“BSF Battles Manpower Crunch: Calls for Tech Boost as Smuggling Surges and Border Tensions Escalate”

New Delhi: The personnel-deprived Border Security Force (BSF) urgently requires technological advancements due to the relentless trafficking of narcotics as well as arms and munitions, compounded by escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh frontiers. The border security body has a total personnel capacity of 2.65 lakh to oversee the 4,096 km Indo-Bangla boundary and the 2,289 km demarcation with Pakistan in the west. Nevertheless, there are 12,808 vacancies within the BSF.

Acknowledging the critical nature of India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, former BSF director general Surjeet Singh Deswal remarked to ETV Bharat on Saturday that the force must consistently seek enhancements to its technology.

“Indeed, it is essential to upgrade technology. It is also accurate that the BSF continually equips its personnel with advanced weapons and devices,” commented Deswal. A significant portion of the force is engaged in duties unrelated to border security, including the execution of various Central government civic schemes not associated with defense and safety.

Notably, approximately 20 percent of the force is comprised of personnel aged between 45-60 years, with another 20 percent classified as medically unfit, rendering them incapable of operational tasks.

It should be noted that the Central government led by Narendra Modi extended the age limit for active duty at the borders from 57 to 60 years. Until 1998, the age limit stood at 55 years. However, operational duties of the force are adversely affected by leave, sports, band performances, and ceremonial events.

The BSF maintains 13 frontiers, each housing around 300 sports personnel and a contingent of 60-65 members designated for ceremonial responsibilities, relieving them from standard surveillance and combat tasks. The cumulative strength equates to that of more than three battalions.

The force comprises 193 battalions, including four devoted to disaster management, each containing roughly 1,200 soldiers and officers. A battalion is made up of seven companies.

Many of these battalions are assigned to law enforcement tasks. Additionally, 15 battalions or 105 companies are currently deployed to manage unrest in Manipur. Another 14 battalions, equivalent to 98 companies, are actively involved in anti-naxal operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

“Supporting local governments in upholding law and order is also a vital duty. Simultaneously, deploying the BSF for anti-naxal operations is equally important,” stated Deswal.

When necessary, the force is deployed for election-related duties. The organization is also implemented in various governmental initiatives including the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission, the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, and supervising the e-Awas Yojna among all central armed police services. The BSF has transplanted more than 25 lakh saplings throughout India by October of this year.

A unit of 160 personnel, including 21 women, is stationed in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a United Nations peacekeeping endeavor. Three battalions are also stationed at BSF headquarters in New Delhi, primarily for administrative and other tasks unrelated to border defense.

“The shortage of personnel in the BSF has started to impact the force significantly following the critical situation that emerged along the India-Bangladesh frontier in recent months,” a senior BSF official stated.

The Indo-Bangladesh border has already evolved into a major route for smuggling drugs, counterfeit currencies, gold, and silver. The quantity of these items intercepted by the BSF is considerably greater in the eastern frontier compared to the western frontier.

From the total narcotics seized, amounting to 12,298.937 kg by the BSF until October 31 this year, 118,366.788 kg was confiscated in the eastern sector. Likewise, the complete seizure of counterfeit Indian currency notes valued at Rs 32 lakh occurred in the eastern frontier. The Indo-Bangladesh border has also accounted for over 90 percent of the total smuggled gold and silver apprehended by the BSF this year.

The BSF personnel positioned at the western frontier seized narcotics totaling 432.149 kg along with 3,152 arms and munitions. The agency has also either confiscated or shut down 257 drones as of October this year.