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Special Protection Group (SPG)
SPG is an elite force tasked with providing security cover to the Prime minister, previous Prime Ministers, and their immediate family members
It was implemented after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
Initially, the act did not provide for SPG protection to former prime ministers and their families. In 1989, when VP Singh assumed power, he did not extend protection to former PM Rajiv Gandhi
However, after the death of Rajiv Gandhi, the act was revised to give SPG insurance to all previous Prime Ministers (PMs) and their families for a base time of 10 years
In 2003, the SPG act was changed to decrease security time to previous PMs from at least 10 years to 1 year, which can be broadened depending on the audit of the level of danger. As of now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only one under SPG security
In 2019, the Government of India decided to withdraw SPG protection provided to the Nehru–Gandhi family and accorded them with Z+ Security of CRPF after the threat assessment
What are the different levels of safety?
Security covers are classified as X, Y, Y+, Z, Z+, and SPG.
While the SPG is only for the Prime Minister and his immediate family, the other categories can be given to anyone who the Center or state governments have information about who is facing a threat.
X category: There is typically only one gunman protecting the individual
Y category: There is one gunman for mobile security and one (plus four on rotation) for static security. Y plus has two policemen on rotation for security and one (plus four on rotation) for residence security
Z category: There are six gunmen for mobile security and two (plus eight) for residence security.
What criteria are used to determine security levels?
After weighing the inputs from all intelligence agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing, the Union Home Ministry makes this decision (RAW).
The issue of security cover, however, is open to manipulation because none of the intelligence agencies are accountable to any external statutory body, with the exception of internal oversight by the Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs.
When and why was the Special Protection Group (SPG) established?
The SPG was founded in 1985, following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.
When V P Singh came to power in 1989, his government revoked SPG protections granted to Rajiv Gandhi.
However, after Rajiv’s assassination in 1991, the SPG Act was amended to provide at least ten years of protection to all former prime ministers and their families.
In 2003, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government amended the SPG Act once more, reducing the automatic protection period from ten years to “one year.”
Former Prime Ministers H D Deve Gowda, I K Gujaral, and P V Narasimha Rao had their SPG coverage revoked during the Vajpayee regime.
Intelligence Bureau (IB)
Intelligence Bureau (IB) is India’s internal intelligence organization to gather intelligence from within India and execute counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism tasks.
History of IB
Major General Charles MacGregor was appointed Quartermaster General of the British Indian Army in Simla in 1885, and was thus in charge of the army’s intelligence operations. The main concern at the time was keeping an eye on Russian troop deployments in Afghanistan in order to prevent a northwest invasion of British India. In response to the emergence of Indian revolutionary activities, the Indian Political Intelligence Office was established in England in 1909. In 1921, it was renamed Indian Political Intelligence (IPI), and it was established as a surveillance and monitoring agency jointly run by the India Office and the Government of India, with close ties to Scotland Yard and MI5. IPI became the Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs after India gained independence in 1947.
Major functions of IB:
IB and Counter-terrorism:
IB is tasked with collecting intelligence inside India over any terrorist threats to India and disseminates the same to concerned agencies
This involves keeping track of individuals, groups and organizations having terrorist links and countering separatist and violent movements in Northeast, Jammu and Kashmir etc
IB and Border Intelligence:
IB has been tasked with collecting intelligence in border areas that India shares with Pakistan, Nepal, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan by closely working with border protection forces
IB and VIP Security:
IB has been tasked with gathering intelligence over any security threats to VIPs and sharing the same with concerned agencies. After the assessment of threat or danger by intelligence departments, VIP security is provided to the dignitaries
IB and Counter-intelligence:
IB has the responsibility to counter the operations of intelligence organizations of other countries in India
IB and Infrastructure security:
IB has been responsible for protecting critical infrastructure in the country by working in close association with the Central Industrial Security Force
