General Studies III · Topic
Security forces and agencies
Official syllabus
Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
UPSC CSE 2026 notification
What this covers
India's security institutions have distinct protective, policing, intelligence, investigative and support roles. An agency name alone does not establish its power in a given case; jurisdiction and the applicable legal mandate matter.
Key ideas
- Armed and border forces
- Police and specialized agencies
- Intelligence institutions
- Mandates and coordination
- Accountability and modernization
Subtopics 5
- 01Armed and border forcesArmed and border forces serve different protective functions depending on location, threat and assigned mandate.
- 02Police and specialized agenciesState police handle ordinary policing and public order within their jurisdiction;
- 03Intelligence institutionsIntelligence work gathers and assesses information to inform decisions;
- 04Mandates and coordinationA mandate identifies an institution's purpose and authority;
- 05Accountability and modernizationModernization means improving capability through people, training, processes, information and suitable technology.