Border Security Force

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, appreciating the supreme sacrifice made by the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans in the line of duty,  said there is no sacrifice bigger than laying down one’s life for the nation. Singh said that he would call the BSF not as the “First line of defence’ but as our “First wall of Defence”. 

Underling the role of BSF in defending our borders, he said that to defend our borders is our responsibility but responsibilities have no borders. He also lauded the BSF for its role in curbing smuggling and fake currency notes across the borders.

Till 1965 India’s borders with Pakistan were manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet on 9 April, 1965 in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialized centrally controlled Border Security Force, which would be armed and trained to man the International Border with Pakistan. As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the BSF came into existence on 01 Dec 1965, and Shri K F Rustamji was the first chief and founding father. K K Sharma, IPS, is current Director General of the BSF.  

The BSF contributes every year a number of personnel for services for UN Mission. During the Kargil conflict in May-July 1999, the BSF remained on the heights of the mountains and defended the integrity of the country with all the might at its command in unison with the Army. BSF personnel have been performing Internal Security Duty in Manipur and have been successfully fighting insurgency in those areas. During the flood in Gujarat in 2017, BSF extend help to the distressed people in many area & specially in Banaskantha. 

During the communal disturbances in Gujarat recently, BSF personnel went all out to restore amity and brotherhood among the people. The BSF took over the erection of the border fencing in Jammu & Kashmir and it was successful in its task despite all attempts of Pakistan to scuttle our efforts.