October 16, 2024: In a significant shift in VIP security management, the Union government has ordered the complete withdrawal of the National Security Guard (NSG) from its duties, transferring the protection of nine 'high-risk' VIPs to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). This decision, made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is set to be implemented by next month.

The nine VIPs designated for this change include prominent political figures such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, former Chief Minister Mayawati, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and veteran BJP leader L K Advani, among others. The full list also encompasses Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

To facilitate this transition, the MHA has approved a new battalion of specially trained personnel, recently reassigned from Parliament security duties, to bolster the CRPF’s VIP security wing.

Sources indicate that the transfer of security responsibilities between the two forces is expected to be completed within a month, marking a significant realignment of security protocols for these high-profile individuals. The move comes as part of a broader strategy to enhance the efficiency and focus of VIP security in the country.