For tough men
All you wanted to know about jobs in the BSF

By Educare Bureau
An unusual tourist attraction at the Wagah border, the only land route between India and Pakistan is the flag lowering ceremony, performed daily, in the evenings. People wait to watch the magnificent ceremony performed by soldiers on both sides of the border. It is executed by the paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) as part of their border management duties.

The paramilitary forces of India are regarded as world’s second largest after the Chinese People’s Armed Police. The primary duty of a BSF soldier is that of border security, its management and carrying out counter insurgency operations. Apart from these they also maintain the internal security of the nation during riots, natural calamity or even elections.

Till 1965 India’s borders with Pakistan were manned by the State Armed Police Battallion. On April 9, 1965, Pakistan attacked Kutch in Gujarat, exposing the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression. The government of India felt the need for a specialised centrally controlled Border Security Force, which would be armed and trained to man the international border with Pakistan. As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the BSF came into existence on December 1, 1965.

The naakas

List of other paramilitary forces l Assam Rifles l Border Security Force l Central Industrial Security Force l Central Reserve Police Force l Rapid Action Force l Indo-Tibetan Border Police l Rashtriya Rifles l Defence Security Corps l Railway Protection Force l Indian Home Guard l Civil Defence l Special Security Bureau l National Security Guards l Special Protection Group l Special Frontier Force l The Provincial Armed Constabulary

Indian paramilitary force offers a variety of career opportunities to the youth of the country, both in officer as well as the non-officer cadre. Officials say to become an officer in the force a candidate has to join as an assistant commandant, which is the first rank in the officer cadre. In order to become an assistant commandant through direct recruitment one has to appear for the Central Police Forces (assistant commandants) exam, which is a combined competitive exam conducted by the UPSC. There is no separate exam to be a part of BSF as assistant commandant. Through this exam the assistant commandants of all the Central Police Forces are inducted. As per the preference given by the candidates and also their merit in the exam they are sent to the different forces.

The Central Police Forces exam is held once in a year around October/November.

Also, in the written test there are basically two papers. One paper has questions on general ability and intelligence while the second paper consists of an essay, precis writing and comprehension. Paper I, an objective type test, covers general mental ability, general science, current events, Indian polity and economy, history of India and geography. The second paper mainly checks your understanding of English language.

Those who clear the written test have to appear for the physical efficiency test (PET) and undergo medical examination. Only after the candidate successfully passes the PET does the UPSC call him for an interview, essentially a personality test. The merit list is drawn on the basis of the marks obtained by the candidates in the written exam and the interview.

Ammunition
After qualifying the exam the selected candidates are sent to the training establishment of BSF, The BSF Academy, situated at Tekanpur near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Here the assistant commandants direct entry trainees undergo 55 weeks of rigorous training. They are taught about service subjects as well as given physical and outdoor

training. The BSF Academy is a think tank and academic centre for border security, counter insurgency, internal security, as well as strategic planning and
management.

The trainees are taught about all the aspects of BSF. They are told about their border duties, tactics and internal security. Apart from this they also learn about subjects like law and human rights, so that while on duty they never lose sight of these issues.

Career progression l Assistant commandant l Deputy commandant l Second-in-command l Commandant l Additional deputy inspector general l Deputy inspector general l Inspector general Physical efficiency tests l 100 meters race in 16 seconds l 800 meters race in three minutes l Long jump: 3.5 meters l High jump: 1.05 meters l Shot put (7.26 kgs): 4.5 meters

The BSF has a role to perform during peace time which is the primary duty. It also has a role to perform during the war. There is a third dimension to it — that of internal security. Here they are given the training in such a way that when they go out in the field they are able to perform those roles effectively.
Being a part of BSF one has to work in all kinds of terrains, ranging from the Rann of Kutch to the mountains of Kashmir. Therefore it becomes essential for one to be physically as well as mentally tough. It is precisely for this reason that outdoor training forms an important part of the curriculum at BSF Academy which includes training on all types of weapons, unarmed combat training, assault training, PT, drill, battle inoculation and much more.

In command
Within the BSF, a battalion is a fighting unit and within the battalion are various companies. When one joins the BSF as an assistant commandant one becomes the commander of these companies, also known as coy commander. As an assistant commandant (AC), one is responsible for his company and troops. The day-to-day duties at the border involve patrolling (naaka) and observation post (OP) and carrying out operations when required.

Apart from the disciplined life, the pay and perks, BSF also offers a lot of opportunities to go on deputation to other forces like National Security Guard (NSG) and Special Protection Group (SPG). You can also go into the technical side if you have the necessary qualifications.
Once you enter the force as an assistant commandant the career growth in this field has been well planned. From being an AC you can go on to become even the inspector general if you fulfill the necessary requirement.

With the volatile conditions prevailing in different pockets of the country there is a constant need for good officers in the BSF. You have to work not only in the border areas but also in areas afflicted by internal conflict.

A dangerous job, no doubt. But no doubt that you get to travel a lot and meet all kinds of people. So if you have it in you, why not make BSF your career destination?

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