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The Defense Forces of India constitutes many soldiers within various departments that people are still unaware of. Just like that, in the Indian Army, there are Military, Paramilitary and CAPF departments, all of which are unique and distinctive from each other.Â
In this article, we will share all the details on how the Military, Paramilitary and CAPF of India differ.
What are the Military, Paramilitary and CAPF of India?
Paramilitary, Military and CAPF are three sections of the Indian army with the different operational structures and reporting authorities. Further, there are additional few things that are different for each of them that we will mention in the coming paragraph. But before that, let us describe every section in some detail.
1. MilitaryÂ
Also known as the Defense Force of India, the Military is the most admired post among candidates and civilians. The three posts in the military are the Indian Army, Navy and Indian Air Force.
2. Paramilitary ForceÂ
Paramilitary is the auxiliary force that provides additional assistance to the Defense Forces of India for successfully completing work.
3. CAPFÂ
CAPF, or the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), has a significant role in handling the country’s internal security. There are two significant components of CAPF:Â
- BSF- Border Security Forces
- CISF- Central Industrial Security Force
What’s the Difference Between the Military, Paramilitary and CAPF of India?
| Military | Paramilitary | CAPF | |
| Sub-Divisions | 1.Indian Army 2.Indian Navy 3.Indian Air Force | 1.Assam Rifles 2.Indian Coast 3.Guard Special Frontier Force | 1. Central Reserve Police Force 2. Central Industrial Security Force 3. Indo-Tibetian Border Police Force |
| Objective | To work closely on the matters like protecting the country from external threats from terrorists & neighbouring countries. | The primary role of the Paramilitary is to protect the citizens of India from internal issues and affairs of the country. | The role of CAPF is to protect the border area and other sensitive zones. They also assist the state police for law and order maintenance. |
| Reporting Authority | Ministry of Defense | 1.Assam Rifles 2.Indian Coast 3.Guard Special Frontier Force | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Head of the Force | 4 Star Officer of Equivalent Rank of General of Army | 3 Star Officer of Equivalent Rank of Director General of Police | Only the IPS Officer heads the department. However, a CAPF officer can be promoted to an Assistant Director-General of Police. But the post of Director-General is reserved for the IPS officer only. |
The roles and responsibilities of the Military, Paramilitary and CAPF might differ from each other. In the end, the main motto of all the forces is protecting the country from external and internal threats.