[Updated 2026] All Important Police, Military & Defense Full Forms List

Police, Defense & Security Forces Full Forms: In competitive government examinations (such as UPSC Civil Services, NDA, CDS, CAPF, State Police SI/Constable, and SSC CPO) and public governance, police and defense acronyms are among the highest-searched topics. This comprehensive directory covers state police hierarchies, central paramilitary armed forces (CAPF), intelligence agencies (RAW, IB, CBI), and Indian Armed Forces ranks.

Sr.No.	Short Name	Full Form
01	IPS	Indian Police Service
02	DGP	Director General of Police
03	ADGP	Additional Director General of Police
04	IGP / IG	Inspector General of Police
05	DIG	Deputy Inspector General of Police
06	SSP	Senior Superintendent of Police
07	SP	Superintendent of Police
08	ASP	Additional Superintendent of Police / Assistant Superintendent of Police
09	DSP / DySP	Deputy Superintendent of Police
10	CP	Commissioner of Police
11	JCP	Joint Commissioner of Police
12	DCP	Deputy Commissioner of Police
13	ACP	Assistant Commissioner of Police
14	SHO	Station House Officer
15	SO	Station Officer
16	PI / CI	Police Inspector / Circle Inspector
17	SI	Sub-Inspector of Police
18	ASI	Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police
19	HC	Head Constable
20	PC	Police Constable
21	FIR	First Information Report
22	IO	Investigating Officer
23	CRPC	Code of Criminal Procedure
24	IPC	Indian Penal Code
25	BNS	Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
26	BNSS	Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
27	BSA	Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam
28	CBI	Central Bureau of Investigation
29	CID	Crime Investigation Department
30	RAW	Research and Analysis Wing
31	IB	Intelligence Bureau
32	NIA	National Investigation Agency
33	ED	Enforcement Directorate
34	NCB	Narcotics Control Bureau
35	DRI	Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
36	SFIO	Serious Fraud Investigation Office
37	NSG	National Security Guard (Black Cats)
38	SPG	Special Protection Group
39	CAPF	Central Armed Police Forces
40	BSF	Border Security Force
41	CRPF	Central Reserve Police Force
42	CISF	Central Industrial Security Force
43	ITBP	Indo-Tibetan Border Police
44	SSB	Sashastra Seema Bal / Services Selection Board
45	AR	Assam Rifles
46	RPF	Railway Protection Force
47	NDRF	National Disaster Response Force
48	SDRF	State Disaster Response Force
49	PAC	Provincial Armed Constabulary
50	STF	Special Task Force
51	ATS	Anti-Terrorism Squad
52	NDA	National Defence Academy
53	CDS	Combined Defence Services / Chief of Defence Staff
54	AFCAT	Air Force Common Admission Test
55	IMA	Indian Military Academy
56	OTA	Officers Training Academy
57	INA	Indian Naval Academy
58	AFA	Air Force Academy
59	COAS	Chief of the Army Staff
60	CNS	Chief of the Naval Staff
61	CAS	Chief of the Air Staff
62	DRDO	Defence Research and Development Organisation
63	ISRO	Indian Space Research Organisation
64	HAL	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
65	OFB	Ordnance Factory Board
66	UAV	Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Military Drone)
67	AWACS	Airborne Warning and Control System
68	ICBM	Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
69	SAM	Surface-to-Air Missile
70	SSM	Surface-to-Surface Missile
71	AAM	Air-to-Air Missile
72	CQC	Close Quarter Combat
73	POW	Prisoner of War
74	LOC	Line of Control
75	LAC	Line of Actual Control
76	VIP / VVIP	Very Important Person / Very Very Important Person

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the full form of IPS, DGP, and SP in police?

IPS stands for Indian Police Service. DGP stands for Director General of Police (the highest-ranking police officer in an Indian State). SP stands for Superintendent of Police (the police chief of a district).

What is the full form of DSP, ACP, and SHO?

DSP stands for Deputy Superintendent of Police. ACP stands for Assistant Commissioner of Police (used in police commissionerates). SHO stands for Station House Officer (the in-charge officer of an individual police station).

What are BSF, CRPF, and CISF?

BSF stands for Border Security Force (securing India's international land borders). CRPF stands for Central Reserve Police Force (the premier internal security and riot control force). CISF stands for Central Industrial Security Force (protecting critical industrial installations, public sector assets, and airports).

What is the full form of RAW and CBI?

RAW stands for Research and Analysis Wing (India's external intelligence agency). CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation (the premier domestic investigation agency handling complex criminal and anti-corruption cases).

What is the difference between NDA and CDS exams?

NDA stands for National Defence Academy (an entrance exam for 12th pass students joining the Army, Navy, or Air Force). CDS stands for Combined Defence Services (an entrance exam for university graduates entering the armed forces via IMA, INA, AFA, or OTA).