MPPSC 2018 Prelims Q38: Border Security Force (BSF) is responsible for guarding on

Q: What is the answer to MPPSC 2018 Prelims Q38?

C. Correct — C, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Border Security Force, raised on 1 December 1965 after the India–Pakistan war, is India's primary force for guarding the international land borders with Pakistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east. It is one of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

MPPSC 2018 Prelims Paper-I · Question 38 of 100

Verified against the official question paper. Answer as per the official MPPSC answer key.

Border Security Force (BSF) is responsible for guarding on borders of which countries?

(a)Pakistan and Nepal
(b)Pakistan and Bhutan
(c)Pakistan and Bangladesh
(d)Pakistan and China

Answer

Why

Correct — C, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Border Security Force, raised on 1 December 1965 after the India–Pakistan war, is India's primary force for guarding the international land borders with Pakistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east. It is one of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Why the others are wrong

(a)Pakistan and Nepal — The India–Nepal border is guarded by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), not the BSF.
(b)Pakistan and Bhutan — The India–Bhutan border is also guarded by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), not the BSF.
(d)Pakistan and China — The India–China border (Line of Actual Control) is guarded by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), not the BSF.

Concept

India follows a 'one border, one force' arrangement under the Ministry of Home Affairs: the BSF guards the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, the ITBP guards the China border, the SSB guards the Nepal and Bhutan borders, and the Assam Rifles guards the Myanmar border. These border-guarding forces are distinct from the Army, which handles the Line of Control and active conflict zones.

The constant option here is Pakistan; the differentiator is the second country. BSF is the only listed force that guards both the western (Pakistan) and eastern (Bangladesh) borders, so the pair is Pakistan + Bangladesh.

Key facts

BSF (raised 1 December 1965) guards the India–Pakistan and India–Bangladesh borders.
ITBP guards the India–China border (Line of Actual Control).
SSB guards the India–Nepal and India–Bhutan borders.
Assam Rifles guards the India–Myanmar border; all are CAPFs under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Study next

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and their mandatesITBP, SSB, CRPF, CISF, Assam Rifles — roles and bordersDifference between the Army and border-guarding forcesIndia's international land borders and their lengthsMinistry of Home Affairs and internal security

Common traps

Assigning the China border to the BSF (it is the ITBP)
Assigning the Nepal/Bhutan border to the BSF (it is the SSB)

MPPSC and UPSC ask 'which force guards which border' or match force ↔ border. Anchor: BSF = Pakistan + Bangladesh; ITBP = China; SSB = Nepal + Bhutan; Assam Rifles = Myanmar.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Practice

practice — not a real PYQ
The India–China border (Line of Actual Control) is guarded by which force?
- (a)BSF
- (b)ITBP
- (c)SSB
- (d)Assam Rifles
Answer(b) ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police).
practice — not a real PYQ
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is deployed to guard India's borders with:
- (a)Pakistan and Bangladesh
- (b)China and Myanmar
- (c)Nepal and Bhutan
- (d)Pakistan and China
Answer(c) Nepal and Bhutan.