The Indian Paramilitary Forces (PMF) is regarded as the world’s second largest paramilitary force, second only to China with 1.5 million personnel.
Overall it has a two-tier structure, the Central Police Organizations (CPO), which forms the first tier, and the second tier known as Central Paramilitary Forces (CPF).
A. Central Police Organizations (Tier 1): The Central Police Organizations (CPO) work independently or in coordination with the Indian Federal Agencies and State Police Forces. Railway Protection Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Special Protection Group, Home Guard and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) are CPOs which comes under Tier I paramilitary forces.
B. Central Paramilitary Forces (Tier 2): The Central Paramilitary Forces (CPF) forms the second tier of Paramilitary Forces. The CPF works in cooperation with the Indian Armed Forces. CPF constitutes of Border Security Force, National Security Guard, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Defence Security Corps, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Rashtriya Rifles, Assam Rifles and Special Frontier Force.