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Prime Minister extended wishes on 56th raising day of BSF
About BSF
- The Border Security Force (BSF) is India’s Primary border guarding organisation on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- It is one of the three Border Guarding Forces (BGF) of India
- It is a border guarding force charged with guarding India’s land border with Pakistan and Bangladesh during peacetime and preventing transnational crime at the same, it has various active roles during an outbreak of war.
- It comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- The BSF takes its officers from IPS on deputation at command and leadership levels, from the rank of Deputy Director General (DIG) and above
- BSF has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories
- As a result of the recommendations of the committee of secretaries, the Border Security Force came into existence on 01 Dec 1965, and Shri KF Rustamji was the first chief and founding father.
- Mission of BSF: “Any task, any time, any where”
Role of BSF
The tasks of the BSF are divided as follows:
Peace time:
- Promote a sense of security among the people living in the border areas.
- Prevent trans border crimes, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India.
- Prevent smuggling and any other illegal activity.
War Time:
- Holding ground in less threatened sectors so long as the main attack does not develop in a particular sector and it is felt that the local situation is within the capability of BSF to deal with.
- The BSF units can continue to remain deployed in particular sector even in a war situation to release the Army for offensive tasks.
- In the even of a major attack developing, which is not within the capacity of the BSF to deal with, the Army can be expected to either reinforce the BSF with Artillery or other support, or relieve the BSF from its role in the particular sector.
- Protection of vital installations particular air-fields against enemy commandoes / para troopers or raids.
- The role can be entrusted to the BSF Units which are placed under the Army’s operational control.
- Providing extension to the flanks of main defense line by the holding of strong points in conjunction with other units.
- Limited Aggressive action against para military or irregular forces of the enemy within the overall plan of the armed forces.
- Performing special tasks connected with intelligence including raids.
- These are tasks which might be entrusted to BSF Units by the Army in a war situation according to local necessity.
- Acting as guides in an area of responsibility where routes are known.
- Maintenance of law and order in enemy territory administered under the control of the Army.
- Provision of escorts.
- Guarding of prisoners of war cages.
- Assistance in control of refugees. It is the intention to use civil police force and armed home guards etc. for these tasks but again depending upon local exigencies, the BSF might be entrusted with these tasks.
- Anti – infiltration duties in specified areas. This is an important responsibility which will have to be performed by security forces.