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 “Jeevan Paryant Kartavya” meaning “Duty 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 ‘Ops Alert’ exercise ahead of Republic Day”
For more updates, click here
