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Journalism of Courage
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here’s your UPSC Current Affairs knowledge nugget for today on Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
(Relevance: Security forms an important part of the UPSC CSE syllabus; thus, it becomes essential to stay updated on developments related to security forces.)
1. The ITBP was established on October 24, 1962, to reorganise the frontier intelligence and security setup along the Indo-Tibetan border. Only four Battalions were sanctioned to begin with. ITBP was initially raised under the CRPF Act. However, in 1992, parliament enacted the ITBPF Act and the rules thereunder were framed in 1994.
2. The ITBP has seen an increase in the number of battalions over time due to additional responsibilities in border guarding, counter-insurgency, and internal security. Presently, the ITBP comprises 60 service battalions, 4 specialist battalions, 17 training centers, and 7 logistics establishments, totaling approximately 88,432 personnel.
3. In the year 2004, in pursuance of GoM recommendations on “One Border One Force”, the entire stretch of the India-China Border comprising 3488 Kms was assigned to the ITBP for Border Guarding duty and, accordingly, ITBP, replaced Assam Rifles in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in 2004.
4. The motto of the Force is “Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha”. The Crest of the ITBP shows a national emblem, i.e. Ashoka’s Lion Capital mounted on the Chakra crossed by two loaded rifles depicting the valor and readiness of the Force.
5. Presently ITBP has been guarding the India-China border in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh states from the Karakoram pass in Jammu Kashmir to Jechap La in Arunachal Pradesh. The altitude of ITBP BOPs ranges from 9,000 ft to 18,750 ft where the temperature dips to (-) 45 degrees Celsius.
6. ITBP Battalions are also providing security to various installations of national importance throughout the country, which includes Rashtrapati Bhawan, Vice-President House, Rumtek Monastery (Sikkim), Tihar Jail (N Delhi), LBSNAA (UKD) and various sensitive installations in Chandigarh (Punjab) Jammu (J&K).
7. ITBP has also excelled in UN peacekeeping operations. The Force personnel were deployed for peacekeeping operations in Angola, Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Mozambique and Kosovo.
8. ITBP has been providing security, communication and medical cover to the pilgrims during the Annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1981. ITBP provides communication, security and medical cover to the yatries from Gunji to Lipulekh Pass and back to Gunji in coordination with MEA and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. Since 2015, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also being conducted from the Nathula route, and ITBP is providing similar assistance for pilgrims in this route.
9. Being the first responder for natural disasters in the Himalayas, ITBP was the first to establish 7 Regional Response Centres and carried out numerous rescue and relief operations in all disaster situations, which took place in our areas of responsibility as well as other parts of the country.
10. ITBP is at the forefront of the movement for the preservation of the Himalayan environment ecology.
1. Vigil on the northern borders, detection and prevention of border violations, and promotion of the sense of security among the local populace.
2. Check illegal immigration, trans-border smuggling and crimes.
3. Security to sensitive installations, banks and protected persons.
4. Restore and preserve order in any area in the event of disturbance.
| Do you Know? |
| In a first-of-its-kind move, the Army is planning to induct women soldiers in its Territorial Army (TA) battalions, aimed at gradually opening up greater opportunities for women in the force. |
1. The Armed Police Organisations, referred to as Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), such as the Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), function under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.
2. Though the AR functions under the administrative control of the MHA, its operational control rests with the Ministry of Defence.
3. Of the CAPFs, the AR, BSF, ITBP and SSB are border guarding forces.
4. The NSG is a commando-trained force organisation in India and is used for special operations. The CISF provides security and protection to industrial undertakings and vital installations.
Which of the following forces are the border guarding forces under the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)?
1. Assam Rifles
2. Central Industrial Security Force
3. Indo-Tibetan Border Police
4. Sashastra Seema Bal
Select the correct answer using the code below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
| Answer Key |
| (d) |
(Sources: http://www.itbpolice.nic.in, eawas.capf.gov.in, ITBP to establish 10 all-woman forward posts at India-China border)
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