Border Security Force: A Complete Overview

Border Security Force

#GS-03 Internal Security

For Prelims

Border Security Force

  • Border Security Force (BSF) was formed on December 1st 1965 as the primary border guarding organisation of India.
  • They are charged with guarding Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh and are termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
  • The BSF works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India.
  • It was raised during the aftermath of the 1965 Indo-Pak War for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith.
  • BSF is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs in India.
  • Indian borders with Pakistan were guarded by the State Armed Police Battalion until the founding of BSF.
  • Currently BSF boasts a strength of more than 2 lakh personnel divided into 186 battalions.
  • BSF is the only paramilitary force in India to have an air wing, marine wing, commando units and artillery regiments.
  • The organization has its own cadre of officers but the chief is always selected from Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre.
  • Their motto is β€œJeevan Paryant Kartavya” meaning β€œDuty Unto Death”.
  • The BSF has not been granted the powers to prosecute crime suspects.
  • BSF was initially deployed on Indo-Pakistan International Border, and they were tasked with manning the Indo-Bangladesh International Border post 1971 war.
  • They also patrol the Line of Control (LoC) along with Indian Army and participate in Anti-Naxal Operations with CRPF.
  • BSF is the world’s largest border guarding force currently.

Jurisdiction of BSF:

BSF has been granted powers to arrest and search under

  • Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)
  • Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and
  • Passport Act, 1967
  • It has been granted powers to arrest, search and seize under the NDPS Act, Arms Act, Customs Act and certain other laws as well.

Source “BSF starts β€˜Ops Alert’ exercise ahead of Republic Day

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