Union Home Minister Amit Shah revealed on Sunday that India will soon establish a comprehensive anti-drone unit to address the growing security threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles along its borders.
Speaking at the 60th Raising Day event of the Border Security Force (BSF) at its training camp, located about 300 km from the India-Pakistan border, Shah warned that the “menace” of drones was expected to escalate in the coming years.
“We are tackling this issue with a ‘whole of government’ approach, with defence and research organisations, including the DRDO, coming together. We are going to create a comprehensive anti-drone unit for the country in the coming time,” Shah said.
He added that initial results of a “laser-equipped anti-drone gun-mounted” mechanism have been encouraging, with drone neutralisation and detection cases increasing from 3 per cent to 55 per cent along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.
The minister noted that more than 260 drones had been downed or recovered from India’s border with Pakistan this year, a significant rise from the 110 intercepted in 2023.
The majority of drone interceptions have occurred in Punjab, with fewer cases reported in Rajasthan and Jammu.
Shah emphasised the success of the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), which is being deployed along India’s 2,289 km border with Pakistan and 4,096 km border with Bangladesh.
Although the system has shown promise along Assam’s Dhubri sector, further improvements are expected, he said.
Highlighting the Modi government’s ambitious Vibrant Village Programme (VVP), Shah stated that the initiative, aimed at developing northern border villages, had secured a fund allocation of Rs 4,800 crore. It will be implemented in around 3,000 villages as an experimental phase, he added.
The Union Home Minister also discussed the substantial progress made in border security, including the creation of 573 new border posts and the construction of 1,812 km of roads. These efforts form part of the government’s overarching plan to strengthen border infrastructure.
The BSF, which was raised on December 1, 1965, now comprises about 2.65 lakh personnel and is responsible for guarding India’s frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
BSF Director-General Daljit Singh Chawdhary noted that the force had posted 13,226 newly trained personnel and recruited 4,000 more, further strengthening operational capabilities.
He also mentioned the increasing interception of drones carrying arms and drugs, noting that over 250 drones had been intercepted this year alone.
“We have deployed a DRDO-made anti-drone system to check this menace,” Chawdhary said.
Shah commended the BSF for its dedication and service in securing India’s borders, stressing that the efforts of the force are crucial to India’s future security and global standing.
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