[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded] Law and Order & Civil Defense in UP

1. Law and Order in Uttar Pradesh

Trend: Shift from “Police Administration” to “Smart Policing,” “Legal Reforms (BNS/BNSS),” and “Zero Tolerance” strategies.

A. Organizational Structure

• Hierarchy: State Level, Zones & Ranges, District Level.
• Key Units: GRP (Government Railway Police), PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary), UP 112.

B. The Commissionerate System (Major Reform)

• Concept: Unifying police and magisterial powers.
• Powers Transferred: Powers under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) / Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Arms Act, Goonda Act, and Gangsters Act shifted from DM to CP.
• Current Status (7 Cities): Phase 1 (2020): Lucknow, Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida); Phase 2 (2021): Kanpur, Varanasi; Phase 3 (2022): Agra, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj.

C. Crime Control Strategies

• Zero Tolerance Policy:
  • Organized Crime: Use of the Gangsters Act (Section 14A) to attach properties acquired through illegal means (“Bulldozer Action” within legal frameworks).
  • Operation Conviction: Launched in June 2023 (intensified in 2024-25) to expedite trials for Murder, Rape, POCSO, Cow Slaughter, and Conversion cases.
    • Target: Framing charges within 30 days and securing conviction within months.
• Technology in Policing: Trinetra App, CCTNS

D. Women Safety & Safe City Project

• Mission Shakti (Phase 5 – 2024/25): Focus on economic empowerment alongside safety.
• Safe City Project:
  • Expansion: Initially in 17 Municipal Corporations, now extended to Gautam Buddha Nagar and religious towns.
  • Infrastructure: Installation of AI-enabled CCTVs at “Hotspots” (Schools, Markets) linked to ICCC.
  • Pink Patrol: Scooty-borne women police units for patrolling narrow lanes.

 Current Affairs Linkage :

• New Criminal Laws (July 1, 2024): UP Police conducted massive training for IOs (Investigating Officers) to transition from IPC/CrPC to Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and BNSS. A dedicated “e-Sakshya” app was launched to record crime scenes (mandatory under new laws).
• Anti-Paper Leak Ordinance 2024: Following the exam leaks, UP treated “Solver Gangs” as a Law & Order threat, imposing Life Imprisonment and ₹1 Crore Fine via ordinance.
• Kumbh 2025 Security: Deployment of the “AI-Surveillance Grid” in Prayagraj to manage millions of pilgrims and detect potential stampedes or terror threats.

2. Civil Defense in Uttar Pradesh

Trend: Role of Civil Defense beyond war-time (Disaster Management) and “Community Policing.”

A. Mandate & Structure

• Legal Basis: Civil Defence Act, 1968 (Amended 2009 to include Disaster Management).
• Objective: To save lives/property during hostile attacks (Air Raids) and natural calamities.
• Structure:
  • Controller: District Magistrate (DM) acts as the Controller of Civil Defense.
  • Volunteers: Citizen force (Wardens) trained in First Aid, Fire Fighting, and Rescue.

B. Role in UP (Contemporary)

• Disaster Management: First responders during Floods (Terai region) and Heatwaves (Bundelkhand).
• Traffic & Crowd Management:
  • Active deployment during Kanwar Yatra, Ayodhya Deepotsav, and Lucknow Traffic Drives.
• Pandemic Legacy: Role of Civil Defense wardens in oxygen distribution and ration delivery during Covid-19 (recognized as “Corona Warriors”).

C. Modernization

• Revamp: State government decision (2024) to expand Civil Defense units to all 75 districts (previously limited to sensitive districts).
• New Roles: Training volunteers as “Aapda Mitras” under NDMA schemes.

 Current Affairs Linkage :

• Civil Defense in Kumbh 2025: The UP Government has recruited and trained over 10,000 Civil Defense Volunteers specifically for the Mahakumbh to act as “Tourist Guides” and “Crowd Managers.”
• Allowance Hike: In late 2024, the daily allowance for Civil Defense volunteers on active duty was revised to boost morale.

3. Home Guards & Village Defense Societies

Trend: “Auxiliary Forces” and “Rural Policing.”

A. Home Guards

• Role: Auxiliary force to the Police; Traffic management; Election duty.
• Current Issue: Rationalization of duty hours and regularization demands.

B. Village Defense Societies (Gram Raksha Samiti)

• Concept: Community policing in rural areas to prevent dacoity and cattle theft.
• Revival: Revived in border districts (Nepal border) to monitor infiltration and smuggling (Drugs/Fertilizers).
• Chowkidar System: Digitization of the traditional “Chowkidar” network (Smartphones for reporting).

4. Specialized Security Agencies in UP

Trend: Questions on UPSSF and ATS.

• UP Special Security Force (UPSSF):
  • Mandate: Security of Courts, Airports, Metro Rail, and Industrial Hubs (without needing CISF).
  • Powers: Search and arrest without warrant in notified premises.
• UP Anti-Terror Squad (ATS):
  • Focus: Countering radicalization and sleeper cells.
  • New Hub: ATS Commando Training Centre, Deoband (Operational 2024).
• Special Task Force (STF):
  • Focus: Organized crime, Paper leaks, and Cyber gangs.

 Current Affairs Linkage :

• UPSSF Deployment: In 2025, UPSSF took over the complete security of the Ram Mandir Complex (Ayodhya) and the upcoming Noida International Airport (Jewar).
• Cyber Thanas: Operationalization of 75 Cyber Crime Police Stations (one in each district) in 2024-25 to handle the surge in digital banking frauds.