Special Protection Group

Special Protection Group. विशेष सुरक्षा दल
Abbreviation	SPG
SPG Logo
Flag of the Special Protection Group.
Motto	शौर्यम् समर्पणम् सुरक्षणम् Bravery, Dedication, Security
Agency overview
Formed	2 June, 1988
Annual budget	₹389.25 crore (US$58 million)(2017-18 est.)
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agency (Operations jurisdiction)	India
International agency	India
Countries	India and abroad
Legal jurisdiction	As per operations jurisdiction.
Governing body	Cabinet Secretariat of India
Constituting instrument	Special Protection Group Act, 1988
General nature	Federal law enforcement Civilian agency
Specialist jurisdiction	Protection of international or domestic VIPs, protection of significant state asseets.
Operational structure
Overviewed by	Ministry of Home Affairs
Headquarters	New Delhi
Agency executive	Arun Kumar Sinha, Director
Child agency	Central Armed Police Forces Railway Protection Force Indian Police Service
Website
www.spg.nic.in

The Special Protection Group (SPG) (Hindi: विशेष सुरक्षा दल) is "an armed force of the Union for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and former Prime Minister of India and members of their immediate families wherever they are." It was formed in 1988 by an act of the Parliament of India.

Former PMs, their immediate family members, and Family members of a serving Prime Minister (PM) may, if they choose, decline SPG security

Before 1981, the security of the Prime Minister of India at the Prime Minister's residence was the responsibility of the Special Security District of the Delhi Police under the charge of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). In October 1981, a Special Task Force (STF) was raised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to provide ring-round and escort to the Prime Minister in and out of New Delhi.

After the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984, a review was undertaken by a Committee of Secretaries and it was decided to entrust security of the Prime Minister to a Special Group under unitary and direct control of a designated Officer and the STF to provide immediate security cover both in New Delhi and outside. These decisions were taken as short-term measures.

Then on February 18, 1985, the Ministry of Home Affairs set up the Birbal Nath Committee to go into the issue in its entirety and submit its recommendation. In March 1985, the Birbal Nath Committee submitted its recommendations of raising a Special Protection Unit (SPU). On 30 March 1985, the President of India created 819 posts for the unit under the Cabinet Secretariat. The SPU was then re-christened Special Protection Group and the post of Inspector General of Police was re-designated as Director.