PERSPECTIVE- National Security: Indo-Tibetan Border Police force | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Context

What ITBP Does

• ITBP's main tasks include watching the northern borders, stopping border violations, and making the local people feel safe.
• ITBP also stops illegal immigration, smuggling, and crimes across the border. They also help maintain order in case of any trouble.
• ITBP is a special force of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Its main job is to protect the important Indo-China border that it shares with the Indian army.
• ITBP soldiers also guard important places across the country like Rashtrapati Bhawan, Vice President House, and sensitive areas in Chandigarh (Punjab) and Jammu (J&K).
• Because of increased Maoist activities, ITBP was brought to District Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh) in 2009 to stop the Naxal threat.
• Now, there are 8 Battalions in Rajnandgaon, Narayanpur, and Kondagaon Districts of Chhattisgarh.
• Since 2015, ITBP has also been helping pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathula route.
• ITBP runs many medical programs in remote areas to give free medical care to the people.

About ITBP:

• ITBP was formed on October 24, 1962, to improve security along the India-Tibet border.
• At first, there were only four Battalions. ITBP was made under the CRPF Act. But in 1992, a new law called the ITBPF Act was made.
• Over time, ITBP got more tasks like guarding the border, dealing with insurgency, and helping with internal security. So, the number of ITBP Battalions increased to 60, along with 4 Specialist Battalions, 17 Training Centres, and 07 logistics units. They have around 88,432 personnel.
• In 2004, the government gave ITBP the duty of guarding the entire India-China Border, which is 3488 Kms long. ITBP replaced Assam Rifles in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh for this duty.
• The Force's motto is "Courage, Determination, and Devotion to Duty".

Main Jobs:

• Guarding duty: ITBP mainly guards the India-Tibet border.
• Special tasks: They also help during disasters, protect important people, and fight against Naxals.
• Training: ITBP soldiers train new recruits.
• Administration: Some personnel manage the Force's administrative work.
• ITBP is split into seven parts, each taking care of a different part of the India-Tibet border. In each part, there are different roles for ITBP soldiers.

Various Roles:

• Surveillance officers keep an eye on the India-Tibet border. They use various methods like binoculars, night vision gear, and drones.

Collecting Intelligence:

• Intelligence officers gather and study information about potential threats to India's safety. This helps ITBP prevent and handle cross-border dangers.

Guarding the Border:

• Border patrol officers move along the India-Tibet border on foot and in vehicles. They aim to stop illegal border crossings and catch those who attempt them.

Assisting in Disasters:

• When natural disasters or emergencies happen, ITBP personnel step in to help. They might participate in rescues, give medical aid, and distribute supplies.

Challenges Faced by ITBP

• We need to assess whether ITBP is well-placed in terms of command, leadership, training, equipment, and logistics to effectively handle the most likely major threats it faces.

Previous Debates:

• In the past, the argument favored ITBP keeping its police-focused approach due to the peaceful border situation and existing agreements. However, this argument is no longer valid, and reform is urgently needed.

Nature of Change:

• Together with the Army, ITBP's main role should be defending borders and preventing encroachments. This means becoming more military-oriented and moving away from its police nature.
• An important question arises: Should ITBP be placed under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) instead of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)? Such a shift could resolve the issue of two ministries overseeing overlapping functions, ensuring quicker and more effective responses to border challenges.
• Conversely, the current dual responsibility setup is likely to fail.

Border Defense Requirements:

• Ideally, border defense needs a force that acts as a first line of defense, with the Army quickly responding to critical situations. This requires seamless coordination and cannot be achieved with the current setup.
• Depending on the terrain, the Army might play the first line of defense role in some areas. However, it's now necessary to enhance manpower, firepower, and other resources along the Himalayan border. Given China's strategy, which aims to divert India's focus northward, India must manage these needs by reallocating forces from the western border and using ITBP battalions more effectively.

Link with the Army:

• ITBP has 54 battalions stationed from Ladakh's Karakoram Pass to Arunachal Pradesh's Jechap-La.
• The extensive deployment suggests that ITBP should be permanently integrated with the Army.
• The ITBP's limited police duties could be supplemented by placing local police with its sub-units.

How can the ITBP improve its operations?

• To ensure effective border control, the guards regularly patrol the borders. They also use advanced surveillance tools like night vision devices and handheld thermal equipment for better monitoring.

Border Rules:

• Making sure borders are managed well involves supporting legal trade and travel while preventing illegal entry and exit. This strategy helps control the movement of people and goods at the borders.

Developing Border Areas:

• Because the border regions have tough landscapes and lack proper infrastructure like roads, schools, and hospitals, they remain undeveloped and hard to access. This lack of opportunities makes the border residents more prone to illegal activities such as smuggling and drug trade.

Working Together:

• Good border management needs open communication between countries. India has set up regular meetings between officials, border commanders, and joint working groups to discuss mutual concerns.

Getting Ready for Action:

• Using advanced technology for border security means having modern weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and communication tools. These investments help us stay prepared and respond to any border situation quickly.

Conclusion