SECURITY
4. Security challenges and their management in
border areas; linkages of organized crime with
terrorism.
India border
India has a land border of over 15,000 kms, which it shares with seven countries (Pakistan, China, Bangladesh,
Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Afghanistan). Further, it has a coastline of over 7,500 kms.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for management of international lands and coastal borders,
strengthening of border guarding and creation of infrastructure such as roads, fencing, and lighting of borders.
India’s recent achievements on the front of border infrastructure:
Bridge construction: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 44 major bridges at strategic locations
along the western, northern and north-eastern borders. This included eight major bridges in Ladakh and
Arunachal Pradesh each, along with 28 other bridges located across different border sectors.
Tunnel construction: Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, which is the highest altitude tunnel in the world and has
strategic significance. The tunnel was constructed using drill and blast NATM (New Austria Tunnelling
Method) techniques. 10 new such tunnel construction has been planned.
Infrastructure Development along the LAC: India is close to completing a major upgrade of border roads,
including a strategic military-use road that connects an airfield at Daulat Beg Oldie in the northern tip of the
western sector with the villages of Shyok and Darbuk toward the south.
Frontier highways: Roads spread across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim — BRO has reportedly completed 40 roads and 12 more roads will be
completed by March 2021. For example Chardham project.
Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System: The CIBMS is a robust and integrated system that is
capable of addressing the gaps in the present system of border security by seamlessly integrating human
resources, weapons, and high-tech surveillance equipment.
The Border Area Development Programme (BADP): Under BADP, for projects in areas of States/UTs
inhabited along the Indo-China border i.e. Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim and
Uttarakhand. The fund is distributed to the Border States and Union Territories (UTs) depending on various
criteria such as the length of the international border and population.
Significance of border infrastructure development:
Multiple borders: India shares land borders with seven countries including Bhutan, Bangladesh,
China, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan and maritime borders with Sri Lanka, Maldives
and Indonesia. It has 15,106.7 kilometres of land border and a coastline of 7,516 kilometres including
its island territories.
India is in strategic location: India is located in South Asia. Below it is the Indian Ocean, having
, one of the most important trade routes in the world due to Chinese trade dominance. India’s Andaman
and Nicobar islands also are crucial for trade and are strategically positioned near the busiest trade
routes.
Conflict places: India- Pakistan (Kargil, Siachen), India- China (Aksaichin, Arnachal pradesh), India-
Bangladesh (Siliguri corridor) India-Myanmar (Kabaw valley), India- Srilanka (Kachateevu Island)
are some of the conflict places and border infrastructure is need of the hour.
Internal security: illegal migration, land encroachment, cattle smuggling, narcotic trafficking, illegal
Indian currency, penetration of anti-social elements are rampant. To enhance our internal security
robust border infrastructure is required.
Cross border terrorism: The term ‘cross-border’ implies a movement or an activity across a border
between the two countries.
PROBLEM
Lack of proper demarcationof our land and maritime borders.
Complex and different terrain on all borders makes it difficult to attain specialization in border management.
Lack of coordination among multiple agencies associated with border security.
Lack of infrastructure with border forces including shortage both in terms of manpower and infrastructure.
Inadequate attention to the concerns of local people in border areas which is exploited by hostile elements to
create a feeling of ill will against the security forces & Government.
Inadequate attention to security forcessuch as no mobile connectivity leading to isolation,
inadequate medical facilities, disparity in wages and allowances in comparison with the army
SOLUTION
Dispute resolution- Government should resolve pending border disputes with the neighbouring countries, as
they later become matters of national-security threat
No diversion of security forces- The border-guarding force should not be distracted from its principal task
and deployed for other internal security duties. For eg-ITBP, a force specifically trained for India- China
border should not be used in the naxalite-infested areas.
Involvement of army– It is felt that the responsibility for unsettled and disputed borders, such as the LoC in
J&K and the LAC on the Indo-Tibetan border, should be that of the Indian Army while the BSF should be
responsible for all settled borders.
Follow one-force-one-border principle to effectively manage borders as divided responsibilities never result
in effective control.
Developing Infrastructure-accelerated development of infrastructure along the border, especially to wean the
border population from illegal activities.
Use of advanced technology- The advances in surveillance technology, particularly satellite and aerial
imagery, can help to maintain a constant vigil along the LAC and make it possible to reduce physical
deployment.
Up-gradation of intelligence networkand co-ordination with sister agencies, conduct of special
operations along the border.
Raising the issues of infiltration from across the border during various meeting with counterpart
, countries.
Initiatives taken by the government to ensure effective border management:
Border Area Development Programme (BADP): it is through the State Governments, in 396 border
blocks of 111 border districts in 17 States. Coverage of BADP has been extended to cover all the
villages which are located within the 0-10 Km of the International Border.
CIBMS: Two pilot projects covering about 71 Kms on Indo-Pakistan Border (10 Kms) and Indo-
Bangladesh Border (61 Kms) of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS)
have been completed.The CIBMS project will vastly improve the capability of BSF in detecting and
controlling the cross border crimes like illegal infiltration, smuggling of contraband goods, human
trafficking and cross border terrorism etc.
It involves deployment of a range of state-of-the-art surveillance technologies —
Thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms.
Aerostats for aerial surveillance.
Unattended ground sensors that can help detect intrusion bids.
Radars, sonar systems to secure riverine borders.
Fibre-optic sensors.
A command and control system that shall receive data from all surveillance devices in real time.
BOLD-QIT: The smart fencing project BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT
Interception Technique) has been implemented along the riverine border at Dhubri, as it was not
feasible to construct border fencing.
Smart fencing: This entails deploying laser-activated fences and technology- enabled barriers to plug
vulnerable gaps along frontiers. Sensors like thermal imagery, underground sensors, fiber optical
sensors, radar and sonar will be mounted on different platforms like aerostat, tower and poles as part
of the smart fence.
Bharatmala: Special emphasis will be given on providing connectivity to far- flung border and rural
areas including the tribal and backward areas.
Military satellites: GSAT-7, GSAT-7A, Microsat-r, cartosat, risat are important satellites used for
surveillance.
Madhukar Gupta Committee has given its recommendations broadly on the issues of Threats and Border
Protection, assessment of force level, deployment on the border, infrastructure and technology issues for
protection of border and administrative issues. Implementation of projects will help in integration of
manpower, sensors, networks, intelligence and command and control is solutions to improve situational
awareness at different levels of hierarchy to facilitate prompt and informed decision making and quick
reaction to emerging situations.
Q 1.Border surveillance capability is a critical component of border security. Do you agree? What is India’s
preparedness on this front? Discuss.
India’s land border covers around 15,106 km sharing boundaries with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan,
4. Security challenges and their management in
border areas; linkages of organized crime with
terrorism.
India border
India has a land border of over 15,000 kms, which it shares with seven countries (Pakistan, China, Bangladesh,
Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Afghanistan). Further, it has a coastline of over 7,500 kms.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for management of international lands and coastal borders,
strengthening of border guarding and creation of infrastructure such as roads, fencing, and lighting of borders.
India’s recent achievements on the front of border infrastructure:
Bridge construction: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 44 major bridges at strategic locations
along the western, northern and north-eastern borders. This included eight major bridges in Ladakh and
Arunachal Pradesh each, along with 28 other bridges located across different border sectors.
Tunnel construction: Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, which is the highest altitude tunnel in the world and has
strategic significance. The tunnel was constructed using drill and blast NATM (New Austria Tunnelling
Method) techniques. 10 new such tunnel construction has been planned.
Infrastructure Development along the LAC: India is close to completing a major upgrade of border roads,
including a strategic military-use road that connects an airfield at Daulat Beg Oldie in the northern tip of the
western sector with the villages of Shyok and Darbuk toward the south.
Frontier highways: Roads spread across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim — BRO has reportedly completed 40 roads and 12 more roads will be
completed by March 2021. For example Chardham project.
Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System: The CIBMS is a robust and integrated system that is
capable of addressing the gaps in the present system of border security by seamlessly integrating human
resources, weapons, and high-tech surveillance equipment.
The Border Area Development Programme (BADP): Under BADP, for projects in areas of States/UTs
inhabited along the Indo-China border i.e. Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim and
Uttarakhand. The fund is distributed to the Border States and Union Territories (UTs) depending on various
criteria such as the length of the international border and population.
Significance of border infrastructure development:
Multiple borders: India shares land borders with seven countries including Bhutan, Bangladesh,
China, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan and maritime borders with Sri Lanka, Maldives
and Indonesia. It has 15,106.7 kilometres of land border and a coastline of 7,516 kilometres including
its island territories.
India is in strategic location: India is located in South Asia. Below it is the Indian Ocean, having
, one of the most important trade routes in the world due to Chinese trade dominance. India’s Andaman
and Nicobar islands also are crucial for trade and are strategically positioned near the busiest trade
routes.
Conflict places: India- Pakistan (Kargil, Siachen), India- China (Aksaichin, Arnachal pradesh), India-
Bangladesh (Siliguri corridor) India-Myanmar (Kabaw valley), India- Srilanka (Kachateevu Island)
are some of the conflict places and border infrastructure is need of the hour.
Internal security: illegal migration, land encroachment, cattle smuggling, narcotic trafficking, illegal
Indian currency, penetration of anti-social elements are rampant. To enhance our internal security
robust border infrastructure is required.
Cross border terrorism: The term ‘cross-border’ implies a movement or an activity across a border
between the two countries.
PROBLEM
Lack of proper demarcationof our land and maritime borders.
Complex and different terrain on all borders makes it difficult to attain specialization in border management.
Lack of coordination among multiple agencies associated with border security.
Lack of infrastructure with border forces including shortage both in terms of manpower and infrastructure.
Inadequate attention to the concerns of local people in border areas which is exploited by hostile elements to
create a feeling of ill will against the security forces & Government.
Inadequate attention to security forcessuch as no mobile connectivity leading to isolation,
inadequate medical facilities, disparity in wages and allowances in comparison with the army
SOLUTION
Dispute resolution- Government should resolve pending border disputes with the neighbouring countries, as
they later become matters of national-security threat
No diversion of security forces- The border-guarding force should not be distracted from its principal task
and deployed for other internal security duties. For eg-ITBP, a force specifically trained for India- China
border should not be used in the naxalite-infested areas.
Involvement of army– It is felt that the responsibility for unsettled and disputed borders, such as the LoC in
J&K and the LAC on the Indo-Tibetan border, should be that of the Indian Army while the BSF should be
responsible for all settled borders.
Follow one-force-one-border principle to effectively manage borders as divided responsibilities never result
in effective control.
Developing Infrastructure-accelerated development of infrastructure along the border, especially to wean the
border population from illegal activities.
Use of advanced technology- The advances in surveillance technology, particularly satellite and aerial
imagery, can help to maintain a constant vigil along the LAC and make it possible to reduce physical
deployment.
Up-gradation of intelligence networkand co-ordination with sister agencies, conduct of special
operations along the border.
Raising the issues of infiltration from across the border during various meeting with counterpart
, countries.
Initiatives taken by the government to ensure effective border management:
Border Area Development Programme (BADP): it is through the State Governments, in 396 border
blocks of 111 border districts in 17 States. Coverage of BADP has been extended to cover all the
villages which are located within the 0-10 Km of the International Border.
CIBMS: Two pilot projects covering about 71 Kms on Indo-Pakistan Border (10 Kms) and Indo-
Bangladesh Border (61 Kms) of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS)
have been completed.The CIBMS project will vastly improve the capability of BSF in detecting and
controlling the cross border crimes like illegal infiltration, smuggling of contraband goods, human
trafficking and cross border terrorism etc.
It involves deployment of a range of state-of-the-art surveillance technologies —
Thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms.
Aerostats for aerial surveillance.
Unattended ground sensors that can help detect intrusion bids.
Radars, sonar systems to secure riverine borders.
Fibre-optic sensors.
A command and control system that shall receive data from all surveillance devices in real time.
BOLD-QIT: The smart fencing project BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT
Interception Technique) has been implemented along the riverine border at Dhubri, as it was not
feasible to construct border fencing.
Smart fencing: This entails deploying laser-activated fences and technology- enabled barriers to plug
vulnerable gaps along frontiers. Sensors like thermal imagery, underground sensors, fiber optical
sensors, radar and sonar will be mounted on different platforms like aerostat, tower and poles as part
of the smart fence.
Bharatmala: Special emphasis will be given on providing connectivity to far- flung border and rural
areas including the tribal and backward areas.
Military satellites: GSAT-7, GSAT-7A, Microsat-r, cartosat, risat are important satellites used for
surveillance.
Madhukar Gupta Committee has given its recommendations broadly on the issues of Threats and Border
Protection, assessment of force level, deployment on the border, infrastructure and technology issues for
protection of border and administrative issues. Implementation of projects will help in integration of
manpower, sensors, networks, intelligence and command and control is solutions to improve situational
awareness at different levels of hierarchy to facilitate prompt and informed decision making and quick
reaction to emerging situations.
Q 1.Border surveillance capability is a critical component of border security. Do you agree? What is India’s
preparedness on this front? Discuss.
India’s land border covers around 15,106 km sharing boundaries with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan,
