The Centre has approved a Rs 13,020 crore central sector umbrella scheme for continuation of the Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) during the 15th Finance Commission cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The decision will strengthen infrastructure for improving border management, policing and guarding.

Border management

• India has 15,106.7 km of land border and a coastline of 7,516.6 km including island territories.

• Securing the country’s borders against interests hostile to the country and putting in place systems that are able to interdict such elements while facilitating legitimate trade and commerce are among the principal objectives of border management. 

• Proper management of borders, which is vital to national security, presents many challenges and includes coordination and concerted action by the administrative, diplomatic, security, intelligence, legal, regulatory and economic agencies of the country, to secure the frontiers and to serve its best interests.

• Approach and practices of border management vary from one border to another based on the security perceptions and relationship with the neighbouring country.

• As part of strategy to secure the borders and also to create infrastructure in the border areas of the country, several initiatives have been undertaken by the Department of Border Management. 

• The Department of Border Management was created in the ministry of home affairs in January 2004 to devote focused attention to the issues relating to the management of the international land and coastal borders, strengthening of border policing and guarding, creation of infrastructure.

• The government has deployed hi-tech electronic surveillance equipment on international borders and constructed additional BOPs. 

• In addition, various developmental works in the border areas have been undertaken by the Department under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP).

Deployment of forces

• Deployment of forces along the borders is based on the principle of ‘One Border, One Border Guarding Force’.

Accordingly, domination of each border has been entrusted to a particular Border Guarding Force as under: 

• Bangladesh and Pakistan Borders - Border Security Force (BSF)

• China Border - Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

• Nepal and Bhutan Borders - Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

• Myanmar Border - Assam Rifles.

• Indian Army is guarding land borders along the LoC on Pakistan border along with BSF and Line of Actual Control (LAC) on China border along with ITBP.

• Indian Navy is responsible for overall maritime security which includes coastal and offshore security. Indian Coast Guard has been additionally designated as authority responsible for coastal security in India’s territorial waters including areas to be patrolled by the Coastal Police.

Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB)

• The Indian side of the Indo-Bangladesh Border passes through West Bengal (2,216.7 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Tripura (856 km) and Mizoram (318 km). 

• The entire stretch consists of plains, riverine belts, hills and jungles. The area is heavily populated and is cultivated right upto the border.

• Border Out Posts (BOPs) are the main workstations of the BSF along the borders. These are self-contained defence out-posts with a specified area of responsibility established along the entire continuum of land borders.

• The BOPs are meant to provide an appropriate show of force to deter cross-border criminals, infiltrators and the hostile elements from indulging in the activities of intrusion/encroachment and border violations. Each BOP is provided with the necessary infrastructure for accommodation, logistic supports and combat functions. 

• In order to curb the infiltration, smuggling and other anti-national activities from across the Indo-Bangladesh Border, the Indian government has undertaken the construction of fencing along this border.

• In order to have better communication and operational mobility of BSF in border areas, border roads have been constructed.

Indo-Pakistan Border

• India shares 3,323 km of its land border with Pakistan. This border runs along the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh. The Indo-Pakistan border has varied terrain and distinct geographical features. This border is characterised by attempts of infiltration by the terrorists and smuggling of the arms, ammunition and contraband, the LoC being the most active and live portion of the border.

• As part of initiative by the Indian government to cover the Indo-Pakistan Border through physical or non-physical barriers, the area where physical fence is not feasible, will be covered through non physical barriers in the form of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS).

Indo-Myanmar Border

• India shares a 1,643 km long border with Myanmar. The states of Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) have a common border with Myanmar. The Assam Rifles is guarding the Indo-Myanmar Border.

• There is a Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) between India and Myanmar to examine/ discuss all boundary related issues in a comprehensive manner.

• A Free Movement Regime (FMR) exists between India and Myanmar. Under the FMR, every member of the hill tribes, who is either a citizen of India or a citizen of Myanmar and who is resident of any area within 16 km on either side of Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) can cross the IMB on production of a border pass (with one-year validity) issued by the competent authority and can stay up to two weeks per visit.

India-China Border

• To redress the situation arising out of lack of adequate infrastructure along the Indo-China Border, the ministry of home affairs has undertaken the construction of roads along the Indo-China Border in the Union Territory of Ladakh and states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been deployed as Border Guarding Force for Indo-China Border.

Indo-Nepal Border

• India and Nepal share an open border of 1,751 km. The main challenges are to check the misuse of open border by the terrorists and criminals for illegal and anti-national activities, and to improve the security along this border. 

• Battalions of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have been deployed as the Border Guarding Force (BGF) on this border.

• To facilitate bilateral dialogue on matters of mutual concern regarding border management, governments of India and Nepal have decided to constitute an institutionalised mechanism in the form of home secretary-level talks and Joint Working Group at the level of joint secretaries. 

• In addition, there is a mechanism of Border District Coordination Committees at the level of district officials of the two countries. 

• These mechanisms serve as platforms for discussing the issues of mutual concern such as containing cross border crimes, smuggling, situations arising out of terrorist activities at the national and regional/local levels.

Indo-Bhutan Border

• To improve the security environment along the Indo-Bhutan Border measuring 699 km, battalions of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have been deployed as the Border Guarding Force.

• A bilateral mechanism in the form of a secretary level India-Bhutan Group on Border Management and Security exists. This mechanism has proved to be useful in assessing threat perceptions of the two countries from elements attempting to take advantage of open borders and in discussing ways of improving the security environment along the border areas.

Border Area Development Programme (BADP)

• The Department of Border Management is implementing the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) through the state and Union Territory governments, as a part of the comprehensive approach to border management. 

• The aim of BADP is to meet special developmental needs and well being of the people living in the remote and inaccessible areas situated near the international borders and to provide essential infrastructure through convergence of the central/state/BADP/local schemes through participatory approach. 

• The programme covers 111 border districts located along the international land borders.

• The BADP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).

• Funds are provided to the States/UTs for execution of projects relating to infrastructure, livelihood, education, health, agriculture and allied sectors.

• The programme covers all the villages which are located within 0-10 km distance of the International Border. The works/projects undertaken under the BADP relate to the construction of roads, bridges, drinking water supply, health, agriculture and allied activities, social sector activities such as creation of social infrastructure, capacity building and skill development, and construction of toilets particularly for women, education, sports activities, promotion of rural tourism/border tourism, etc.

Coastal security

• India has a coastline of 7,516.6 km bordering the mainland and the islands in Bay of Bengal in the East, the Indian Ocean in the South and the Arabian Sea in the West.

• Indian Navy has been designated as the authority responsible for overall maritime security, which includes coastal and offshore security. Indian Navy is assisted by Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Coastal Police and other central and state agencies. ICG is also designated as an authority responsible for coastal security in territorial waters including the areas to be patrolled by Coastal Police.

• The Department of Border Management is implementing the Coastal Security Scheme (CSS) in phases with the objective of strengthening infrastructure of the police force of coastal states/UTs, for patrolling and surveillance of coastal areas, particularly shallow waters close to the coast.

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