A key development is the planned withdrawal of NSG’s ‘black cat’ commandos from VIP security roles
The newly elected Narendra Modi-led NDA government is implementing significant changes to the security arrangements for certain VIPs, according to official sources on Tuesday. This major “shift and overhaul” involves transferring the task of guarding over a dozen high-risk individuals from the National Security Guard (NSG) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to other paramilitary forces as new ministers take charge.
An upcoming review by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will assess the security provided to various political figures, ex-ministers, retired bureaucrats, and others. This review could result in their security being withdrawn, scaled down, or upgraded.
A key development is the planned withdrawal of NSG’s ‘black cat’ commandos from VIP security roles. The nine individuals currently under NSG protection will be transferred to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) VIP security unit. Some VIPs guarded by ITBP personnel might also be shifted to the CRPF or to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)’s Special Security Group (SSG).
Prominent figures currently protected by NSG commandos include Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BSP leader Mayawati, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, veteran BJP leader LK Advani, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh. Others include former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, and Telugu Desam Party leader N Chandrababu Naidu.
The ITBP currently protects veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, and People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti, among others.
This overhaul follows a January 2020 decision to remove the Special Protection Group (SPG) from guarding the Gandhi family—Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The MHA committee had also decided to withdraw NSG from VIP security tasks.
The strategy to remove NSG from VIP security duties has been under consideration since 2012. NSG commanders have anticipated the need to respond rapidly to simultaneous terrorist attacks at various locations, which would require the availability of commandos for quick deployment in multiple directions.
