Gauri Chhabra
The Border Security Force (BSF) is a Border Guarding Force of India. 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 with strength of 2 Lakh personnel in 186 bns.
Border Security Force, one of the largest Para-Military forces in the World, is a versatile force, which is responsible for guarding round the clock vast and volatile borders not only against trans-border criminals but also against heavily armed trans-border terrorism as well. Though guarding the borders is the prime commitment, security forces remain heavily and decisively involved in the interior as well in combating insurgency and militancy in various parts of the country. Because of its friendly and human face, BSF remains the much sought after Force for combating and containing serious law and order situations in the trouble prone States. And in case of hot War, BSF works as a force multiplier and contributes substantially towards over all War efforts of the nation as a credible front line Force.
By virtue of this unique dual role, the Border-men more commonly known as “PRAHARI” is required to be a perfect Policeman during peace and a professional soldier during War. Management of borders (International Border), restoration of law and order situation in the interior and fighting a Conventional/unconventional War are the three challenging assignments which a border-man is required to carry out. In short, these fundamental essentials make the “Training Trilogy” of BSF. Professional proficiency of any Force is directly related to the standard of Training of that Force and it is primarily due to this commitment that BSF refuses to compromise on its training assignments irrespective of handicaps and heavy orders. BSF believes in sweating during peace to ensure that it does not bleed during War or War like situation.
Organization
The Border Security Force has its Head Quarters at New Delhi and is known as Force Head Quarter (FHQ) headed by a Director General. Various Directorates like Operations, Communications & IT, Training, Engineering, General, Law, Provisioning, Administration, Personnel, Medical and Finance function under the DG. Each Directorate is headed by an IG. The Eastern Theater is looked after by Spl DG HQ at Kolkata and the Western Theater is looked after by Spl DG HQ at Chandigarh. Field Formations in BSF are headed by an IG and are known as Frontiers Head Quarters (Ftr HQ). There is 10 such Frontier under which Sector Head Quarters (SHQ) function headed by a DIG each. There are 31 such Sectors. Each SHQ has under its command 4-5 Duty Battalions. Presently 186 Battalions are sanctioned to BSF. Five major training institutions and 10 Subsidiary Training Centers (STCs) are imparting ab-initio as well as in-service training to its ranks and other CPOs/SPOs including IPS Probationers.
BSF is the only Indian paramilitary force to have its own Air Wing, Marine Wing and artillery regiments, which support the General Duty Battalions in their operations.
The BSF also has a national level school for breeding and training of dogs. Dogs from other CPOs and State Police are sent to National Training Centre for Dogs (NTCD) to be trained in infantry patrol, detection of explosives, tracking and the like.
The BSF maintains a Tear Smoke Unit (TSU), which is unique in India. The TSU is responsible for producing tear gas munitions required for the Anti-Riot Forces. It also exports a substantial quantity to other countries.
Two battalions of the BSF, located at Kolkata and Guwahati, are designated as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Each battalion maintains 18 self-contained specialist searches and rescue teams of 45 personnel each, including engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads and medical/paramedics. The establishment of each battalion is 1,158 personnel. The NDRF is a multi-disciplinary, multi-skilled, high-tech force for all types of disasters and can deploy to disasters by air, sea and land. The battalions are equipped and trained for all natural disasters including combating nuclear disaster, biological and chemical disasters.
Recruitment
In General cadre recruitment is done in the rank of constable, SI and Assistant Commandant whereas in communication it is in rank of ASI, HC(RO) and HC(Fitter). Education qualification for a constable/HC/ASI is Matriculation and age should be 18-23 yrs whereas for SI it is bachelors Degree and age between 20-25 yrs. For AC age is 19-25 yrs and AC (Tech) needs to be BSC and require to pass written test, PET and Interview. The rank and file of BSF is
Director General
Assistant Director General
Inspector General
Dy Inspector General
Additional DIG
Commandant
Second in Command
Dy Commandant
Asst Commandant
Subedar Major
Inspector
Sub Inspector
Asst Sub Inspector
Head Constable
Constable
Enrolled Follower
Selection Procedure
Written examinations for enrolment into BSF as AC is conducted every year and on qualifying further you are screened through Interview and Physical endurance test popularly known as PET.
Written Examination
The written examination consists of two papers each of two hours duration.
First paper consists of General Ability, General Science, Current events, Indian polity and Economy and Intelligence. Topics covered are logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude including numerical ability, data interpretation, general awareness, scientific temper, comprehension and appreciation of scientific phenomena of everyday observation including new areas of importance like Information Technology, Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Current Events of National and International Importance in the areas of culture, music, arts, literature, sports, governance, societal and developmental issues, industry, business, globalization, and interplay among nations. Indian Polity and Economy includes Country’s political system and the Constitution of India, social systems and public administration, economic development in India.
Second paper consists of Essay, Précis Writing and Comprehension to test your ability to bring to fore your ideas on the given essay topic, arrange them in a coherent, orderly, concise, understandable and lucid manner in effective and grammatically correct language free from spelling errors.
Physical Standards/Physical Efficiency Tests and Medical Standards Tests:
After you qualify through written exam you will be called for Physical Standards/Physical Efficiency Tests and Medical Standards Tests. Those candidates who meet the prescribed Physical Standards will be put through the Physical Efficiency Tests which includes 100 m and 800 m race, long jump, High jump and shot put. Females appearing should not be pregnant
Interview/Personality Test:
Once you qualify Medical Standards Tests, you will be called for Interview/Personality Test to be conducted by UPSC and carries 200 Marks.
In addition to above recruitment you can also join BSF as PRO, Law Officer and Medical officers including veterinary.
Young, energetic and adventurous individuals are always attracted to a career in the BSF. A career in BSF gives you prestige and honour associated with the job. Majority of Indian citizens look up to men in uniform and dream to be one like them. It is indeed a pride of nation and brings in accolades of praises and appreciation for gallant acts of uniformed personnel’s. India as a nation salutes the brave men and now women too of the elite paramilitary services The BSF.
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