The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) are a group of seven armed police units under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, tasked with maintaining internal security, law and order, counterinsurgency, and protecting borders. Previously referred to as "paramilitary" forces, the term was officially discontinued in 2011.
The CAPF is classified into three groups: Border Guarding Forces (Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and Sashastra Seema Bal), Forces for Internal Security (Central Industrial Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force), and Special Task Force (National Security Guard). While the Assam Rifles is administratively under the MHA and part of the CAPF, its operational control is handled by the Indian Army. These forces are categorized under the "other armed forces" in the Union List of the Constitution of India and function in accordance with Article 355, which mandates the Union to protect states against "external aggression" and "internal disturbances". Since "police" and "public order" fall under the State List, CAPF units are deployed to support state governments as required, while their powers, jurisdiction, privileges, and liabilities remain under the control of the Union government as specified in the Union List.