The Union government has directed the complete withdrawal of National Security Guard (NSG) commandos from VIP security duties, with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) set to take charge of nine high-risk VIPs, official sources said on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sanctioned the attachment of a newly trained CRPF battalion to its VIP security wing. This battalion had previously been assigned to Parliament security before the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took over following a security breach last year.
The move will see the transfer of the security responsibilities for high-profile 'Z plus' category VIPs including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his predecessor and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
These VIPs are currently guarded by the NSG’s elite ‘black cat’ commandos, known for their counter-terrorism expertise. However, the CRPF is set to take over their security by November, marking the completion of a significant shift in the government’s approach to VIP protection.
Transfer of duties
According to a senior MHA official, the CRPF, which already has six dedicated VIP security battalions, will absorb a seventh battalion for this new responsibility.
This battalion, withdrawn from Parliament duties earlier this year, will be tasked with protecting the aforementioned VIPs.
Sources indicate that Andhra Pradesh Police recently visited Delhi to finalise the transition of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s security from the NSG to the CRPF.
Two of the VIPs—Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath—will have the added benefit of the advanced security liaison (ASL) protocol under the CRPF’s watch. ASL involves a detailed reconnaissance of locations to be visited by the VIP, ensuring the area is secure before their arrival.
The CRPF currently undertakes this protocol for five other VIPs, including Home Minister Amit Shah, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and three members of the Gandhi family—Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
A long-awaited transition
The decision to relieve the NSG from VIP security duties has been in the works since 2012. At that time, NSG commanders warned of a future scenario in which simultaneous terrorist attacks could occur across multiple locations, necessitating the rapid deployment of NSG units to different areas.
In 2020, following the removal of Special Protection Group (SPG) cover from the Gandhi family, a Ministry of Home Affairs committee recommended that the NSG be withdrawn from VIP security duties altogether.
The reasoning behind the recommendation was to allow the NSG to focus on its core mandate—counter-terrorism and counter-hijack operations—rather than being weighed down by VIP protection responsibilities.
The withdrawal of the NSG from VIP security marks the end of over two decades of service in this role. Originally formed in 1984, the NSG’s primary mission has always been to handle specialised counter-terrorism operations, rather than VIP security.
Refocusing the NSG
The government’s decision reflects a broader strategy to "restructure" the NSG. Once relieved of VIP security duties, approximately 450 ‘black cat’ commandos will be freed up to form specialised strike teams in high-risk areas.
Some of these units are expected to be stationed near critical locations, such as the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and other sensitive sites in southern India.
As the NSG celebrates its 40th anniversary, this move is seen as an effort to return the force to its original mission. According to sources, the Union government believes that VIP security was becoming a "burden" on the NSG’s limited resources and specialist capabilities.
The CRPF, meanwhile, is well-positioned to take over VIP protection, having developed expertise in this area over the years. With the addition of the new battalion, it will be better equipped to handle the security needs of high-profile individuals.
This significant transition is expected to be completed by November, reshaping the landscape of VIP security in India.
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