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India's internal security faces significant challenges linked with border management. In this context, explain the role played by various security forces in guarding India's borders.  
(10 marks, 150 words) Answer:
India's internal security challenges are invariably linked with border management due to the hostile attitude of some of the India's neighbours and their tendency to exploit India's persistent national challenges. The major border security challenges of India include Cross-border terrorism, infiltration and exfiltration of armed militants and insurgents; Narcotics, Arms and FICN smuggling; Illegal migration; Aid by external powers to LWE and separatist movements. India's border forces play an important role in border management.
Forces guarding the borders:
The country shares a land boundary with six countries (ignoring Afghanistan) situated in varied topography and climatic zones. Deployment of forces based on the principle of ‘One border, one border - guarding force’ has been adopted for guarding the international borders. Accordingly, domination of each border has been entrusted to a particular border guarding force as under:
•        Border Security Force (BSF) for Bangladesh and Pakistan borders  o BSF was raised in 1965. It today has strength of more than 2.5 lakhs and 186 Battalions with Water Wing, Air Wing and other ancillary units. Its operational responsibility is spread over 6,300 km of International Border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is also deployed on Line of Control (LoC) in J&K under the Operational control of the Army.
•        Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for China border o The ITBP was raised in the wake of Chinese aggression in 1962. Today, ITBPF guards 3,488 kms of Indo-China Border and is manning 173 Border Out Posts (BOPs) from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.
•        Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for Nepal and Bhutan borders o The Special Service Bureau set up in early 1963 in the wake of India- China conflict of 1962 to build up the moral and capability of the border population, became a border guarding Force in 2001 under the Ministry of Home Affairs and was renamed as
“Sashastra Seema Bal” with an amended charter of duties. SSB is deployed on IndoNepal Border covering a stretch of 1751 kms and on Indo- Bhutan Border covering 699 kms.
•        Assam Rifles (AR) for Myanmar border
o   Fondly known as “Friends of the North East People”, the Assam Rifles was raised as “Cachar Levy” in 1835 and is the oldest Para Military Force in the country. The Force has a dual role of maintaining internal security in the north-eastern region and guarding the Indo-Myanmar border, spread over 1,631 kilometer.
o   Assam Rifles is not a dedicated Border Guarding Force (BGF) like other BGFs, as it is also involved in counter insurgency operations. It operates in formation of Company Operating Bases (COB) and not on Border Out Posts (BOP) basis as other BGFs do.
Other forces:
•        Indian army is guarding land borders along the LOC on Pakistan border and LAC on China border. 
Coastal border forces:
•        Indian Navy and Coast Guard are vested with the responsibility of coastal borders, where the State (Marine) Police is acting as the second line of defence.


Along with the forces guarding India's borders, the strategy to deal with border security challenges involves Implementation of the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), Creation of border infrastructure as well as strengthening of coastal security infrastructure. To aid the forces in border management, and to reduce the number of people patrolling the border, the Ministry of Home Affairs is deploying a Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), in the form of integration of radars, sensors, cameras, communication networks and command and control solutions.