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Meet Adaso Kapesa, the first woman officer in the Special Protection Group (SPG), responsible for PM Narendra Modi’s security

Women like Adaso Kapesa are proving that elite security roles are no longer defined by gender but by excellence, adaptability, and courage

Adaso Kapesa becomes the first woman to join India’s elite SPG, the Prime Minister’s security force (Source: X/Manasi Kirloskar Tata)

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UK recently, a striking image went viral, not of the Prime Minister himself, but of a poised woman officer standing right behind him. Meet Adaso Kapesa, the first-ever woman officer in the Special Protection Group (SPG), India’s most elite security force tasked with protecting the Prime Minister.

Hailing from Kaibi village in Senapati district of Manipur, Kapesa’s journey is as remarkable as it is historic. Currently on deputation with the SPG, she previously served in the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), specifically with the 55th Battalion in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. Her induction into SPG—traditionally a male-dominated bastion—signals a turning point in India’s security landscape. “Women aren’t just making security inclusive—they’re making it smarter,” said Sudeep Lakhtakia, a former senior SPG officer, to Deccan Chronicle.

The SPG, known for its precision, secrecy, and high-stakes assignments, rarely makes headlines about its personnel. But Kapesa’s inclusion has done just that, challenging norms and setting a powerful precedent for women across India aiming for careers in elite security roles.

From a remote village in Manipur to standing behind the PM as part of the SPG – what a journey! Saluting Inspector Adaso Kapesa for rewriting what’s possible for Indian women in uniform. @narendramodi @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/MqVc0Dbcwg

— Manasi Kirloskar Tata (@M_KirloskarTata) August 4, 2025

Kapesa joins a global league of pioneering women in security. Kimberly Cheatle, the former US Secret Service Director, rose from trainee to Director of the US Secret Service in a 30-year career. Though she resigned after the failed assassination attempt on former President Trump, she left behind an enduring legacy of leadership.

Back home, Tamil Nadu is also leading change. Since March 2022, trained women police personnel have been part of Chief Minister MK Stalin’s core security team. These officers are trained in unarmed combat, firearms, and bomb detection, a model that other states are slowly beginning to replicate.

The story of Veena Gupta, India’s first female bodyguard, also resonates in this context. Having founded Seam Group Services, which provides security for firms like Adobe, Barclays, and Bell Helicopter, Gupta recalls her unconventional journey: “Most people would expect a protection officer to be physically bulky. I am neither. I don’t look intimidating—but that’s exactly what gives me the edge,” she told Deccan Chronicle, referencing her work with the Prince of Hungary during Liz Hurley’s wedding in India.

Women like Adaso Kapesa are proving that elite security roles are no longer defined by gender but by excellence, adaptability, and courage. As India redefines its security apparatus, Kapesa stands tall, not just behind the Prime Minister, but at the forefront of change.

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