India’s Border Management

In News

A huge cache of military grade arms, ammunition and other war-like stores were seized by Assam Rifles in Mon district of Nagaland, close to the Myanmar border.

India’s Extensive Borders: With a land boundary of 15,200 km and a coastline of 7,516.6 km, India has a significant area to secure.
Diverse Border Regions: The borders encompass various geographical terrains, including plains, hills, mountains, deserts, rivers, and marshes. This diversity makes comprehensive management strategies necessary.
Bordering Countries: India shares land borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. It also has maritime borders with Sri Lanka and Maldives. Political relations with some neighbors can influence border security.

Diverse landscape: plains, hills, mountains, deserts, rivers, marshes
Incompletely demarcated land borders
Under-resourced and ill-equipped border guarding forces
Weak intelligence gathering and sharing mechanisms
Political and economic instability in neighboring countries
Border disputes
Uncontrolled cross-border movement: infiltration, migration, smuggling, crime, human trafficking
Drug and arms trafficking in the Northeast
Vulnerable coastlines: smuggling, illegal activities

Border infrastructure development: fences, roads, floodlights, Border Out Posts (BOPs)
Professionalizing border guarding forces (BSF, ITBP, SSB, AR, Coast Guard)
Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme
Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) for India-Pakistan and Bangladesh borders
Proposed fence along the entire Indo-Myanmar border

Balance security with economic development and regional integration (SAARC, BIMSTEC, BBIN)
People-centric approach: involve border communities in security efforts
Good cooperation with neighboring countries
Utilize modern technologies: space, IT, infrastructure development
Strengthen coastal police and address island territory issues
Enhance resources, training, and aptitude of border guarding forces
Close coordination between central and state agencies