Some of you may have read a recent news report in which Union Aviation Minister Shri Praful Patel was quoted as saying:

“The men who guard our borders should not have to be frisked. There are already 11 people who are exempt. They (Chiefs of Defence Services) come in at number 12.”

I wonder who are these 11 people? Or did Shri Patel mean 11 categories? or 11 posts?

Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla has been quoted in the same report as saying that “Exemption goes on a warrant of precedence…” but the list has now been expanded.

Apparently, Robert Vadra has this privilege (I am not sure why- something to do wth Z category security?) and the report says that “only 24 posts have been granted exemption under the law. These include the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers”

We now know that the list includes Union Ministers of State, Chief Ministers, Deputy CMs, Ambassadors and High Commissioners.

Those categories account for 9 “posts”. Add Defence Chiefs at 10.

Who/ What are the other 14 categories? Does anyone know?

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P.S. Interestingly, Robert himself does not seem to be averse to being treated like a “normal person” rather than a VIP:

“…The Delhi Police has shot off a letter (to the Union Home Ministry) after the VIP (Shri Vadra)  recently again refused to take the ITBP escort with him despite “Z” category security sanctioned by Union Home Ministry…”