Nalin Prabhat, a 1992 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG).

CRPF ADG Nalin Prabhat Appointed Chief of NSG

Nalin Prabhat, a 1992 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG). “Nalin Prabhat, presently working as an ADG in the CRPF, has been appointed as the DG of the NSG in Level-16 of the pay matrix from the date of joining the post and up to August 31, 2028, i.e., date of his superannuation or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” read the official order.

The Central government has also appointed Sapna Tewari, an Odisha cadre IPS officer of 1992 batch, as the Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Tewari has been appointed for a tenure of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or up to the date of her superannuation i.e. April 30, 2026.

About NSG

The NSG is a counter-terrorism unit that formally came into existence in 1986 by an act of Parliament- ‘National Security Guard Act, 1986’. The idea behind raising such force came in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star in 1984, Akshardham Temple attack and the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, for ‘combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.’

It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is a task-oriented force that has two complementary elements in the form of:

Special Action Group (SAG) comprising of the Army personnel- is the main offensive or the strike wing of the NSG, and

Special Ranger Groups (SRG) comprising of personnel drawn from the Central Armed Police Forces/State Police Forces. They generally handle VIP securities.

The head of NSG- designated as Director General (DG), is selected and appointed by the Minister of Home Affairs.

The motto of ‘Sarvatra, Sarvottam, Suraksha‘ has always been upheld by it with a focus on its basic philosophy of swift and speedy strike and immediate withdrawal from the theatre of action.

The NSG personnel are often referred to in the media as Black Cat Commandos because of the black outfit and black cat insignia worn on their uniform.

Operations Undertaken

•Operation Black Thunder (Golden Temple, Amritsar, 1986 & 1988)

•Operation Ashwamedh (Indian Airlines Flight-IC427 hijacking, India, 1993)

•Operation Thunderbolt or Vajra Shakti (Akshardham Temple attack, Gujarat, 2002)

•Operation Black Tornado (Mumbai Blasts, 2008)

•Pathankot Air Base Attack 2016