The Significance of BSF

 

• BSF is the main force securing India's borders.
• It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces in India.
• Its primary responsibility is to protect the country's land borders during peacetime and prevent transnational crime.
• BSF was formed as a response to the 1965 war with Pakistan when the latter attempted to infringe upon India's territories.
• Prior to this, the State Armed Police Battalion was in charge of guarding the border with Pakistan. However, the force proved ineffective in the face of Pakistani aggression, leading to the realization of the need for a specialized armed force for border security.
• The Committee of Secretaries suggested the creation of the Border Security Force, which was formally established on December 1, 1965.
• K F Rustamji, IPS, was the founding father and the first chief of BSF.
• BSF operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
• BSF is currently the largest border guarding force in the world.
• It comprises approximately 186 battalions with over 2 lakh personnel.
• BSF also has an air wing, marine wing, commando units and artillery regiments.
• Although BSF has its own cadre of officers, the chief is always an Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer.
• The current head is Rakesh Asthana, IPS, who holds the position of Director-General (DG).
• BSF's ethos is: "Any task, any time, anywhere".
• Its motto is "Jeevan Paryant Kartavya", which translates to "Duty Unto Death".
• BSF not only protects India's borders but also participates in relief operations during natural calamities. It contributes personnel for UN missions and has special battalions for handling all types of disasters, including Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) disasters.
• Recently, BSF has also been assigned with counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism duties in regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and northeast India.
• The daily ceremony at the Wagah Border, witnessed by numerous spectators, is a drill conducted by the BSF.
• The force has been recognized with several awards and honours, including military awards like the Mahavir Chakra, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Kirti Chakra, civil awards like the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award, and police medals like the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Meritorious Service, UN Medal.
• BSF has been involved in major operations such as the Indo-Pakistani war in 1971, Operation Blue Star, Operation Black Thunder, Operation Vijay in the Kargil War, and border skirmishes between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the 2000’s.
• Role:
  • During peacetime:
    • Ensuring security among the people residing in border areas.
    • Curtailing smuggling and other illegal activities along the border.
    • Preventing trans-border crimes, including unauthorized entry into or exit from India.
    • Carrying out anti-infiltration activities.
    • Gathering trans-border intelligence.
  • During wartime:
    • Defending the assigned sectors.
    • Engaging in limited aggressive action against enemy forces.
    • Maintaining law and order in enemy territory under the army’s control.
    • Guiding the army in border areas.
    • Guarding POW camps.
    • Managing refugees.
    • Providing escort services.
    • Performing special tasks related to intelligence, including raids.

Also on this day

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1886: Birth of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, a freedom fighter and revolutionary who established the first Provisional Government of India in Kabul. 1913: The Ford Motor Company introduced the first moving Assembly Line, revolutionizing the manufacturing industry. 1955: African-American Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus for a white man in Alabama, USA, marking a pivotal moment in the American Civil Rights Movement. 1963: Birth of the state of Nagaland.

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