57th Raising Day of Border Security Force (BSF)

The Border Security Force (BSF) also termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories, is celebrating its 57th Raising Day on 01 December 2021.
BSF was formed on December 1, 1965 as a unified central agency after the Indo-Pak and India-China wars for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith.
It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India and stands as the world’s largest border guarding force.

Other Central Armed Police Forces are: Assam Rifles (AR), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guards (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

It is deployed on Indo-Pakistan International Border, Indo-Bangladesh International Border, Line of Control (LoC) along with Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations.
It has an air wing, marine wing, an artillery regiment, and commando units.
BSF has been defending Sir Creak in Arabian Sea and Sundarban delta in the Bay of Bengal with its state of art fleet of Water Crafts.
BSF has an instrumental role in helping state administration in maintaining Law and Order and conduct of peaceful election.
BSF has been crusading against natural calamity to save precious human lives as and when warranted.
BSF Director General: Pankaj Kumar Singh;
BSF Headquarters: New Delhi.

Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a notification to widen the jurisdiction of Border Security Force (BSF) for seizure, search and arrest up to 50km from the international border in Assam, West Bengal and Punjab.
This notification replaces a 2014 order under the BSF Act, 1968, which also covered the States of Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
It also specifically mentions the two newly created Union Territories- J&K and Ladakh.
The violations for which the BSF carries out search and seizure include smuggling of narcotics, other prohibited items, illegal entry of foreigners and offences punishable under any other Central Act among others.
After a suspect has been detained or a consignment seized within the specified area, the BSF can only conduct “preliminary questioning” and has to hand over the suspect to the local police within 24 hours.
The BSF does not have the powers to prosecute crime suspects.