Inside India's Presidential Protection Protocols

To manage unknown intentions or potential security threats, physical contact with the President is strictly forbidden, as Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal warned that even a simple greeting could mask an assault.

Such incidents, such as a hand slap, are considered significant because the image of the president is destroyed even if the act itself is not physically harmful.

The emphasis on avoiding physical contact underscores the focus on maintaining the dignity of the Head of State.

The term "aide-de-camp" is of French origin and signifies a close aide, Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal clarified.

ADCs are responsible for both official and professional requirements to lighten the President's workload.

The core function of an ADC is execution. As Major Rishabh stated, "We get the orders. We are the execution part. We are not the planning part."

This role involves anticipating needs, such as coordinating personal requirements like purchasing a helmet or facilitating communication with the Prime Minister, to ensure the President's directives are carried out.

When the President is on tour, she attends a minimum of three events daily.

Every aspect of the President's movement, from getting down from the car to returning to it after an event, is planned to prevent incidents such as people shouting anti-government slogans.

The ADC is responsible for managing these movements, acknowledging the difficulty of controlling human emotional outbursts during highly visible engagements.

Requests for appointments are processed through official email IDs, which the presidential staff vets for significance before scheduling meetings in designated rooms.

The President's staff vets and filters these requests before discussing them with the President.

Meetings are conducted in a designated appointment room, not in the President's private cabin, which is reserved for staff.

While dignitaries like the Prime Minister usually travel to Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet the President, they may also meet at official events.

Security teams of over 100 personnel are deployed to these state functions regardless of the threat level, reflecting a protocol where the President arrives last to initiate proceedings after the Vice President and Prime Minister.

The President typically is the last to arrive at an event, with her presence signifying the commencement of proceedings, such as the Republic Day parade.

Security arrangements involve approximately 100 personnel in low-threat situations, ensuring protection across a 1 km area.

The area of an event is sanitized, meaning it is cleared of arms, metal, and prohibited materials, with personnel entering checked at multiple levels.

Should an error occur, a committee convenes to address the lapse, Major Rishabh argued. He noted, "If it's of grave mistake, but we don't punish people for not keeping glass of water. There's no punishment for that. Maybe we'll tell them don't repeat it again."

ADCs are responsible for identifying the person responsible for a mistake and ensuring it is brought to everyone's notice so it is not repeated.

While new ADCs are provided with a checklist that Major Rishabh recalled as being around 11 to 12 pages long, experienced ADCs rely on their memory of every step of the President's movements.

The ADC selection process involves a 14-day evaluation period where candidates are tested by different officers.

Candidates are expected to identify their own weaknesses independently during the selection process. As Major Rishabh stated, "Are you improving on your own? Are you taking the responsibility to improve yourself is what we're looking for."

The selection involves assessing if a candidate can adapt to changing environments and handle the pressure of being in a high-stakes role.

Background checks are conducted at multiple levels, including family and character verification, because the position is highly sensitive and requires a trustworthy individual.

The high-profile nature of the ADC position makes it a target for individuals who might attempt to manipulate a young officer.

When faced with individuals attempting to leverage his position, Major Rishabh pointed out that his standard practice is to sever communication.

Driven by personal values and clear goals, he remains mindful of the potential for exploitation, he explained.

Consequently, he maintains a level of distrust towards new people in his personal life, a mindset he attributes to his training in the army to be always alert for contingencies.

To avoid potential chaos and ensure the dignity of award ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan, strict procedures govern how individuals approach the President.

A formal procedure is essential to prevent unauthorized individuals from directly approaching the President.

The protocols guide awardees through a sequence, including rising from their chairs, standing in the center, wishing the President, and receiving the award.

While there is no formal rule requiring an awardee to bow, it is a gesture of respect, and procedures are followed to maintain an orderly event until all recipients have been awarded.

While standing and performing a 'namaste' is encouraged as a sign of respect and courtesy, there is no legal compulsion to do so.

However, failing to stand might be perceived as disrespectful, reflecting social expectations rather than a mandatory rule.

White uniforms are designated for summer months, whereas dark blue ceremonial dress is reserved for winter, setting aside the dark olive green standard used for ground operations.

White uniforms are specifically designated for summer events, while the darker, ceremonial blue uniforms are worn during winter.

The standard dark olive green is recognized as the regular Indian Army working dress, primarily used for ground operations.

ADCs do not wear formal uniforms during informal engagements, such as morning walks with the President, opting instead for tracksuits.

Major Rishabh received commendations from both the Vice Chief and the Chief of Army Staff for his work.

These accolades were specifically awarded for his role in leading the best marching contingent at the 2021 Republic Day parade.

A dedicated committee oversees the judging process, evaluating and classifying contingents according to stringent criteria.

The commendations acknowledged the performance demonstrated by his unit during the national event.

Major Rishabh detailed a 'water tank' exercise designed to simulate the psychological threshold of giving up, pushing candidates to their absolute limits.

Instructors are trained to identify when a candidate is near physical collapse to prevent fatal injury while maximizing training effectiveness.

Courage requires the presence of fear, an obstacle one must overcome to avoid giving up, he emphasized.

This intensive mental conditioning is vital for preparing soldiers for scenarios where they must resist under duress.

He differentiated this from the term 'encounter,' which is more commonly used by police forces.

The speaker highlighted that while the terminology used varies across domains, the essence of the actions is the same.

Major Rishabh asserted that each security agency, including the Marcos, Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), excels within its specific operational charter.

He expressed admiration for the Marcos for their specialized proficiency in waterborne operations.

Rishabh draws on the best practices of other agencies to foster his own professional growth.

He highlighted the domestic intelligence agency, IB, as an organization whose functioning he appreciates and learns from, often serving closely with them.

Major Rishabh underscored that Special Forces personnel are individuals dedicated to continuous evolution and skill enhancement.

Their training encompasses a wide array of specialized skills, including snake handling, dog handling, and advanced weapon handling techniques.

The methodology includes practicing during periods of peace to prepare for the worst to ensure they do not fail.

This relentless preparation ensures that they are ready to adapt and overcome challenges.

Training at the NDA and IMA conditions operatives to shift their focus from panic to tactical counter-measures, as Major Rishabh emphasized that even Special Forces personnel experience natural human fear.

He explained that extensive and prolonged training, spanning institutions like the NDA and IMA, systematically layers experiences to shift a soldier’s focus from panic to counter-measures.

The objective of this conditioning is not to eliminate fear, but to ensure that the brain maintains functionality under extreme duress.

He recounted a personal incident in the north where he felt fear, but his training allowed him to push past it and take a call within a minute.

Major Rishabh confirmed that 'Sambyal' serves as a community identifier from the Samba region rather than a replacement for his existing name, insisting that his given name, 'Rishabh,' remains unchanged.

He explained that 'Sambyal,' his community name from Samba, was simply added as a surname, leading to the misunderstanding.

He highlighted the significant emotional bond he developed with the President during his three years of service, comparing her warmth and guidance to that of a mother, especially given his long separation from his own family since 2014.

He cited a natural instinct to shield her with an umbrella during rain, similar to how he would protect his own mother, as an example of this close, uninstructed bond, despite public criticism.

Major Rishabh underscored his pride in 12 years of dedicated service to the nation but emphasized that personal responsibilities necessitated a difficult decision to leave.

He clarified that his departure was not impulsive but a deliberate choice to meet family commitments and other personal requirements.

By prioritizing these obligations, he rejected any notion of selfishness, asserting his loyalty to both his duty and the people who brought him into this life.

He also shared three core characteristics for young men to cultivate: loyalty (Nam, Namak, Nishan), pride in their work, and the ability to accept mistakes and learn from them.

Major Rishabh identified that he could not get married and had to stay away from his family as the biggest sacrifice for being an ADC to the President.

He explained that while serving the President, he could not go out and enjoy life like a normal human being.

Despite getting lonely, he rephrases it as a positive thing that gives him space and time to rethink about himself, his thought process, and his good and bad things.

To maintain clarity, Major Rishabh stated he needs to be alone for at least an hour every day, isolated from everyone, to evaluate himself.