Various Types of VIP Securities

You must have heard many times that Y+ security was provided to someone or Z security was provided to someone. But do u know, who gives this security, and how many such types of securities are there?

In this article, we will discuss, the different types of securities available in India. The contents of this article will include:

SPG
Z+ category
Z category
Y+ category
Y category
X category
PBG

In India, internal security is the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Therefore the security of VVIPs & VIPs in India is also the responsibility of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In General, our country’s president, prime minister, union ministers, chief ministers, supreme court judges, high court judges, etc. are given security during their term of office. But apart from this, many industrialists, film stars, journalists, etc. are also given security in accordance with the orders of the Home Ministry. Which people should be given security, what level of security must be given, Home Ministry decides this on the basis of inputs given by intelligence agencies of India. As these securities are provided by the Government, the expenses on these would also be raised by the government itself from the money of the taxpayers. But in some special cases, where a person feels threatened, he may also request security from the government. But in that case, the cost of security has to be borne by the person himself.
There are 2 types of official documents for VVIPs & VIPs security guidelines, issued by the Home Ministry, Government of India: Blue Book & Yellow Book.
The Blue Book details about security given to the Prime Minister, President, and Vice-President and their families, and the Yellow Book details about security given to other VVIPs & VIPs.

Different individuals are provided with different kinds of security depending on the threat insight to the individual. Level wise the types of security are divided into 6 categories:

SPG(Special Protection Group)

SPG is one the most popular speacial armed force of the Indian goverment assigned for the security to the Prime Minister of India and his immediate family members.
SPG alaways travels with the Prime Minister for his safety everywhere, whether in the country or abroad.
It was formed on 8 April 1985, to strengthen the order of the security of the Prime Minister after the unfortunate incident of the former Prime Minster Indra gandhi’s assassination.
SPG is known to be the most expensive security force of the all the available securities. The annual budget allocation for SPG is about 429 Crore Rupees.
Unlike other forces, SPG doesn’t have any direct recruitment. Personnel are instead drawn from the other armed forces such as NSG, CISF, CRPF, BSF, RPF etc.
The equipment used by SPG commandos comprises FNF 2000 Assault Rifle, FN-P90 Submachine gun, Glock 17 Pistol, along with dark-visor goggles/sunglasses with inbuilt communication system, light weight Kevlar, briefcase-based foldable protection armour, etc.
The Prime Minister’s motorcade comprises a number of vehicles, the core of which consists of 2 Mercedes-Mayback S650 Guard, 3 armored BMW 7-series sedans, 4 Armoured Range Rovers, 8-10 BMW X5s, and 6 Totota Landcrusers/Fortuners and 2 Mercedes-Benz Sprienter ambulances.

Z+ Category Security

It is the second highest level of security in India which is generally provided only to former Prime Ministers, important Union Ministers, some Chief Ministers, some Supreme Court and High Court Judges, etc. such 30-40 VIPs.
The exact information about the list of people, to whom this security is given, is not available in the public domain due to security reasons.
55 personnel are involved in this security out of which atleast 10 are NSG(National Security Guard) commandos and other personnel are from other armed forces such as CRPF, CISF, etc.
The Commandos are armored with Heckler & Koch MP5 machine gun and 9 mm Pistol and all the bodyguards are trained in martial arts and unarmed combat.
5 or more escort / bulletproof vehciles are also provided in this security.
The overall expenses on Z+ security costs around 20 Lakh Rupees / month.

Z Category Security

It is the third higest level of security in India.
22 personnel are involved in this security out of which atleast atleast 4-5 are NSG(National Security Guard) commandos and other personnel are from Delhi Police, CRPF, ITBP, etc.
A bulletproof vehicle with 5 escort vechicles are also provided in this security.
The overall expenses on Z security costs around 15 Lakh Rupees / month.

Y+ Category Security

It is the fourth higest level of security in India
11 personnel are involved in this security out of which atleast atleast 2 are commandos.
It also offers 3 PSOs (Personal Security officers) who stay nearby the person all the time on rotational basis.
2-3 vehichles may be provided in this security.
The overall expenses on Y+ security costs around 12 Lakh Rupees / month.

Y Category Security

It is the fifth higest level of security in India.
8 personnel are involved in this security out of which atleast atleast 1-2 are commandos.
It also offers 2 PSOs (Personal Security officers) who stay nearby the person all the time on rotational basis.
2-3 vehichles may be provided in this security.
The overall expenses on Y security costs around 10 Lakh Rupees / month.

The responsibility for the security of both Y+ and Y categories rests with the CRPF and both types of securities, PSOs are equipped with a stun gun or a 9 mm pistol.

X Category Security

It is the lowest level of security in India which is provided to the most number of individuals.
Only 2-3 personnel are involved in this security out of which 1 is PSO who carries a sten gun or a 9mm pistol with him.
No commando is included in this category of security.

Apart from these 6 categories of securities, there is another special security that protects the President of India:

PBG(President’s Bodyguard)

It is the most elite household cavalry regiment of the Indian Army which is active for almost 250 years, founded in 1773. It is the senior-most regiment of the Indian Army.
The primary responsivility of the PBG is to escort and protect the President of India. Besides It is equipped as a mounted unit, with horses for ceremonial purposes at the presidential palace.
The present strength of the PBG is 4 officers, 20 JCOs(Junior Commissioned officers) and 198 soldiers. The commanding officer of PBG has always been of Brigadier or Colonel rank in the Indian Army.
The basic height requirement to get appointed in PBG is 6 feet(183 Centimetres).
The President’s motorcade comprises more than 50 vehicles, which includes a Mercedes-Benz S Class (S600) Pullman Guard, a black Mercedes-Benz W140 armoured limousine, a number of Tata Safaris, Tata sumos, Mahindra Scorpios, Maruti Gypsies, Toyota Innovas, Mitsubhishi Pajeros, Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles, minimum 1 ambulance etc.

These are the various types of securities in India that are provided to different individuals of the country regarding threat perception.

You may refer to this video if you want the explanation in Hindi