Which one of the following is the oldest Central Paramilitary Force in India?

The Assam Rifles is recognized as the oldest paramilitary force in India [1]. It traces its origins back to 1835, when it was established by the British as a militia known as the 'Cachar Levy' to protect tea estates and settlements from tribal raids in the North East [4]. Over time, the force underwent several name changes, including the Assam Frontier Police (1883) and Assam Military Police (1891), before officially becoming the Assam Rifles in 1917 [4]. In contrast, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was established much later in 1939 as the Crown Representative's Police [3]. The Border Security Force (BSF) was raised in 1965 following the Indo-Pakistani War [1], and the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) is a specialized wing of the CRPF formed in the 21st century [3].

Sources

1. [1] https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/Military_Studies_374/Book-1/Chapter-6.pdf
2. [4] https://crpf.gov.in/About-Us/History-Of-CRPF
3. [3] https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/assam-rifles-a-brief-history/article66949786.ece