Odisha Police to Receive Advanced Counter-Terrorism Training from NSG
The National Security Guard (NSG) has launched a specialised counter-terrorism training programme for Odisha Police personnel, expanding the state’s efforts to strengthen its preparedness against terrorism and other high-risk security threats. The initiative is aimed at equipping the force with advanced operational skills to respond more effectively to increasingly complex security challenges.
The programme is being conducted under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this month between the NSG and Odisha Police. As part of the collaboration, a larger batch of police personnel will undergo intensive training at the newly established Counter Terrorism Training Facility located within the Special Operations Group (SOG) campus at Chandaka in Bhubaneswar.
Officials said the training curriculum has been designed to cover a wide range of specialised operational areas. These include urban counter-terrorism tactics, hostage rescue missions, VIP security procedures, sniper operations, defensive driving techniques and emergency response protocols. The objective is to improve the operational readiness of Odisha Police and enhance its ability to deal with evolving security threats.
Senior police officers said the partnership with the NSG is expected to significantly strengthen the force’s capabilities by exposing personnel to advanced counter-terror techniques and specialised tactical training developed by India’s elite federal force. The initiative is also intended to improve coordination, preparedness and response during critical security situations.
The programme follows Odisha’s recent investments in specialised policing infrastructure. In December 2025, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated a state-of-the-art Counter Terrorism Training Complex and a new SOG Training-cum-Briefing Hall at Chandaka. The facility, capable of training nearly 400 SOG personnel at a time, was established to modernise the state’s security apparatus and enhance its counter-terrorism preparedness. At the time, the Chief Minister also announced enhanced risk allowances for SOG personnel and other forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations while outlining broader measures to strengthen Odisha’s police force.
The latest training initiative also builds on discussions held earlier this month when NSG Director General Brighu Srinivasan met Odisha Director General of Police Y. B. Khurania to review security arrangements for the Rath Yatra in Puri. During those interactions, Odisha Police sought the NSG’s support in strengthening the state’s counter-terrorism capabilities through advanced training and closer operational cooperation.
The NSG, India’s premier counter-terrorism force, has long served as a national centre for specialised training in urban counter-terrorism, bomb detection and disposal, counter-improvised explosive device (IED) operations and joint exercises involving Central Armed Police Forces, state police organisations and friendly foreign security agencies. The Chandaka training programme extends that expertise to Odisha Police as the state continues to enhance its preparedness against emerging security threats.
