The three services and tri-service commands, major joint exercises with partner countries, key defence organisations, and the internal-security architecture, the durable CAPF edge
This is the CAPF-distinctive current-events note. The CAPF paper leans on defence and internal security more than a generic GK paper does, and most of it is durable: the three armed services and the tri-service commands, the recurring bilateral and multilateral exercises (which exercise pairs India with which country), the major defence research and production organisations, and the internal-security architecture. The names and structures are static; the latest exercise edition and the newest weapon induction are the parts to verify. Learn the durable spine here and refresh the dated edition numbers close to the exam.
| Body | Note |
|---|---|
| Indian Army, Navy, Air Force | The three services; each headed by a Chief of Staff |
| Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) | Post created in 2019; heads the Department of Military Affairs; the single-point military adviser |
| Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) | Supports the CDS and the Chiefs of Staff Committee |
| Ministry of Defence | Civilian control; the Defence Minister and the Department of Defence |
| Command | Role |
|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) | India's first tri-service command; the only geographical joint command, based at Port Blair |
| Strategic Forces Command (SFC) | Manages India's nuclear arsenal and delivery |
India is moving towards integrated theatre commands; treat the specific theatre-command roll-out as a "verify the latest" item.
The most reliable defence question is "which exercise is between India and which partner". Learn the partner pairing; the edition number changes each year.
| Exercise | Partner / type | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Malabar | US, Japan, Australia (with India) | Naval (Indo-Pacific; QUAD navies) |
| Yudh Abhyas | United States | Army |
| Vajra Prahar | United States | Special forces |
| Indra | Russia | Tri-service / joint |
| Garuda | France | Air Force |
| Varuna | France | Naval |
| Shakti | France | Army |
| Hand-in-Hand | China | Army (counter-terror) |
| SIMBEX | Singapore | Naval |
| Mitra Shakti | Sri Lanka | Army |
| Surya Kiran | Nepal | Army |
| Sampriti | Bangladesh | Army |
| Al Nagah | Oman | Army |
| Desert Eagle | UAE | Air Force |
| Cope India | United States | Air Force |
| Tarang Shakti | Multinational | Air Force (India-hosted) |
| Milan | Multinational naval gathering | Naval (Indian Navy hosted, Visakhapatnam) |
| TROPEX | India only | Navy's major operational exercise |
Memory aids: most France exercises share a "V/G/S" cluster (Varuna naval, Garuda air, Shakti army); the United States pairs with Yudh Abhyas (army), Vajra Prahar (special forces), Cope India (air). Malabar is the QUAD naval exercise. Hand-in-Hand is the India-China army exercise.
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) | Defence R and D; missiles, radars, systems |
| HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) | Military aircraft (for example the Tejas LCA) |
| BEL, BDL, BEML, the Ordnance Factory PSUs | Defence electronics, missiles, equipment |
| ISRO | Civilian space agency, but supports strategic and surveillance needs |
| Indian Coast Guard | Maritime law enforcement and coastal security (under the Ministry of Defence) |
Verify the latest indigenous inductions (aircraft, missiles, ships) as dated items; the organisation names are durable.
| Element | Note |
|---|---|
| Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) | BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB; under the Ministry of Home Affairs |
| BSF (Border Security Force) | Guards the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders |
| ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) | Guards the India-China border (Himalayan frontier) |
| SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) | Guards the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders |
| CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) | The largest CAPF; internal security, anti-Naxal, law and order |
| CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) | Guards critical infrastructure, airports, PSUs |
| Assam Rifles | Guards the India-Myanmar border; counter-insurgency in the North-East (administered with the Army) |
| NSG (National Security Guard) | Counter-terror and hostage rescue ("Black Cats") |
| NIA (National Investigation Agency) | The federal counter-terror investigation agency (NIA Act, 2008) |
| Intelligence | IB (internal), R and AW (external), NTRO (technical) |
Border-to-force mapping is a recurring CAPF question: ITBP for the China border, BSF for Pakistan and Bangladesh, SSB for Nepal and Bhutan, Assam Rifles for Myanmar. The legal framework for internal security (AFSPA, UAPA, NSA, NHRC oversight) is covered in human rights and internal security.