Questions & explanations
1. Which committee recommended the 'one border one force' principle for India's border management?
- (a) Madhukar Gupta Committee
- (b) Shekatkar Committee
- (c) Kargil Review Committee
- (d) Punchhi Commission
Answer: (c) Kargil Review Committee
The 'one border one force' principle came out of the review process after the 1999 Kargil conflict. It was endorsed by the Group of Ministers report of 2001, which was set up to act on the Kargil Review Committee's findings. The principle holds that each international border should be guarded by a single dedicated force to ensure clear accountability and a unified command, and that border-guarding forces should not be diverted to law-and-order or counter-insurgency duties. This is why each of India's borders is assigned to one force (for example, BSF on Pakistan and Bangladesh borders, ITBP on the China border, SSB on the Nepal and Bhutan borders, and Assam Rifles on the Myanmar border). The Madhukar Gupta Committee (2016) is a different body that dealt with border-protection gaps, fencing vulnerabilities, BSF restructuring into East and West wings, and greater use of technology, not with the 'one border one force' principle.
2. Which of the following border fencing projects is considered the longest in the world?
- (a) India-Bangladesh border fencing
- (b) India-Pakistan border fencing
- (c) India-China border fencing
- (d) India-Nepal border fencing
Answer: (a) India-Bangladesh border fencing
Among India's borders, the India-Bangladesh fence is the longest fencing project India has taken up. The border runs for about 4,096 km, and large parts of it have been fenced over the years to stop illegal crossing and smuggling. The work is still going on in some stretches, so it is not fully finished, but it is much longer than India's other border fences. The India-Pakistan fence is shorter at around 3,300 km. Along the India-China border, there is no continuous fence because the terrain is high and difficult, so only some sectors are guarded with barriers. The India-Nepal border is an open border, so there is almost no fencing there.
3. Which of the following is a welfare measure introduced to address stress and suicides in CAPFs?
- (a) Mandatory yoga sessions
- (b) 'Manas' helpline for psychological support
- (c) Free movie tickets
- (d) Extra leave for all personnel
Answer: (b) 'Manas' helpline for psychological support
A dedicated psychological support / tele-counselling helpline is a key welfare measure introduced to address stress and suicides among CAPF personnel. The Ministry of Home Affairs and individual forces have rolled out mental-health counselling, helplines, 'buddy' peer-support systems and stress-management programmes (for example, CISF's 'Project Mann') to provide confidential psychological support to personnel and their families. Of the four options, only a psychological-support helpline is a genuine welfare measure for mental health; the others (mandatory yoga, free movie tickets, extra leave) are not the recognised intervention.
4. Which of the following border fencing projects is considered a major initiative under the National Security Strategy?
- (a) Sagar Mala Project
- (b) Border Area Development Programme (BADP)
- (c) National Highways Development Project
- (d) India-Bangladesh Border Fencing Project
Answer: (d) India-Bangladesh Border Fencing Project
The India-Bangladesh Border Fencing Project is the right answer. India shares a very long and porous border with Bangladesh. To stop illegal entry of people, smuggling, and infiltration, India built a fence along this border. This fencing is a major part of India's border management and security plan. Why the others are wrong: Sagar Mala is a project to develop ports and shipping, not a border fence. The Border Area Development Programme (BADP) gives money for roads, schools, and health in border villages; it is about development, not fencing. The National Highways Development Project is about building roads across the country.
5. Which of the following is a key feature of the 'Smart Fencing' initiative along the India-Pakistan border?
- (a) Use of solar-powered sensors and motion detectors
- (b) Deployment of underwater barriers
- (c) Installation of magnetic field detectors
- (d) Use of biometric entry gates
Answer: (a) Use of solar-powered sensors and motion detectors
The right answer is the use of solar-powered sensors and motion detectors. Smart fencing, part of the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), uses sensors, motion detectors, cameras, and radars that send live data to a control room. This helps guards watch the border even at night or in bad weather. It is used along the India-Pakistan border in states like Punjab and Rajasthan. Why the others are wrong: underwater barriers are used in sea areas, not on land borders. Magnetic field detectors are not a standard part of smart fencing. Biometric gates are used at fixed entry points, not all along the fence.
6. Consider the following statements regarding the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP):
1. ITBP was raised in 1962 after the Sino-Indian War.
2. It is responsible for guarding the India-China border in the Himalayan region.
3. ITBP personnel are trained in high-altitude warfare and mountaineering.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct, so the answer is (d). Statement 1 is correct: the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was raised on 24 October 1962, soon after the war with China that year. Statement 2 is correct: the ITBP guards the India-China border along the Himalayas, from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. Statement 3 is correct: because it works in very high and cold mountains, ITBP men are trained in high-altitude warfare, mountaineering, and survival in extreme cold. Since all three are right, options (a), (b), and (c) are wrong as each leaves out a true statement.
7. Consider the following pairs:
1. Indo-Bangladesh LBA 2015 - Exchange of enclaves
2. Sino-Indian dispute - Line of Actual Control
3. Sir Creek - Maritime boundary with Pakistan
4. Kalapani - Dispute with China
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 1, 2, and 3 only
- (c) 2, 3, and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3, and 4
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Pair 1 (Indo-Bangladesh LBA 2015 — Exchange of enclaves) is correctly matched. Pair 2 (Sino-Indian dispute — Line of Actual Control) is correctly matched. Pair 3 (Sir Creek — Maritime boundary with Pakistan) is incorrectly matched: Sir Creek is a tidal creek and land/riverine boundary dispute in the Rann of Kutch, not primarily a maritime boundary dispute. Pair 4 (Kalapani — Dispute with China) is incorrectly matched: Kalapani is disputed between India and Nepal, not India and China. Hence only Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched, making (a) the correct answer, not stored (b).
8. Which of the following statements about the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is/are correct?
1. ITBP is one of the six Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
2. It is trained in high-altitude warfare and survival in extreme cold conditions.
3. ITBP has a specialized unit called the 'Snow Leopard Commando Force'.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct, so the answer is (d). Statement 1 is correct: the ITBP is one of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Statement 2 is correct: it is trained for high-altitude work and for survival in very cold conditions, since it guards the high Himalayan border with China. Statement 3 is correct: the ITBP has a special unit called the Snow Leopard Commando Force for quick action in hard mountain terrain. As all three are true, options (a), (b), and (c) are wrong because each drops a correct statement.
9. Which of the following is the primary responsibility of the Border Security Force (BSF)?
- (a) Conducting counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir
- (b) Guarding India's international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh
- (c) Providing security to nuclear installations
- (d) Managing border trade at international checkpoints
Answer: (b) Guarding India's international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh
The right answer is guarding India's international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Border Security Force (BSF) is the main force that guards these two borders in peacetime. Its job is to stop infiltration, smuggling, and other cross-border crimes. Why the others are wrong: counter-insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir is mainly done by the Army and the CRPF, not the BSF as its core role. Security of nuclear plants is the job of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Border trade at checkpoints is handled by other agencies, not the BSF.
10. Consider the following statements regarding the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP):
1. ITBP was raised in 1962 after the Sino-Indian War.
2. It is responsible for guarding the India-China border in the Himalayan region.
3. ITBP is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
The answer is (d); all three statements are correct. Statement 1 is correct: the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was raised on 24 October 1962, soon after the 1962 war with China. Statement 2 is correct: the ITBP guards the India-China border in the Himalayas, running about 3,488 km from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. Statement 3 is correct: like all central armed police forces, the ITBP works under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Options (a), (b) and (c) are wrong because each leaves out a correct statement.
11. Which committee recommended the creation of a separate Border Management Department?
- (a) Kargil Review Committee
- (b) Madhukar Gupta Committee
- (c) Shekatkar Committee
- (d) Padmanabhaiah Committee
Answer: (a) Kargil Review Committee
The Department of Border Management was created in 2004 on the recommendation of the Group of Ministers (GoM), which was constituted to act on the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee (1999). One of the GoM's task forces dealt specifically with Border Management, and its recommendations led to the new department under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Madhukar Gupta Committee (2016) dealt with strengthening border fencing and protection along the India-Pakistan border, not with creating the Border Management Department.
12. Which of the following statements about the Border Security Force (BSF) is/are correct?
1. BSF maintains a specialized 'Camel Contingent' for patrolling the desert areas along the India-Pakistan border.
2. BSF is responsible for the security of the entire India-Bangladesh border, including the Sundarbans region.
3. BSF personnel are trained in underwater operations for riverine border security.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
The answer is (d); all three statements are correct. Statement 1 is correct: the BSF keeps a 'Camel Contingent' to patrol the desert stretches of the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Statement 2 is correct: the BSF guards the full India-Bangladesh border, including the difficult Sundarbans delta, where it uses its Water Wing of boats. Statement 3 is correct: the BSF's Water Wing trains men for river and creek border security, including diving and underwater work to check for hidden crossings and submerged threats.