Career Progression in Border Security Force Officer: What to expect?

Does the life of honor as an officer fascinate you? Do you want to serve your country to the highest degree, while securing nations’ borders? Then life as a BSF officer awaits you

Border Security forces ensure the security of the borders of India, prevent transborder crimes, smuggling, infiltration, and unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India, collect transborder intelligence, provide disaster relief, and maintain law and order with the help of local police whereas in war times they perform special tasks such as limited aggression, intelligence operations and acting as Guides to the army.

Why become a Border Security Force Officer?

Border Security forces generally have two different kinds of jobs, based on the situation of the country. During peacetime, you will ensure the security of the borders of India and prevent transborder crimes, smuggling, infiltration, and unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India. You will also collect transborder intelligence and provide disaster relief. Sometimes, you might have to help the local police in maintaining law and order.

During wartime, you will have a lot of intensive jobs. You will hold ground in certain sectors. You will have to guard prisoners of war and assist in the control of refugees. Also, you may be given the important duty of anti-infiltration in specific areas. You will be also acting as Guide to Army personnel in border areas. Often, you will be performing special intelligence tasks or raids. 

Popular Specialization in Border Security Force Officer Career

1. BSF Officer (General Duty): General Duty personnel are those who carry out the general on-the-ground vigilance operations of BSF every day such as the personnel involved in guarding borders, preventing transborder crimes, gathering intelligence, engaging in disaster relief, engaging in counter-insurgency operations, maintaining law and order with the help of local police force and other activities.
2. BSF Officer (Technical Wing): Personnel in this branch are responsible for managing equipment, and telecommunication networks, and are in charge of construction work.
3. BSF Officer (Medical Wing): Personnel in this wing are responsible for providing medical assistance and personal care to the troops.
4. BSF Officer General Duty (Water Wing): Border Security Force (Water Wing) is one of the special units of the Border Security Force of India. It is responsible for patrolling riverine borders in the North Bengal frontier, South Bengal frontier, Andaman Nicobar frontier, Tripura, Mizoram & Cachhar (TMC) Frontier, Jammu frontier, Punjab frontier, and Gujarat frontier of the BSF. The Water Wing guards around 1399 km of a riverine boundary of India. its members are filled either on a deputation basis or from special batches of BSF personnel trained in NINI PATNA (National inland navigation institute) Patna.
5. Border Security Force (Air Wing) is one of the special units of the Border Security Force of India. It is responsible for providing tactical support, utility support, and vigilance support in the air and boasts of aircraft such as Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and HAL DHRUV.
6. Creek Crocodile Commando is the elite commando force of BSF. It is Rann of Kutch (an extensive salt marsh of western India and southeast Pakistan between the Gulf of Kutch and the Indus River delta. It was the scene of major border disputes in 1965 and 1971). Creek (Gujarat): In order to thwart the landing of terrorists

What does a Border Security Force Officer do? 

• Develop strategies, plans, and conduct operations.
• Assessing and evaluating situations to devise the best maneuver or routine.
• Conducting drills and on-the-job training to ensure that the troops remain in a state of constant vigil and preparedness.
• Organize and stimulate an intelligence network for operational efficiency.
• Ensuring that arms and ammunition are properly stocked and maintained.
• Manage personnel, redress grievances, and administer the office.
• Planning, coordinating, and supervising the installation, operation, and maintenance of the battalion radio and internal communication systems.
• Planning for and supervising the installation and maintenance of equipment like telephones, facsimiles, and data terminals.  
• Exercise disciplinary measures
• Keep records, store and manage data and write legends.
• Interacting with local authorities such as Police and local administration to enhance operational capabilities.
• Obtaining support from local administration regarding operation support, logistics, and other administrative needs.
• Provide medical assistance to personnel and attend to their physical well-being.
• Planning air surveillance and security missions as well as piloting and maintaining aircraft.
• Purchasing equipment according to budget specifications, and managing inventory.

How to become a Border Security Force Officer – eligibility criteria 

Undergraduate Studies

After completing your graduation from any discipline, you can appear for the CAPF-AC (Central Armed Police Forces Assistant Commandant) exam and then, enter into Officer Training. You can also sit for your UPSC IPS exam, and then gain experience and enter as a Deputation in Central Paramilitary Forces. From there, you can take up senior positions in BSF.  If you complete your graduation with B.Sc in Physics, Maths, Chemistry, or BTech (Electrical Engineering), you can sit for the CAPF-AC exam, and then enroll yourself in Battalion Signal Officer Course. If you have a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, then you can go for a walk-in interview as a Junior Maintenance Engineer. Graduation in any other stream can make you eligible to go for a walk-in Interview for the position of Junior Logistics Officer.  

Educational Fees

The Border Security Force (BSF) is a paramilitary force of the Indian government, responsible for guarding India’s borders with neighboring countries. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a BSF officer in India, here is some information about the fees you may need to pay:

• Training Fees: The BSF conducts training programs for its officers, which may involve a fee. The training fees for BSF officers may vary depending on the type of training program and the duration of the course.
• Examination Fees: To become a BSF officer, you will need to appear for various entrance exams, such as the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam or the SSC (Staff Selection Commission) exam. These exams may have an application fee, which you will need to pay to register for the exam.
• Application Fees: When you apply for a BSF officer position, you may need to pay an application fee. This fee may vary depending on the level of the position you are applying for.

Job Opportunities

Following are some of the entry-level jobs that BSF has to offer:

• Assistant Commandant
• Assistant Commandant (Battalion Signal Officer)
• Medical Officer
• Junior Logistics Officer
• Junior Maintenance Officer

IPS officers can also get a post in BSF, After entering the Deputation in Central Paramilitary Forces, they can take up important leadership roles in  BSF such as DIG, ADG, or similar posts.

Organizations that may hire you:

• Border Security Force (BSF)

Salary of Border Security Force Officer

Assistant Commandant up to the rank of Second-in-Command – Grade Pay + Basic Pay- Rs.46,800 to Rs.1,17,300 per month Grade Pay- Rs.19,800 to Rs.22,800

From Commandant up to the rank of Special Director General – Rs.1,12,200 to Rs.1,00,100 Grade Pay- Rs.26,100 to Rs.30,000

BSF Officers who are of the rank of Deputy General are paid according to the Apex Scale and the 7th Pay Commission has revised the Apex Scale increasing it to about Rs.2.4 lakh from the monthly salary of Rs. 80,000.

In addition to this, there are a whole array of perks and conveniences for the officers to avail.

Career Progression in Border Security Force Officer Profession  

The growth prospect as a BSF officer is high, owing to the fact that there is a strict hierarchy and well-defined upward trajectory to follow.

You might be working as an Assistant Commandant at first. You will then move up to become a Deputy Commandant after 6 years of experience. From Deputy commandant, you can move up to 2nd-in-Command after 5 years of regular service. Then, you can move from 2nd-in-Command after 4 years of experience to Commandant. After an experience of 3 years of regular service as Commandant, you can move up to become an Additional DIG. Within 2 Years of experience as an Additional DIG, you can be promoted to the position of DIG. You can go to the senior rank of IG after spending 4 years of service as DIG.

What do industry trends say – Future Prospects

The BSF has grown exponentially from a few battalions in 1965 to 186 battalions with a sanctioned strength of 257,363 personnel including an expanding air wing, marine wing, artillery regiments, and commando units, and there are no signs of its ability and strength being rolled back upon. It will continue to dish out vacancies per year at the same rate. It currently stands as the world’s largest border-guarding force. BSF has been termed the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.

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