CAPF AC 2022 Q76: Defence & Security – Armed Forces & Operations
- (a) The Central Reserve Police Force
- (b) The Border Security Force
- (c) The Assam Rifles
- (d) The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action
Answer: (c) The Assam Rifles
Explanation
The oldest paramilitary force
How to think: compare the years of raising.
The Assam Rifles began in 1835 as the Cachar Levy.
No other force comes close.
| Force | Raised in | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Assam Rifles | 1835 | Called the Sentinels of the North East; guards the India-Myanmar border |
| CRPF | 1939 | Began as the Crown Representative's Police; renamed in 1949 |
| BSF | 1965 | Raised after the war with Pakistan |
| CoBRA | 2008 | A specialised unit within the CRPF for jungle warfare |
Special feature of the Assam Rifles: it works under dual control.
The Ministry of Home Affairs handles administration, while the Indian Army has operational control.
Answer: (c) The Assam Rifles.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The CRPF dates from 1939, a century after the Assam Rifles.
- (b) Incorrect. The BSF was raised only in 1965.
- (c) CORRECT. The Assam Rifles, raised in 1835, is the oldest paramilitary force.
- (d) Incorrect. CoBRA was formed in 2008 as part of the CRPF.
Key point
Raising years: Assam Rifles 1835, CRPF 1939, ITBP 1962, SSB 1963, BSF 1965, CISF 1969, NSG 1984. Assam Rifles: Sentinels of the North East, headquartered at Shillong, dual control of MHA and Army.
Remember
Assam Rifles, 1835: the oldest paramilitary force.
Common mistakes
- Marking the CRPF because it is the largest force.
- Treating CoBRA as a separate force; it is a wing of the CRPF.
- Forgetting that the Assam Rifles started as the Cachar Levy.
Exam tip
Educated guess: a force with a regional colonial name like Assam Rifles goes back to the East India Company's days. The others were created for needs of the 20th century.
Sources
- Assam Rifles — History of the force (Cachar Levy, 1835)
- Ministry of Home Affairs — Annual Report: Central Armed Police Forces and Assam Rifles