Internal Security
Module VIIndia’s Borders
• India has around 15,106 km of Land Border and around 7,516 km of Maritime Border including the island territories.
Border Management
• Principal objectives of border management
-i. Securing the country’s borders against hostile interests
ii. Putting in place systems that are able to counter such hostile elements iii. Facilitating legitimate trade and commerce
• The proper management of borders, which is vitally important for national security, presents many challenges and includes coordination and concerted action by administrative, diplomatic, security, intelligence, legal, regulatory and economic agencies of the country to secure the frontiers and subserve its best interests.
Ministry of Home Affairs
• Department of Border Management under the MHA, deals with the management of borders, including coastal borders, strengthening of border guarding mechanisms and creation of related infrastructure, border areas development etc.
• The Department is further organized into two divisions -i. Border Management Division - I
Department of Border Management
• Border Management Division-I deals with management of international borders
• Border management Division-II deals with matters relating to coordination and concerted action by administrative, diplomatic, security, intelligence, legal, regulatory and economic agencies of the country for the management of international borders, Border Area Development Programme, coastal security and establishment of Land Ports Authority of India for setting up of Integrated Check Posts.
One Border One Force Policy
• Pakistan – BSF • Bangladesh – BSF • Nepal – SSB • Bhutan – SSB • China – ITBP• Myanmar – Assam Rifles
Border with Pakistan
• This border runs along the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and UT of J&K. • India shares two kinds of boundaries with Pakistan.
• One being the international border that is not violated by either side while the other is the Line of Control (LoC) which is around 700 kilometers in length and the scene of constant infiltration by terrorists and Pakistan army regulars.
• There is also a stretch of 199 kilometers in the Kutch sector which has not been
demarcated which facilitates intrusion and infiltration.
• Pakistan is actively engaged in exporting drugs and fomenting terror.
• Militants infiltrating into Kashmir have been known to carry drugs in their knapsacks, reportedly a condition for procuring arms from the Pakistan army.
• India’s Response –
i. Fencing & Floodlighting of the Border
Border with Bangladesh
• The Indo-Bangladesh border passes through West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
• The entire stretch consists of plains, riverine belts, hills, jungles. This makes the border highly porous.
• The area is heavily populated and cultivated right up to the border. • Illegal Migration
• Organised Crime – Trafficking of Drugs, weapons, humans, wildlife products etc., Pumping of FICN’s, Cattle smuggling
• Cross-border terror • India’s Response –
i. Fencing & Floodlighting of the Border
Border with Nepal
• It passes through the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim.
• The 1950 Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty – Open Border
• Tough terrain – riverine systems, wetlands, thick forests, mountains • Highly porous border
• Organised Crime
• Pakistan uses Nepal as a conduit to infiltrate terrorists, and conduct smuggling activities including narcotics, FICN’s etc.
Border with Bhutan
• It adjoins the Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim.
• Densely forested and mountainous
• Bhutan has been a safe haven for insurgents like the ULFA and the Bodos. • Trijunction point of India-Bhutan-China
Border with Myanmar
• It runs from the trijunction point with China in the north to the trijunction point with Bangladesh in the south.
• It adjoins Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur. • Densely forested, mountainous, remote, no connectivity
• Proximity to Golden Triangle region • Cross-border movement of insurgents
Border with China
• It runs along Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
• Mountainous, snow-covered, remote, poor connectivity • Standing border dispute & tensions
Coastal Security
• Coastal Security Scheme - for strengthening infrastructure for patrolling and surveillance
• Under the scheme, assistance is being given to the coastal States/UTs to set up coastal police stations
• Coastal Surveillance Radar Project • Coast Guard & Indian Navy
Other Measures
• Border Area Development Programme (BADP)
• Construction of roads of operational significance in border areas • Land Ports Authority of India - Integrated Check Posts (ICP)
UPSC Questions – Border Management
1. How far are India’s internal security challenges linked with border management particularly in view of the long porous borders with most countries of South Asia and Myanmar? (2013)
2. Border management is a complex task due to difficult terrain and hostile relations with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for effective border management. (2016)
3. India’s proximity to two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What countermeasures should be taken to prevent the same? (2018)
4. Cross-border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India-Myanmar border. Also discuss the steps to counter the challenges. (2019)
