VIP SECURITY

• This protection is informally called “VIP

Security” , and it is generally given only to
someone who holds a position of
consequence either in the government or in
civil society.
 VVIP Who are entitled security:-
Certain individuals , by reason of positions they hold in
government , are automatically entitled to security cover .
They include:
1. The Prime Minister and his immediate family.
2. The Home Minister.
3. Officials such as the National Security Advisor.
In cases where the central government decides to extent
security to an individual , the level of security needed by any
individual is decided by MHA , based on inputs received
from intelligence agencies which include the Intelligence
Bureau(IB) and Research and Analysis Wing(R&AW).
 Confidential Inputs
• The intelligence inputs that these agencies
generate , particularly in cases where VIP
security is involved , is neither put out in the
public domain nor is it open to scrutiny by any
other agency.
 Concern due to lack of Accountability:
• Indian intelligence agencies are not accountable to any
statutory body, and are subject only to the internal
oversight of the MHA and the Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA).Because of this opacity in functioning, and the fact
that there is virtually no accountability except to the
government in power, VIP security is open to
manipulation by the executive.
• A large number of protectees , it has been alleged, are
under security cover purely
for political or “prestige” reasons, and not necessarily
because of any genuine threat.
 Levels and Categories of Protection:
There are broadly six categories of security cover:-X, Y, Y-plus, Z,
Z-plus, and SPG (Special Protection Group).The SPG is meant
only for the Prime Minister and his immediate family, other
protection categories can be provided to anyone about whom
the Centre or state governments have inputs of a threat .
There are various kinds of security cover even within these
levels. These include:-
(i) Security of residence,
(ii) Mobile security,
(iii) Office security, and
(iv) Inter-state security .
The number of personnel guarding the protectee differ from category to
category . In India, security details are provided to some high-risk
individuals by the police and local government. Depending on the threat
perception to the person, the category is divided into four tiers: Z+ (highest
level), Z, Y and X.
Individuals under this security blanket include the President, Vice
President, Prime Minister, Supreme Court and High Court Judges, Service
Chiefs of Indian Armed Forces, Governors of State, Chief Ministers and
Cabinet Ministers.
(01) SPG category is a security detail whose strength is classified (only
provided to the Prime Minister of India).
(02) Z+ category is a security detail of 55 personnel, including 10+ NSG
commandos and police personnel.
(03) Z category is a security detail of 22 personnel, including 4 or 5 NSG
commandos and police personnel.
(04) Y category is a security detail of 11 personnel, including 1 or 2
commandos and police personnel.
(05) X category is a security detail of 2 personnel, with no commandos but
only armed police personnel.
●The Z+ level of security is provided by National Security
Guard commandos. They are armed with Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-
machine guns and modern communication equipment, and each
member of the team is adept in martial arts and unarmed combat
skills. Currently 17 VIPs are provided with such protection.
●[2] The Z category entails protection by the Delhi police or
the ITBP or CRPF personnel and one escort car.
●The Y category encompasses two personal security officers
(PSOs) and
●The X category, one PSO
●[3]The SPG (Special Protection Group), NSG (National Security
Guards), ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) and CRPF (Central
Reserve Police Force) CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) are
the agencies responsible for providing securities to VVIPs, VIPs,
politicians, high-profile celebrities and sportspersons.
The NSG is used extensively to guard VIPs and VVIPs, especially those
in the Z+ category. Many NSG personnel are seconded to the Special
Protection Group (SPG) which guards the Prime Minister.
 
(a)X category:-The X category on average entails just one gunman
protecting the individual. The X category is the most basic level of
protection.
(b)Z-plus category:-Z-plus category protectees have 10 security
personnel for mobile security, and two (plus 8 on rotation) for
residence security.
 Different Forces Involved:
• Protectees get residence security from state police, but mobile security
from a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).
• Central Armed Police Forces of India is a group of forces (under
the Ministry of Home Affairs) for internal security. It includes the CRPF,
CISF, ITBP, etc.
• For VIPs other than the PM, the government has mandated the National
Security Guard (NSG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),the Central
Industrial Security Force (CISF) and state police to provide security cover.
• The government has intended over the years to reduce the burden of VIP
security on the NSG, because the core function of the NSG is counter-
terrorism operations, not providing VIP security.
• It is for this reason that the Home Minister and NSA have been given
CRPF and CISF cover respectively.
 Paying for the Protection:
• On Assessment by the Intelligence
Agencies: Anyone to whom the government
provides security after assessment by intelligence
agencies, gets the protection for free.
• However, those who have an elaborate security
cover such as those in the Z and Z-plus
categories, may have to consider accommodation
for these security personnel on their own.
 Private Individuals:
• Those who apply for the security but their
case is not having consequences on the
government and civil society, the government
can charge a private individual for their
security cover even after assessing a threat to
them.