Difference Between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 6th, 2023
The major difference between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force is that the paramilitary force is not a part of the formal army that looks into external security, the Military comes under the Defence Forces of India, and Central Armed Police Force or CAPF is the security forces of India that work under the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, many people often get confused about the Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Forces.
Difference Between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force PDF
Every country ensures its external and internal security. All countries protect their sovereignty and maintain law and order with the help of different groups that work under different forces. India also invests in the most powerful armed defence groups. The three important groups in India include CAPF, Military, and Paramilitary forces. Here, we have discussed the difference between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force, along with a brief introduction.
Table of content
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1.
Difference Between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force
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2.
Difference Between Military and Paramilitary
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3.
Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force
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4.
What is Paramilitary Force?
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5.
What is Military Force?
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6.
What is Central Armed Police Force or CAPF?
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7.
Key Difference Between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force
Difference Between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force
There is a wide difference between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force in the structure of operation, different forces included, and their commanders. The following table provides a clear understanding of the differences between the forces.
Paramilitary vs Military vs Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)
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Difference Between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force |
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Paramilitary Forces |
Military |
CAPF |
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The Ministry for Home Affairs for Assam Rifles and the Ministry of Defense for Special Frontier Force is the governing body of Paramilitary forces. |
The Ministry of Defence is the governing body of Military forces. |
The Ministry of Home Affairs is the governing body of CAPF. |
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The responsibilities of Paramilitary forces include protecting from internal threats like left-wing extremism, Naxalites, and Maoists. |
Military forces’ responsibilities include safeguarding the nation’s external boundaries from terrorism and hostility from other countries. |
The responsibilities of CAPF include securing country borders from illegal border insurgence and smuggling from the borders. |
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The Director-General of Police heads paramilitary forces. |
4 Star Officer of Equivalent Rank of General of Army heads the Military forces. |
An IPS Officer heads CAPF. |
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It comprises of: Special Frontier Force Indian Coast Guard Assam Rifles |
It comprises of: Indian Navy Indian Air Force Indian Army |
It comprises of: Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Central Industrial Security Force Central Reserve Police Force |
Difference Between Military and Paramilitary
A significant difference between military and paramilitary forces is that Military forces are divided into four sub-heads: Indian Army Personnel., Indian Air Force Personnel, Indian Navy Personnel, and Indian Coast Guard Personnel.
In comparison, Paramilitary Forces of India is an informally used term for Assam Rifles (AR) – CAPF, Special Frontier Force (SFF) – Intelligence, and Indian Coast Guard Personnel – Indian Armed Force.
Military vs Paramilitary
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Difference Between Military and Paramilitary Forces |
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Military forces |
Paramilitary Forces |
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The training salary is INR 56,100 – 1,77,500/-. |
The training salary is approximately INR 37,000/-. |
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To recruit army officers, CDS or Combined Defence Services exam is conducted. |
The recruiting exam are: Indian Coast Guard Exam. Assam Rifles Recruitments, etc. |
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To enter into military forces, one must have finished Graduation or while appearing one should be in the final year of graduation. |
To enter Paramilitary Forces, any graduation or equivalent is suitable, or while appearing, one must be in the final year of the qualified degree. |
Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force
The uniformed name for the security forces in India that operate under the Ministry of Home Affairs control is Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Additionally, they are known as “Paramilitary Forces.” On the other hand, the Armed Forces of India are the military forces of the Republic of India.
Below we have provided the difference between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force and a basic introduction.
What is Paramilitary Force?
The paramilitary force is semi-militarized. The officials working in the paramilitary force follow training, tactics, and structure similar to the military force. A paramilitary group operates in a civil or military capacity and is structured like an army.
- Both internal and border security are crucial functions of the paramilitary forces.
- The paramilitary forces, directed by officers of the Indian Army or Indian Navy, include Assam rifles and special frontier forces (SFF), which support the Indian Armed Forces particularly closely.
What is Military Force?
The Indian Military in its current structure started from the native troops of the East India Company, evolved as the British Indian Army and later was integrated into the national army upon freedom.
- The Indian Military has a strength of over 1.4 million working personnel.
- Military forces in India are the world’s second-largest military force and have the world’s largest soldier army.
- The Supreme Commander of the Military Forces is the President of India.
- The Military Forces are subsidised by the Indian Coast Guard, paramilitary organizations, Integrated Defense Staff, Andaman and Nicobar and the Strategic Forces Command.
What is Central Armed Police Force or CAPF?
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) central police organizations in India are collectively known as Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Technically speaking, these are paramilitary forces formerly known as the Central Para-military Forces (CPMF).
- Central Para-Military Forces (CPMF), Para-Military Forces (PMF), and Central Police Forces (CPF) were all terms used interchangeably to refer to CAPF in the past.
- The Central Armed Police Forces, which fall under the Ministry of Home Affairs, were renamed by a circular issued by the Indian government in 2011.
The CAPF is further divided into three groups: the Assam Rifles (AR), the Border Security Force (BSF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB); Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF); and the Special Task Force- National Security Guard (NSG).
Conclusion:
Key Difference Between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force
The key Difference Between Paramilitary, Military and Central Armed Police Force is that the Paramilitary Forces are supplementary branches that help the security forces, Military forces guard the country’s external borders, and Central Armed Police Force or CAPF is responsible for acting against any internal security threat.
