India maintains 10 paramilitary forces.[1]
From 1986 to 2011 the Central Armed Police Forces were considered as Central Police Forces (CPF).[2] However, as per their respective acts they all are Armed Police Forces.[3][4] Technically, the paramilitary forces of India are the Assam Rifles, the Special Frontier Force and the Indian Coast Guard. The Assam Rifles is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the operational control of the Ministry of Defence. Assam Rifles is headed by a Director General of the rank of Lieutenant General of the Indian Army. While the Special Frontier Force is under the administrative control of Cabinet Secretariat. The Indian Coast Guard is under administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. The remaining forces are the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, SSB and NSG, which are technically armed police forces under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, collectively known as the Central Armed Police Forces.
Rank group | Junior commissioned officers | Non commissioned officer | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Subedar Major सूबेदार मेजर |
Subedar सूबेदार |
Naib Subedar नायब सूबेदार |
Warrant officer - |
Havildar[note 10] हवलदार |
Rifleman[note 11] -
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subedar Major सूबेदार मेजर |
Inspector - |
Sub inspector - |
Assistant Sub inspector - |
Head Constable - |
Naik नायक |
Constable -
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subedar Major - |
Inspector - |
Sub-inspector - |
Assistant Sub-inspector - |
Head Constable - |
Constable -
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subedar Major सूबेदार मेजर |
Assistant Commander-1 - |
Assistant Commander-2 - |
Assistant Commander-3 - |
Ranger Grade I - |
Ranger Grade II - |
Combatised tradesmen -
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No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subedar Major सूबेदार मेजर |
Inspector - |
Sub inspector - |
Assistant Sub inspector - |
Head Constable - |
Naik नायक |
Lance Naik लांस नायक |
Constable -
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Subedar Major | Subedar | Naib Subedar | Havildar | Naik | Lance Naik | Sepoy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank group | Junior commissioned officers | Non commissioned officer | Enlisted |