The review is being done by a core group comprising senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Cabinet Secretariat. The final report is to include recommendations for changing the charter of these agencies and is likely to be presented to the Prime Minister.

The SSB has an annual budget of Rs 300 crore and more than 30,000 personnel. The CRPF wants control of the SSB. Also, the Cabinet Secretariat has received at least 10 memos from the Border Security Force (BSF) saying that it is overstretched and wants control of the SFF whichhas 4,000 commandos, on deputation from the Army. The BSF argues that absorbing the SFF would mean an extra four battalions at no cost.

According to a position paper prepared by the Cabinet Secretariat, there are several examples to show the mess in these agencies. For instance, the paper says that a large number of ``aimless'' SSB recruits have joined the Bodos and SSB funds have been ``diverted to improper channels.''

As for the SFF, its original charter was to act as a pivot for Tibetans in India and to set up a commando force to liberate Tibet. The SSF has been trained in guerrilla warfare and sources say the original recruits did make some abortive attempts to ``liberate'' Tibet from Chinese occupation.

As for the ARC, its review is limited to taking a decision on whether it should continue as part of the RAW. The ARC along with the SSF and SSB was originally supposed to function under the control of the Director-General, Security, but over the years has come under the exclusive purview of theSecretary, RAW.