New Delhi, May 4 — The Border Security Force (BSF) is set for a major expansion as the Centre moves forward with plans to raise 16 new battalions and set up two additional sector headquarters to reinforce India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. These battalions will add around 17,000 personnel to the BSF’s strength and enhance surveillance along over 6,700 km of frontier terrain.
The two new sector headquarters will be located in Jammu and Mizoram, aimed at tightening vigilance on the western and eastern borders, respectively. Each will be headed by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer. The BSF currently manages 193 battalions, and this increase is part of a long-pending proposal prompted by evolving security challenges and the need for faster deployment in vulnerable areas.
Recruitment for these new units will start soon, with training phases following. Implementation is expected to span five to six years. The proposal has received in-principle approval and now awaits final sanction, including clearance from the finance ministry.
India shares 2,290 km of the International Border and 339 km of the Line of Control with Pakistan, along with 4,097 km with Bangladesh. About 1,047 km remain unfenced due to harsh riverine and forest terrain. The BSF currently operates 1,760 border outposts and continues to face increasing demands for tighter border management, especially amid political shifts in neighboring countries and ongoing security threats.
