The Border Security Force (BSF), India’s first line of defence is celebrating its 54th raising day. Established on December 1, 1965, it is a paramilitary force charged with guarding India’s land border during peace time and preventing transnational crime. It is a Union Government Agency under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs. It is one of many law enforcement agency of India. It currently stands as the world’s largest border guarding force.
The BSF has its own cadre of officers but its head, designated as a Director-General (DG), since its raising has been an officer from the Indian Police Service. The para-military force has 186 battalions and has a sanctioned strength of 257,363 personnel including an expanding air wing, marine wing, artillery regiments, and commando units.
54th BSF DAY PARADE pic.twitter.com/XNRn5k5202
— BSF (@BSF_India) December 1, 2018
From 1947 to 1965, respective state police were responsible for protecting the borders. The BSF actively participated in 1971 war, including famous Battle of Longewala. The para-military force also trained supported and formed part of “Mukti Bahini” and had entered erstwhile East Pakistan before the actual war broke out. The BSF was also involved in counter-insurgency operation in Punjab during 1980’s and early 1990s. Currently, the force is actively carrying out operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East states of India along with the Indian Army.
Indian Police Officer (IPS) K F Rustamji was the first Director General of the BSF from 21 July 1965 to 30 September 1974. Rajni Kant Mishra is current chief of the para military force. The BSF has its Headquarters at New Delhi and is known as Force Headquarters (FHQ) headed by a Director General.
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