The Border Security Force (BSF) of India annually celebrates the “BSF Raising Day” on 1st December to mark the establishment of BSF, a primary border guarding organisation of India that came into existence on 1st December 1965.
- 1st December 2024 marks the observance of the 60th Raising Day of BSF.
BSF, also known as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories, is a paramilitary force charged with guarding India’s land borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh during peacetime and preventing transnational crime.
Background:
i.The BSF Raising Day celebrations were marked with great enthusiasm and zeal across all ranks at the Frontier Headquarters, BSF Kashmir.
ii.To commemorate this milestone, a series of events were also organised across BSF deployments in the Kashmir Valley, including public outreach programmes, medical camps, rallies and cultural events.
Achievements
- BSF Punjab marked the 60th BSF Raising Day with a significant operational achievement by neutralization of the 250th drone this year.
- Notably, the 200th drone was seized on 9th November 2024 and within the next 21 days, an additional 50 drones were knocked down.
About Border Security Force (BSF):
i.BSF was initially raised with 25 battalions in 1965 and played a key role during the Indo-Pakistan War in 1971.
ii.It is one of the 7 Central Armed Police Forces (CSPFs) of the Union of India working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). .
iii.It is the world’s largest border security force, with a sanctioned strength of over 2.6 lakh personnel spread across 192 battalions securing the 6,386.36 km long International Borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
iv.BSF presently has 186 battalions including 3 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) battalions, 5 major training institutions,11 subsidiary training centres and 3 minor training institutions.
vi.BSF deployed on the Indo-Pakistan International Border, Indo-Bangladesh International Border, Line of Control (LoC) along with the Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations regions.
vii. BSF also secures India’s borders and is empowered to arrest, search, and seize under various laws, including the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973, Passports Act 1967, Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985.
2024 Events:
i.The BSF celebrated its 60th Foundation Day in Meghalaya Frontier Headquarters,Shillong on 1 December 2024.
- Prime Minister (PM) Narenda Modi, lauded the event and paid tribute to the BSF personnel, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
About Border Security Force (BSF):
Director General (DG)– Daljit Singh Chaudhary
Headquarters- New Delhi
Motto- Duty until Death
