Border Security Force

The Border Security Force (BSF) is a central armed police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for guarding India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was formed in the wake of the Indo-Pak War of 1965¹ to ensure the security of India's borders and for related matters. The BSF has grown from 25 battalions in 1965, to 193 battalions with a sanctioned strength of 270,000 personnel including an expanding air wing, water wing, an artillery regiment and specialised units. It is currently the world's largest border security force. BSF has been termed the First Line of Defence of Indian territories.

The Border Security Force (BSF) is a central armed police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for guarding India's borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It was formed in the wake of the Indo-Pak War of 1965 to ensure the security of India's borders and for related matters. The BSF has grown from 25 battalions in 1965, to 193 battalions with a sanctioned strength of 270,000 personnel including an expanding air wing, water wing, an artillery regiment and specialised units. It is currently the world's largest border security force. BSF has been termed the First Line of Defence of Indian territories. ====Creek Crocodile==== The Creek Crocodile is the specialised commando unit of BSF. Primary objective of this unit is to act as Quick reaction force and prevent smuggling and infiltration by unwanted elements. The unit is specifically deployed at Indus River Estuaries in Gujarat and Sir Creek. It was raised in 2009. The base of operations of this unit is located at Koteshwar outpost of BSF. They are equipped with All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and fast patrol boats. ====Camel Contingent==== BSF Camel Contingent is a specialised battalion-size Camelry Unit which has its roots in Bikaner Camel Corps. The primary purpose of this unit is to patrol the desert section of the border with Pakistan. This unit has a strength of 1,200 camels and 800 riders. Both camels as well as rientre located at BSF Frontier Headquarters in Jodhpur. However, with force modernisation pacing up, BSF has equipped its formation across the western border with All-Terrain Vehicles and other specialised apparatus. | colspan=2| Inspector General (IG) | colspan=2| Deputy Inspector General (DIG) | colspan=2| Senior Superintendent (SSP) | colspan=2| Superintendent of Police (SP) | colspan=2| Additional Superintendent (Addl.SP) | colspan=2| Assistant/Deputy Superintendent of Police (ASP) |- style="text-align:center;" | colspan=1| Army equivalent | colspan=4| | style="vertical-align:top;" colspan=2 rowspan=1 | | colspan=2| Major general | colspan=2| Brigadier | colspan=2| Colonel | colspan=2| Lieutenant colonel | colspan=2| Major | colspan=2| Captain |} ===Martyr Status=== Over the past 20 years, i.e. from 2010, the Border Security Force (BSF) has experienced significant casualties in the line of duty, primarily due to cross-border firing incidents along the Line of Control (LoC). For instance, in 2018, the BSF reported 11 personnel killed in such incidents, marking the highest casualty figure for the border force in a year in the last eight years. Additionally, between January 2015 and September 2016, a total of 774 BSF personnel died, with 25 deaths attributed to battle casualties. The remaining fatalities were due to various causes, including diseases, especially from mental illness. Despite their service akin to the Indian Armed Forces, the Government of India does not officially recognize BSF and paramilitary personnel as martyrs, a stance that has been a subject of ongoing debate and concern within the force and among the public. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071226025726/http://www.india-defence.com/military/bordersecurityforce Border Security Force at India Defence CI operations in Jammu and Kashmir Tear Smoke Unit

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