NEWS

On 1 December 1965, India’s first line of defense, the Border Security Force (BSF) was formed.

ABOUT

• Sentinels of Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• K F Rustamji, IPS was the first chief and the founding father of the organization.
• Under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India.
• Has an air wing, marine wing, commando units and artillery regiments.
• Was created by merging various State Armed Police Battalions for achieving a better coordinated synergy between the border guarding functions in peace time and fighting the war during the eventuality on both Western and Eastern fronts.
• Deployed on Indo-Pakistan International Border, Indo-Bangladesh International Border, Line of Control (LoC) along with Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations.
• Has proven its credentials during various counter insurgency and anti-militancy operations, internal security duties, natural calamities etc.
• One of the five Central Armed Police Forces of Union of India under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Mandated with guarding India’s land border during peacetime and preventing transnational crime.
• World’s largest border guarding force.
• The ethos: “Any task, any time, any where”.
• Motto is “Jeevan Paryant Kartavya” meaning “Duty Unto Death”.
• Role:
• During peacetime:
  • Promoting a sense of security among the people living in the border areas.
  • Preventing smuggling and other illegal activities along the border.
  • Preventing trans-border crimes including unauthorized entry into or exit from India.
  • Engaging in anti-infiltration.
  • Collecting 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 army’s control.
  • Acting as guides to the army in border areas.
  • Guarding POW camps.
  • Controlling refugees.
  • Providing escort.
  • Performing special tasks related to intelligence including raids.