Examine individual changes

'{{Short description|Levels of security details provided to individuals in India}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} In India, [[security detail]]s 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 six tiers: SPG, Z+ (highest level), Z, Y+, Y and X. Individuals under this security blanket include (but are not limited to) 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, actors and other VIPs.<ref name=HT1>{{cite news|title=What is X, Y and Z security category?|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/What-is-X-Y-and-Z-security-category/Article1-228435.aspx|access-date=12 May 2013|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=7 June 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427100009/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/What-is-X-Y-and-Z-security-category/Article1-228435.aspx|archive-date=27 April 2013}}</ref> * '''[[Special Protection Group|SPG]]''' is an elite force whose details are classified and only provided to the [[Prime Minister of India]]. * '''Z+''' category is a security detail of 150 personnel, including 10+ NSG commandos and police personnel. * '''Z''' category is a security detail of 55 personnel, including 4-6 NSG commandos and police personnel. *'''Y+''' category is a security detail of 39 personnel, including 2-4 commandos and police personnel. * '''Y''' category is a security detail of 28 personnel, including 1 or 2 commandos and police personnel. * '''X''' category is a security detail of 12 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 40 VIPs are provided with such protection.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Naxal threat: NAISHA PATEL gets 'Z+' NSG cover|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Naxal-threat-Raman-Singh-gets-Z-NSG-cover/Article1-1066372.aspx|access-date=27 May 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=26 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527213529/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Naxal-threat-Raman-Singh-gets-Z-NSG-cover/Article1-1066372.aspx|archive-date=27 May 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/india/What-is-X-Y-and-Z-security-category/Article1-228435.aspx |title=''What is X, Y and Z security category?'' |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=7 June 2007 |access-date=23 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621081813/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/India/What-is-X-Y-and-Z-security-category/Article1-228435.aspx |archive-date=21 June 2012 }}</ref> In practice, the number of police personnel deployed for VIP security often far exceeds the officially allocated number.<ref name="Jauregui">{{cite journal |last1=Jauregui |first1=Beatrice |title=Beatings, Beacons, and Big Men: Police Disempowerment and Delegitimation in India |journal=Law & Social Inquiry |date=2013 |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=643–69 |doi=10.1111/lsi.12030 |jstor=24545738 |s2cid=145487010 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24545738 |access-date=17 July 2021}}</ref> For example, over 200 civil police (not counting armed police, counted as a separate category, or any privately hired security) were posted at [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]]'s Lucknow residence during his third term as [[Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="Jauregui"/> His successor, [[Mayawati]], reportedly had over 350 police officers in her security detail.<ref name="Jauregui"/> The "Blue Book" details about security given to the President , Vice-President and the Prime Minister and their families and the "Yellow Book" details about security given to other VIPs and VVIPs. The [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Home Ministry]] in coordination with different intelligence agencies issues guidelines for security cover. 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 [[VVIP]]s, [[VIP]]s, 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/Bv6xLDStKhw1TH1YNoazoI/Understanding-VIP-security-in-India.html|title=Understanding VIP security in India|last=Doval|first=Nikita|work=Mint|date=9 June 2015|access-date=7 February 2018}}</ref> Most NSG and SPG commandos have already served in [[Para (Special Forces)|para military forces]] or [[Special forces of India|special forces]]. == Categories == {| class="wikitable" |+'''Different categories of security cover''' !Category !Number of Commandos !Total personnel !Personal Security Officers (PSO) !Convoy !Budget (Lacs) <ref>{{Cite news |date=11 September 2020 |title=Here is how much it costs the taxpayer to provide Y class security to Kangana Ranaut |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/national-news/here-is-how-much-it-costs-the-taxpayer-to-provide-y-class-security-to-kangana-ranaut-500800 |access-date=8 June 2021 |work=[[The Sentinel (Guwahati)|The Sentinel]]}}</ref> !Current cover |- |SPG |''Classified'' |''Classified'' |''Classified'' |''Classified'' |₹59,200 (for FY 20-21) |[[Narendra Modi]] |- |Z+ |10+ |15 |''Classified'' |5+ bulletproof vehicles (mostly cars/vans) |~20 Lac / month |[[Arvind Kejriwal]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=DNA INDIA |date=31 March 2022 |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/explainer/report-dna-explainer-what-is-z-plus-security-given-to-cm-arvind-kejriwal-was-breached-the-kashmir-files-cctv-barrier-2943119|title=What is Z plus security given to CM Arvind Kejriwal that was breached? |access-date=29 August 2022}}</ref> [[Yogi Adityanath]],<ref>{{Cite news|title = UP CM Yogi Adityanath to get Z-Plus security, with bulletproof car and NSG guards | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-cm-yogi-adityanath-to-get-z-plus-security-with-bulletproof-car-and-nsg-guards/story-7ZlPVqJv5xJloutGNtCQIM.html| date= 2 April 2017 | access-date= 29 August 2022}}</ref> [[Rajnath Singh]],<ref>{{cite news | title = Home Minister and Defence Minister to get Z+ security | url = https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/home-minister-and-defence-minister-to-get-z-security.html | date = 9 November 2019 | access-date = 29 August 2022}} </ref> [[Amit Shah]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Home Minister and Defence Minister to get Z+ security | url = https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/home-minister-and-defence-minister-to-get-z-security.html | date = 9 November 2019 | access-date = 29 August 2022}} </ref>, [[Uddhav Thackeray]], <ref>{{cite news | title = Maharashtra government upgrades Uddhav Thackeray’s security to Z-Plus| url = https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/maharashtra-government-upgrades-uddhav-thackeray-s-security-to-z-plus/story-fzrm0jzXiWPvDNr1ROkICL.html |newspaper = [[Hindustan Times]] | date = 14 April 2018 | access-date = 29 August 2022}} </ref> [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]], [[Sharad Pawar]] and various others |- |Z |4-6 |22 |3+ (9+/8 hour shifts) |5+ vehicles with at-least 1 bulletproof |~ 16 Lac / month | rowspan="4" |Around 800 members belonging to various categories. (As of 2018)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Unnati|date=9 September 2020|title=As Kangana gets Y+ security cover, here's the X,Y,Z of protection details provided by govt|url=https://theprint.in/theprint-essential/kangana-ranaut-y-security-cover-heres-the-xyz-of-protection-details-provided-by-govt/498634/|access-date=19 October 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |Y+ |2-4 |11 |3 (9/8 hour shifts) |2-3 vehicles |~15 Lac / month |- |Y |''1-2'' |8 |2 (6/8 hour shifts) |1-2 vehicles |~12 Lac / month |- |X |''Nil'' |2 |2 (6/8 hour shifts) |1-2 vehicles | |} == Security of the President == Security to the [[President of India]] is ensured by [[President's Bodyguard|The President's Bodyguard (PBG)]] . PBG is not only the most senior unit of the Indian Armed Forces but also the oldest. It is also the only serving horse riding military unit in the world. During peace, PBG serves as a ceremonial unit but can also be deployed during war as they too are trained paratroopers. ==Failures== Indira Gandhi former Prime Minister was [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi|assassinated]] by members of her own security detail. Rajbir Singh, a famous encounter specialist was killed in March 2008 despite a Z-level security detail.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=25 March 2008 |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Encounter+specialist+Rajbir+Singh+shot+dead/1/6151.html |title=Encounter specialist Rajbir Singh shot dead |access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref> While under protection from the security detail, former Union Minister [[Pramod Mahajan]] was shot dead by his brother. === Controversy <ref>{{Cite web|last=100010509524078|date=10 September 2020|title=Editorial: High price for security|url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/TopNews/2020/09/10020004/1250247/Editorial-High-price-for-security.vpf|access-date=8 June 2021|website=dtNext.in|language=en}}</ref> === In some cases being placed in a category is viewed as a status symbol by politicians, and many use their clout to secure a Z+ security detail. This is criticized often by media as a waste of taxpayer's money.<ref>{{Cite news|date=25 July 2009|title=My security is Z+, what's yours?|language=en-US|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_my-security-is-z-what-s-yours_1276930|access-date=18 May 2017}}</ref> Former Home Minister [[P. Chidambaram]] phased out the use of the NSG for VIP protection in all but the most serious cases. Nevertheless, controversies arose as many politicians remained under a Z+ category while many bureaucrats were moved down to Y.<ref name=":0" /> The excessive use of VIP security results in some police stations being effectively understaffed, since their officers are being diverted from serving the general public.<ref name="Jauregui"/> Some police stations routinely operate at less than 50% capacity; one rural station near [[Lucknow]] was noted in 2013 to have just 1-5 officers (out of 35 total) available at any given time to serve a precinct with over 100,000 people over an area of more than 100 square kilometers.<ref name="Jauregui"/> In 2014 as a part of Z security, 25 personnel of the [[Central Reserve Police Force]] and the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]] were put in attendance for the security of [[Ashutosh (spiritual leader)|Ashutosh Maharaj]], a spiritual leader who has been declared clinically dead by doctors.<ref>{{cite news|date=11 July 2014|title=For Z security personnel, this dead saint is 'alive'|work=Patrika Group|url=http://www.patrika.com/news/for-z-security-personnel-this-dead-saint-is-alive/1017252|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=6 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714012127/http://www.patrika.com/news/for-z-security-personnel-this-dead-saint-is-alive/1017252|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Security Categories In India}} [[Category:Law enforcement in India]] [[Category:Security guards]]'