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Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

CAPFs are the backbone of India's internal security apparatus, crucial for maintaining peace, combating terrorism, and managing borders. Understanding their structure, roles, and challenges is vital for GS3 (Internal Security) and GS2 (Federalism).

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are the uniform nomenclature for various paramilitary organizations in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, primarily responsible for internal security, border guarding, and assisting state police forces in maintaining law and order.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Parent Ministry

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

Primary Role

Internal security, border management, counter-insurgency, law & order assistance.

Examples

CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, CISF, NSG, Assam Rifles.

Deployment

Deployed across states and Union Territories, often in aid of civil administration.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaInternal Security

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of Home AffairsAdministers
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding

Quick revision

  • Umbrella term for central paramilitary forces under MHA.
  • Key roles: internal security, border guarding, counter-insurgency.
  • Examples: CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, CISF, NSG, Assam Rifles.
  • Deployment often involves Centre-State coordination.
  • Crucial for national security and law enforcement.

High-confidence PYQs

2025Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Indian PolityOpen question
2023Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances...

Indian PolityOpen question
2023Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Indian PolityOpen question

Consider the following statements : 1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances...

Indian PolityOpen question
2022Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of...

Indian PolityOpen question
2018Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then -

Indian PolityOpen question
2014Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its

Indian PolityOpen question

Topic timeline

Internal Security
Prelims 2014· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

The power of the Supreme Court of India to decide disputes between the Centre and the States falls under its

Open question
Prelims 2018· Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then -

Open question
Prelims 2022· Conceptual understanding, Institutional roles and functions

If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements : 1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards act and Rules of the Central Government. 2...

Open question

Consider the following statements : 1. According to the Constitution of India, the Central Government has a duty to protect States from internal disturbances...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Consider the following subjects under the Constitution of India: I. List I–Union List, in the Seventh Schedule II. Extent of the executive power of a State ...

Open question

Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction...

Open question

Consider the following statements: With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule...

Open question

89 additional CAPF units, advanced surveillance, real-time monitoring for safe Amarnath yatra this year

30 May 2026 · CAPFs are MHA-controlled central forces for internal security, border guarding, and law enforcement support to states, playing a critical role in India's federal security framework.

Read article

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Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)

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Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

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