Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
- It came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939.
- After Indian Independence, it became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28 December 1949.
- It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
- The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter insurgency.
- Besides Law and Order and counter-insurgency duties, the role of CRPF in the General Elections has been very significant and vital. This is especially true for the trouble-ridden states of Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and in the North East.
- Of late, CRPF contingents are also being deployed in UN missions.
- With 235 battalions and various other establishments, the CRPF is considered India's largest paramilitary forceand has a sanctioned strength of 308,862 personnel.
