Law enforcement in India

Law enforcement in India is imperative to keep justice and order in the nation. Indian law is enforced by a number of agencies. India has a multi-layered law enforcement structure with both federal and state/union territory level agencies, including specialized ones with specific jurisdictions.^[1] Unlike many federal nations, the constitution of India delegates the maintenance of law and order primarily to the states and territories.^[2]

Under the Constitution, police is a subject governed by states. Therefore, each of the 28 states have their own police forces.  The centre is also allowed to maintain its own police forces to assist the states with ensuring law and order.  Therefore, it maintains seven central armed police forces and some other central police organisations for specialised tasks such as intelligence gathering, investigation, research and record-keeping, and training.^[1]

At the federal level, some of India's Central Armed Police Forces are part of the Ministry of Home Affairs and support the states. Larger cities have their own police forces under their respective state police (except the Kolkata Police that is autonomous and reports to state's Home Department). All senior officers in the state police forces and federal agencies are members of the Indian Police Service (IPS).^[3]India has some special tactical forces both on the federal and state level to deal with terrorist attacks and counter insurgencies like Mumbai Police Quick Response Team, National Security Guard, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Delhi Police SWAT, Special Operations Group (Jammu and Kashmir), etc.