declared medically unfit but allowed to appear before the “Review Medical Board” on their appeal by the Appellate Authority will be called for Interview/Personality Tests provisionally. The Interview/Personality Test will carry 150 Marks. Candidates who are short-listed for Interview/Personality Test, including those short-listed for Interview/Personality Test provisionally will be issued a Detailed Application Form (DAF) in which among other things, they will be required to indicate their preference of Forces. As female candidates are eligible for appointment to CRPF, CISF and SSB only, they will be required to indicate their preference for CRPF, CISF and SSB only.

(iv) Final Selection / Merit:

 The merit list will be drawn on the basis of marks obtained by the candidates in the Written Examination and Interview/Personality Test.

Syllabus of the Written Papers:

Paper I: General Ability and Intelligence:

The objective type questions with multiple choices in this paper will broadly cover the following areas:

1. General Mental Ability: The questions will be designed to test the logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude including numerical ability, and data interpretation.

2. General Science: The questions will be set to test general awareness, scientific temper, comprehension and appreciation of scientific phenomena of everyday observation including new areas of importance like Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Science.

3. Current Events of National and International Importance: The questions will test the candidates’

awareness of current events of national and international importance in the broad areas of culture, music, arts, literature, sports, governance, societal and developmental issues, industry, business, globalisation, and interplay among nations.

4. Indian Polity and Economy: The questions shall aim to test candidates’ knowledge of the Country’s

political system and the Constitution of India, social systems and public administration, economic development in India, regional and international security issues and human rights including its indicators.

5. History of India: The questions will broadly cover the subject in its social, economic and political aspects. This shall also include the areas of growth of nationalism and freedom movement.

6. Indian and World Geography: The questions shall cover the physical, social and economic aspects of geography pertaining to India and the World.

Paper II: General Studies, Essay and Comprehension.

Part-A – Essay questions which are to be answered in long narrative form either in Hindi or English totalling 80 Marks. The indicative topics are modern Indian history especially of the freedom struggle, geography, polity and economy, knowledge of security and human rights issues, and analytical ability.

Part-B – Comprehension, précis writing, other communications/language skills – to be attempted in English only (Marks 120) – The topics are Comprehension passages, précis writing, developing counter arguments, simple grammar and other aspects of language testing

Downloaded From: http://www.upscportal.com

Jai Jawan Pension Loan for Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force, CAPFs etc

A new product “Jai Jawan Pension Loan” has been launched for financing Young Defence Pensioners of Defence and Paramilitary Forces who   retire at very young age, sometimes even in the range of 30 to 35 years. As these young pensioners do not have any means of livelihood other than pension, they find it difficult to meet their emergent financial needs or to spend on setting up small ventures to supplement their income.

Name of the scheme	Jai Jawan Pension Loan
Purpose	To meet personal expenses of young Defence pensioners.
Eligibility	Pensioners of Armed Forces, including Army, Navy and Air Force, Paramilitary Forces, Coast Guards, Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF, BSF,ITBP etc.
Age	Upto 50 years.
Loan amount	48 times of net monthly pension. Subject to maximum of Rs.2.00 lakh subject to EMI/NMI not exceeding 40% of net monthly pension.
Margin	NIL
Guarantee	Third Party Guarantee of Spouse eligible for family pension. In the absence of spouse TPG of any other family member or a third party worth the loan amount.
Repayment	Maximum 84 months, payable one month after disbursal of loan from the pension through SI, to debit the pension account for recovery of monthly instalments.
Type of loan	Clean Demand Loan
Processing fee	Same as for Prasanthi Loan
Disbursement	By credit to SB account/Current account of the pensioner.
Additional document required	An undertaking to recover monthly instalments from pension credited to account.
Rate of interest	13.00% (BPLR)
Authorized Branches	All pension disbursing branches.

Source: http://www.statebankoftravancore.com/new/jaijawan.htm

Govt reply on CAPF’s demands regarding One Rank One Pension and Ex-Servicemen Status

Govt reply on CAPF’s demands regarding One Rank One Pension and Ex-Servicemen Status

Since, Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel retire only on attaining the age of 57/60 years, no further employment benefits are justifiable. The CAPF personnel are entitled for pension and other pensionary benefits as per Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, which are different from the pension rules applicable to Ex-servicemen. Therefore, one rank–one pension is not applicable in case of CAPFs.

The Government has approved a proposal on 1.11.2012 to declare the retired Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) as Ex-Central Armed Police Force personnel (Ex-CAPF personnel). The status “Ex-CAPF” is quite distinct from “Ex-Servicemen” of Defence Forces. Based on such designation of Ex-CAPF personnel, the State/UT Governments concerned can extend benefits to them similar to those being extended to the Ex-Servicemen.

The above information was submitted by MHA in reply of undermentioned Lok Sabha Question:-

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 4608

ANSWERED ON 23.04.2013

DEMAND FROM CAPF

4608 . Shri KIRTI (JHA) AZAD
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has received demands for employment benefits from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) including one rank-one-pension and ex-servicemen status for its personnel etc;

(b) if so, the details thereof ; and

(c) the response of the Government thereon?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)

(a) to (c) : **see above ***

Shinde's announcement to benefit CAPF veterans

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s announcement on that retired Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel will be granted the same privileges given to ex-servicemen of the defence services will benefit the CAPF veterans in large.

It had been a long-standing grievance of the CAPF personnel that they are shown a step-motherly attitude by the government despite serving in some of the toughest, conflict-ridden areas of the country.

“CAPF personnel killed in conflicts are not even being treated as martyrs,’’ P S Nair, a former CRPF man and present general secretary of the AICPMF Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, said.

The CAPF is made up of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

On November 23, 2012, the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an order giving them the status of ‘ex-CAPF personnel’ and urging the state to provide them the benefits now given to personnel retiring from the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Unlike Army, Navy and IAF veterans, who benefit from a large number of post-retirement State Government schemes, CAPF veterans have to be content with just their pension. The association is also planning to stage sit-ins at CAPF HQs across the country on November 12 raising their demands, according to P S Nair, general secretary of the AICPMF Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association.

Central Armed Police Forces Offer Better Career Avenues

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) offer a better avenue to those seeking careers in police forces in terms of career progression, emoluments, facilities for families and work satisfaction, apart from the opportunity to travel across the country when compared to State police services.

The number of people employed in CAPF is more than the combined strength of defence forces, said former IPS officer and HSC Director C. Anjaneya Reddy.

“Competition is less and hence better the opportunities,” he observed and said that HSC had designed a special course to train aspirants.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Inspector-General (South India) N.R.K. Reddy said the representation of candidates from the State was less in CAPF, and that they should consider it as a career opportunity. “Central forces give better pay and facilities along with assured career progression. The facilities and opportunities in Central forces are unmatched,” he said.

Mr. Reddy added that a single exam was conducted for five main organisations - CRPF, Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The exam is rather easy, and vacancies are more.

He said the physical parameters could be met by anyone with minimum preparation. CRPF Deputy Inspector-General Khaja Shujanuddin shared his experiences and said that growth was fast0 and time-bound. Now, CAPF personnel are also regarded as ex-servicemen.

M.V. Krishna Rao, former SSB Director-General and Additional DG, CRPF, advised the candidates to take a shot at CAPF as success rate was high. More than 1,000 officers’ posts are filled every year unlike the State Police where the number is in two digits. Those preparing for UPSC tests and State services should explore these opportunities, he said.

Source:  The Hindu November 10, 2013