--- title: "Special Protection Group (SPG): Mandate & Law" description: "The Special Protection Group (SPG) is India's elite security force for the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers, established in 1988." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/special-protection-group" --- [New](https://modeldiplomat.com/) # Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026 TL;DR - The Special Protection Group is an armed force of the Union of India created in 1988 to provide proximate security to the serving Prime Minister and, statutorily, former Prime Ministers and their immediate families. - Who is currently entitled to SPG protection after the 2019 amendment? - How does the SPG differ from the NSG? - Does the SPG recruit its own personnel? - What is the legal basis of the SPG's powers? [Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026 Go beyond the definition ## Research Special Protection Group (SPG) like a delegate Model Diplomat's AI drafts position papers, speeches, and country research with real sources — built for MUN and politics students. ## Timeline 1. 31 October 1984 Its origins lie in the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on by members of her own security detail, which exposed the inadequacy of relying on th… 2. 2 June 1988 34 of 1988), which came into force on , defining the SPG as an "armed force of the Union" and vesting its members with powers of arrest and search in the dis… 3. 21 May 1991 Critics of the 2019 amendment argued that calibrating SPG cover to incumbency politicised what should be a threat-based determination, particularly given tha… ## Research it like a delegate Research on modeldiplomat.com ## Ask a follow-up about Special Protection Group (SPG) Open a cited briefing in Model Diplomat search — timelines, positions, and sources you can use in committee or exam answers. [Start research on Special Protection Group (SPG)](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=Explain%20Special%20Protection%20Group%20\(SPG\)%20%E2%80%94%20key%20dates%2C%20actors%2C%20positions%2C%20and%20sources) Example In November 2019, India's Ministry of Home Affairs withdrew SPG protection from Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi following the SPG (Amendment) Act, 2019, replacing it with CRPF Z-plus cover and leaving only the sitting Prime Minister under SPG security. Keep learning ## Go deeper than the definition [Explore all Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams lessons](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services)[Test yourself with a quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/quiz/civil-services) ## Take Special Protection Group (SPG) beyond the glossary Ask the AI research engine built for diplomacy — get briefings, position papers, and speeches with sources you can cite in committee.