The National Security Guard (NSG)

The National Security Guard (NSG)

Subject – Defence and Security

Context – NSG to offer anti­-drone cover in J&K

Concept –

• The National Security Guard (NSG), the counterterrorism commando force, has been deployed at the Indian Air Force (IAF) stations in Srinagar and Jammu to provide anti-drone security cover to these vital installations.
• The NSG chief said the federal counterterrorist and counter-hijack commando force was enhancing its “counterterrorism profile” and preparing itself to meet emerging security challenges. He was speaking at the 37th Raising Day celebrations of the force, also known as the “black cats”.

The National Security Guard (NSG)

• The NSG is a counter-terrorism unit that formally came into existence in 1986 by an act of Parliament- ‘National Security Guard Act, 1986’.
• The idea behind raising such force came in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star (an Indian military action carried out to remove militant religious leader from the Golden Temple, Amritsar) in 1984, Akshardham Temple attack and the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, for ‘combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.’
• It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is a task-oriented force that has two complementary elements in the form of:
  • Special Action Group (SAG) comprising of the Army personnel- is the main offensive or the strike wing of the NSG, and
  • Special Ranger Groups (SRG) comprising of personnel drawn from the Central Armed Police Forces/State Police Forces. They generally handle VIP securities.
• The head of NSG- designated as Director General (DG), is selected and appointed by the Minister of Home Affairs.
• The motto of ‘Sarvatra, Sarvottam, Suraksha’ has always been upheld by it with a focus on its basic philosophy of swift and speedy strike and immediate withdrawal from the theatre of action.
• National Security Guard has been given the specific role to handle all facets of terrorism in any part of the country as a Federal Contingency Force.
• The NSG is trained to conduct counter-terrorist task including counter hijacking tasks on land, sea, and air; Bomb disposal (search, detection, and neutralization of IEDs), Post Blast Investigation (PBI), and Hostage Rescue missions.
• The NSG personnel are often referred to in the media as Black Cat Commandos because of the black outfit and black cat insignia worn on their uniform.
• Operations undertaken:
  • Operation Black Thunder (Golden Temple, Amritsar, 1986 & 1988)
  • Operation Ashwamedh (Indian Airlines Flight-IC427 hijacking, India, 1993)
  • Operation Thunderbolt or Vajra Shakti (Akshardham Temple attack, Gujarat, 2002)
  • Operation Black Tornado (Mumbai Blasts, 2008)
• There is no direct recruitment to the NSG. Personnel from the army/police forces serve in the NSG on deputation.
• NSG is headed by a Director-General who is generally drawn from the Indian Police Service.
• The major functions of the NSG are:
  • Counter hijacking tasks on land, air and sea
  • Post blast investigation
  • Bomb disposal (search, detection & neutralisation of IEDs)
  • VIP security
  • Hostage rescue missions