Force Restructuring

R.C. Sharma

‘Professional knowledge and professional competence are the main attributes of leadership. Unless you know, and the men you command know that you know your job, you will never be a leader’ — Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw

The mandated role of border guarding forces is to ensure the security and integrity of India’s borders during peacetime and integrate with defence forces during war. Border Guarding forces (BGFs) fall under the category of ‘any other armed force of the union’. They require strong regimentation and professionalism to fulfil their mandated role and task.

Regimentation enjoins upon commanders and their men to know and understand each other, like a close family unit. Such associations survive throughout service and even after retirement. Regimentation instils a sense of belonging among troops, nurtures an esprit de corps. A shared sense of pride is groomed—in force ethos, customs, traditions and regimental achievements. It is amorphous things like these, that make a battalion or a regiment, a fighting machine.

Lack of regimentation is one of the major causes of professional degradation in most BGFs in India. Attempts were made to dismantle regimentation in the Border Security Force (BSF). Thankfully, the ministry of home affairs did not allow it.

BGFs need a very high degree of professionalism. The sort that is engendered only when men and officers live and train together, understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and constantly strive to bring glory to the regiment’s flag. This is a culture that turns the meekest of men into warriors—ever willing to embrace death for regimental honour.

If it is indeed such a valuable tool, why is regimentation missing or heavily diluted among the BGFs? Have their role and task been deliberately disregarded, without analysing the ramifications for national security? This is a question that needs to be carefully considered.

As per the ministry of home affairs’ annual report for 2019-20, border management means ‘Securing the country’s borders against interests hostile to the country and putting in place systems that are able to interdict such elements’. ‘Accordingly, borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan have been entrusted to the Border Security Force (BSF), China border to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Nepal and Bhutan borders to Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Myanmar border to Assam Rifles’. The Indian Army works with the BSF on the Line of Control (LC) with Pakistan and with the ITBP on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The primary task of the BSF, ITBP and SSB is border guarding. In addition, border-guarding forces also ha