Context –

Border management is a multifaceted term that includes, the regulation of legal and illegal immigration, ensuring secured cross-border trade, and prevention of cross-border crimes such as smuggling, human trafficking, and infiltration. India’s borders face many of these security challenges due to unsettled borders, expansionist policies of neighbours, difficult terrain, harsh weather, and lack of infrastructural development.

For effective border management, several initiatives have been undertaken by the Border Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs including the construction of fences, floodlighting, roads, Border outposts, deployment of technological solutions and measures for border area development.

Border Management: Safeguarding National Borders from Exploitation

Borders are the lines which separate the territories of two or more sovereign nations. There are three aspect of border in international scenario:

1. Land borders
2. Maritime boundaries
3. Airspace

All these three borders are exploited by the enemy to create instability in the country. 

• India’s geo-strategic position is such that it is exposed to different kinds of challenges and the best way to deal with them is to ensure border area development, as border villages are the country’s first villages and not remote areas.
• He highlighted the objective is to transform the villages along the Northern borders, especially in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh, which are suffering from limited connectivity and infrastructure, into model villages.

Vibrant Village Programme

– The Union government approved the Vibrant Village Programme for development of border villages as a Centrally sponsored scheme in 2023 for the financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26.
– It outlines the development of the 2,967 villages in 19 districts bordering China and Nepal in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Union Territory of Ladakh.
– The objective of VVP is comprehensive development of these villages to improve the quality of life of people and thereby reversing outmigration.
–  It is also an effort to counter China’s model villages called Xiaokang (moderately prosperous) villages opposite Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh very close to the LAC, raising apprehensions in the security establishment.

Need for Border Management

India has a huge 15,106.7 km of land border and a coastline of 7,516.6 km including island territories. India shares land borders with Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar whereas, it shares maritime borders with Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.

Poor border management inevitably leads to a volatile Internal security situation. The following are major reasons why effective border management is needed in India. 

Difficult and diverse terrain: Indian borders span across diverse terrains namely hot and cold deserts, fertile lands, swampy marshes, changing river courses, open beaches, estuaries, snow-covered peaks, and tropical evergreen jungles.

Open and Porous border: Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan are open. The borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar are highly porous due to rugged terrain and dense forests.

Open and porous borders pose the challenges of illegal immigration and infiltration. 

Human and drug trafficking:

India is wedged between the world’s two largest areas of illicit opium production, the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle.

This proximity has been a source of vulnerability since it has made India both a destination and a transit route for opiates produced in these regions.

As per UNODC, India is a destination as well as a transit country for human trafficking.

Bangladesh is a major source of humans trafficked into India.

Illegal cross-border trade: Proper border management is needed to curb illegal cross-border trade which poses economic as well as security challenges.

For example, theillegal imports of machinery into India between 2015-16 and 2017-18 cost the capital goods industry Rs 1.53 lakh crore in losses along with 19 lakh job losses.

Cross-border terrorism: The terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK and the infiltration attempts from across the border continue to pose a challenge to the Indian security forces. 

Insurgency: Insurgents have sanctuaries in neighbouring countries of India, particularly in Myanmar.

The cross-border movement of Naga and Mizo insurgents for training, purchase of arms, and shelter, makes the border extremely challenging.

Border disputes: The challenge of coping with long-standing territorial and boundary disputes with hostile neighbours has made efficient border management mandatory.

Trafficking of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN): Many experts have termed smuggling of FICN as ‘economic terrorism’ by ISI of Pakistan because it is aimed to generate inflation, and deprive the government of its legitimate revenues as well as used for terror financing.

Use of technology by perpetrators: Newer challenges in border management have emerged with new technology.

For example, the recent surge in drug trafficking from Pakistan by using drones poses a serious security threats 

Drones are also used to deliver arms to terrorists.

Need for Maritime Border Security: It is needed due to serious threats like piracy, terrorism, migrant smuggling, trafficking in people, arms proliferation, etc. originating from the sea. 

Challenges In Managing the Borders

• Length and Diversity: India shares borders with multiple countries totaling thousands of kilometers.
  • Each of these borders has unique geographical features, ranging from mountains to rivers and plains, making effective monitoring and control challenging.
• Porosity of Borders: Many parts of India’s borders are porous, allowing illegal crossings of people, goods, and contraband such as drugs and weapons.
  • The difficult terrain, along with dense forests and riverine areas, facilitate such activities, posing a significant challenge to border security forces.
• Cross-Border Terrorism: India faces threats of cross-border terrorism, particularly from Pakistan-based militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • These groups exploit the porous borders to infiltrate into Indian territory and carry out attacks, leading to security concerns and tensions between the two countries.
• Transnational Crime: Transnational criminal activities, including smuggling of narcotics, arms, and counterfeit currency, thrive along India’s borders. 
• Ethnic and Tribal Dynamics: India’s border regions are often inhabited by diverse ethnic and tribal communities with historical, cultural, and social ties across borders.
  • Managing these communities’ aspirations, addressing their grievances, and preventing their exploitation by external forces require nuanced approaches to border management.
• Dispute over Borders: India has unresolved border disputes with neighboring countries, most notably with China and Pakistan.
  • These disputes lead to occasional tensions and confrontations, necessitating constant vigilance and diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and stability along the borders.
• Infrastructure Development: Many border areas in India lack basic infrastructure such as roads, communication networks, and border outposts, hampering the effectiveness of border management efforts.
  • Developing infrastructure in these remote and often inhospitable regions is crucial for enhancing surveillance capabilities and response mechanisms.
• Humanitarian Concerns: India shares borders with countries experiencing political instability, humanitarian crises, and refugee influxes.
  • Managing such situations while upholding humanitarian principles and international obligations poses additional challenges for border management authorities.

Suggested Measures in Border Management

The continuation of several border issues gives us compelling evidence to take further steps to strengthen border management. The following are major suggestions to improve security further:

• Better coordination among various agencies: The various agencies involved in border management, such as customs, immigration, armed forces, border security, and intelligence agencies, need to cooperate to develop a common strategy.
• Innovation and technology infrastructure: The technology-enabled smart border management includes the following technology infrastructure for Indian borders:
  • Smart identity management using biometrics
  • Smart inspection systems using Non-invasive inspection techniques such as explosive vapour detectors, full-body scanners, and metal detectors can be used for the detection of concealed weapons, drugs, illicit radiological material, etc.
  • Monitoring and surveillance systems by drones, for example – VTOL and UAVs.
• Capacity building: The training of the border guarding forces should be customised to acquire greater technological skills and to sensitise them about the local culture. This will facilitate meaningful dialogue with the local people and help garner local support.
• Community participation: The government should undertake sustained community interaction programmes to sensitise the border residents and encourage them to work as ‘ears and eyes’ for the security agencies.
  • The training of the border guarding forces should be customised to acquire greater technological skills and to sensitise them about the local culture.
• Increased cooperation with Neighbours: For instance, military operations by Myanmar and Bhutan were taken to crack down on Indian insurgent groups. India should further deepen such cooperation by assisting its neighbours.

CBL Practice Questions for Prelims

The Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) aims to:

A) Enhance the economic development of border areas
B) Improve surveillance and security along the borders
C) Promote tourism in border regions
D) Facilitate trade agreements with neighboring countries

Answer: B) Improve surveillance and security along the borders

CBL Mains Practice Question

Discuss the challenges of border management in India and suggest measures to enhance security and development in border areas.

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