Relevance: GS II (International Relations & Comparative Polity) | Source: The Hindu / Indian Express

1. The Core Event: What Happened?

Recently, a major security breach took place at a high-profile dinner event for journalists in Washington, D.C.

• The Attack: An armed man carrying guns and knives broke into the event lobby.
• The Target: US President Donald Trump was rushed to safety without any injuries. The attacker was caught by security forces, though one police officer was injured in the gunfire.
• Global Reaction: World leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, quickly sent messages of relief, showing the importance of “personal diplomacy” in modern international relations.

2. Why Does This Matter to India? 

An attack on the leader of a global superpower is not just a local crime; it shakes the whole world. For Indian administration and foreign policy, this matters because:

• Global Shocks: Assassination attempts on major world leaders can instantly crash global stock markets and pause important international trade deals.
• Bilateral Ties: India’s defense and technology goals rely heavily on a stable American government.
• Key Partnerships: A stable US leadership is necessary for joint initiatives like iCET (sharing advanced defense and AI technology) and the Quad (securing the Indo-Pacific ocean region from Chinese dominance).

3. Comparative Administration: How Do We Protect Our Leaders?

For UPSC, it is highly important to compare the American security system with the Indian system.

• The American System (USSS): The US President is protected by a federal police force called the United States Secret Service (USSS).
• The Indian System (SPG): In India, the Prime Minister is protected by an elite, highly trained armed force called the Special Protection Group (SPG).
  • History: The SPG was created in 1985, right after the tragic assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
  • Current Mandate: It is exclusively dedicated to providing “proximate security” (close-range protection) to the highest executive of the country.

4. A Pattern of Threats (Historical Context)

Security administrators study history to prevent future attacks. The article notes that President Trump has faced several severe threats over his political career:

• July 2024: Survived a shooting during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania where a bullet grazed his ear.
• September 2024: Targeted by an armed intruder at his golf club in Florida.

UPSC Value Box

Key Term	Simple Meaning
Special Protection Group (SPG)	India’s top security force. Its only job is to provide close-range, absolute protection to the serving Prime Minister of India.
Comparative Polity	A part of your GS II syllabus where you must compare how India’s government runs compared to other countries (like comparing the SPG to the US Secret Service).
iCET Agreement	Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology. A major, modern partnership between India and the US to share advanced technology in defense, space, and artificial intelligence.

With reference to the security apparatus and comparative administration of India, consider the following statements:

1. The Special Protection Group (SPG) was established as an armed force of the Union immediately following the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
2. Under the amended Special Protection Group Act, the force provides proximate security only to the serving Prime Minister and their immediate family members residing with them.
3. The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is a strategic defense and technology partnership between India and the United States.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)