Defence
Which is the only paramilitary force in India with a dual-control structure?
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Answer: Option C — Assam Rifles
Detailed Solution
The Assam Rifles is the only paramilitary force in India with a "dual-control" structure.
About its dual control:
- Administrative control is with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which handles its budget, pay and infrastructure.
- Operational control is with the Indian Army, under the Ministry of Defence.
- Most of its officers are from the Indian Army, and it is headed by a Director General who is a Lieutenant General of the Army.
- There have been proposals to merge it with the ITBP or place it fully under one ministry, but the dual structure continues.
About the Assam Rifles:
- It is the oldest paramilitary force in India.
- It was raised in 1835 by the British as the "Cachar Levy", a force of about 750 men, to protect British tea estates and settlements in Assam from tribal raids.
- It was renamed several times, and became the "Assam Rifles" in 1917, during the First World War, in recognition of its service.
- It fought in both World Wars.
- Its headquarters is in Shillong, Meghalaya.
- It is called the "Sentinels of the North East" and the "Friends of the North East People" (its motto).
Its roles:
- Guarding the India-Myanmar border (since 2002).
- Counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
- Helping the civil administration in maintaining law and order and during natural disasters.
- Development and welfare activities for local people ("Operation Sadbhavana").
India's Central Armed Police Forces (under the MHA):
- Border Security Force (BSF): 1965; guards borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): 1939 (as the Crown Representative's Police); largest CAPF.
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): 1962; guards the border with China.
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): 1963; guards borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): 1969; protects industries, airports and the new Parliament.
- National Security Guard (NSG): 1984; counter-terrorism.
- Assam Rifles is counted among the CAPFs for administrative purposes.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The ITBP guards the India-China border and is fully under the MHA.
- ✗Good to know
- ✗The BSF guards the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- ✗The SSB guards the borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
Quick tip
Remember: Assam Rifles = dual control (MHA administrative, Army operational); oldest paramilitary (1835, Cachar Levy); HQ Shillong; guards the Myanmar border; ITBP = China; SSB = Nepal and Bhutan; BSF = Pakistan and Bangladesh.
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Defence Technology & Missiles — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Defence Technology & Missiles, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's defence technology: the missiles developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and later, their types and ranges, DRDO, defence equipment such as aircraft, tanks, submarines and warships, and military exercises with other countries. Common questions ask what type a missile is (Prithvi is surface-to-surface, Akash is surface-to-air, and Nag is anti-tank), which missile was developed with Russia (BrahMos), and which countries take part in a joint exercise. Lists of exercises and newly inducted equipment change often, so check current affairs as well. Practise the defence technology and missiles questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.