Special Protection Group (SPG)

Introduction

SPG is an elite force tasked with the responsibility of providing security cover to the Prime minister, previous Prime Ministers and their immediate family members. The SPG Act was enacted by the Parliament in 1988. Initially, the Act didn’t provide for SPG protection for former Prime Ministers and their families. 

• After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, SPG Act was amended to provide SPG protection to all former Prime Ministers (PMs) and their families for a minimum period of 10 years. 
• In 2003 SPG act was amended to reduce the period of protection for former PMs from a minimum of 10 years to 1 year, which can be extended based on the review of the level of threat.
• The current Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the sole person now protected by the SPG.