Gunning for a future in
paramilitary forces
Usha Albuquerque

The paramilitary services are broadly classified into three major categories. These include the Central protective services, the state protective services and the fire services.

Central protective services

The various organisations that come under the jurisdiction of the Central Government other than the defence forces, include the BSF; the CRPF; the ITBP; Railway Protective Force (RPF); Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as also the Home Guards; Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI.); Central Excise and Customs Departments; and the Coast Guard.

State protective services

The forces which come under the control of the state governments are the police forces and the prisons and jail departments of various states.

The fire services form a separate category. These services are required for protection against fires, not only in the developed urban areas, but also in the major forest areas where there are major occurrences of fires.

In general, students who have cleared the matriculatation (sometimes even lower level) examination may join as constables, guards etc. in the protective services. Graduates can also join as sub-inspectors. Competitive exams are held for recruitment of graduates to the posts of Assistant Commandants/ Deputy Superintendent of Police/ Company Commander and so on, in these services.

Candidates should also have a good physique, and physical fitness, according to the specified height, weight and chest measurements.

However, there are not many openings in this field for women and those that exist are restricted to the positions of constables and researchers.

The BSF, as the name suggests, is a paramilitary service created for safeguarding the borders, for the protection of life and property in border areas, for the purpose of collection of intelligence reports and the prevention of smuggling and infiltration.

BSF beckons

Officials in the BSF have to collect intelligence reports and ensure the prevention of smuggling and infiltration in the border areas.

The BSF also performs an important role during war time, as was seen recently during the Kargil conflict. This involves the protection of vital installations, such as airfields and bridges against enemy raids. The BSF holds ground till the main forces arrive and assists the Army in the maintenance of the line of communication.

Occasionally, at the request of the state governments, the BSF personnel are also deployed for internal security duty.

There are three main branches of the BSF. The General Duty Service branch deals with work relating to the protection of the borders against external aggression, including infiltrations. The Medical Service branch consists of medical personnel and doctors, who look after the health of the BSF personnel., while the technical branch is mainly entrusted with the task of maintaining the vehicles, buildings, and also the communication set-up in the service.

Recruitment route

Entrance to this branch of the paramilitary services is organised and conducted by the Special Selection Board (SSB) of the Central Police Organisation.

The posts of Constable, Head Constable and Assistant Sub-Inspector are filled on the basis of written tests, comprising papers on Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and held at Jalandhar, Jodhpur, Kolkata, Siliguri, Shillong, Agartala, New Delhi, Bangalore, Srinagar and Jammu.

For posts of Assistant Commandants, candidates should be graduates of average intelligence. Moreover, there are certain physical and medical standards that have been specified by the Special Selection Board of the Central Police Organisations. These include a minimum height of 165cm (for men) and 157cm (for women), and the minimum weight requirements are 50 kg for men and 46kg for women. Moreover, candidates will have to undergo the Physical Efficiency Test and are also required to pass high-grade colour vision tests.

Directly recruited officers, non-gazetted officers and jawans undergo training for 21 weeks at the Border Security Force Academy in Takenpur (Madhya Pradesh). Thereafter, they have to undergo professional training in subjects like border studies, border problems, prevention of trans-border crimes and international law.

Call of the CRPF

Apart from assisting the armed forces in their various tasks, the Central Reserve Police Force is responsible for preserving internal security, as well as assisting the state governments in maintaining law and order. The force also assists the police in protecting public sector undertakings and assists the customs authorities in preventing smuggling over the land and sea frontiers of the country. Moreover, the CRPF is also deployed on rescue and relief operations during natural calamities.

Entry into the gazetted posts of this branch of the paramilitary services is also on the basis of an examination, physical efficiency test and interview.

Senior posts in the cadre, like those of the Commandant, Deputy Inspector-General, Inspector-General and Director-General are filled on the basis of transfer/ deputation from the Army or from the Indian and State Police Services. The CRPF has its Officers' Training Academy at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh.

Constable recruits are put through 36 weeks of training at one of the four training centres, based at Avadi (Tamil Nadu), Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) and Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir).

Sub-inspectors undergo a basic training of 36 weeks at the Central Training College at Avadi (Chennai).

The other paramilitary services also proffer similar roles and requirements for entry, and prmise challenging opportunities. While those who enter these services have to be prepared for the occupational hazards implied in the service, including risk to life and physical disabilities, particularly during times of civil commotion, riots and other exigencies, the work in the paramilitary services, similar to that of the defence services, can provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction to an individual, with a sense of having served one's country in the time of crises and natural calamities. The services also provide a good career to those who have quick reflexes, presence of mind, and a liking for a disciplined lifestyle, and for challenging outdoor duties.