Date: 2026-05-26Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah interacts with BSF personnel & e-inaugurates Women’s Barracks at Sanchu Post in Bikaner, Rajasthan
**Executive Summary**
Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the Sanchu Post in Bikaner to e-inaugurate 14 women’s barracks and outline a modernized border security strategy. Key initiatives include the expansion of BSF jurisdiction to 50 km, the deployment of anti-drone systems within six months, and the implementation of a "Quadrangular Security Grid." The document emphasizes a 2030 deadline for providing comprehensive facilities for women personnel and the 100% saturation of welfare schemes in border villages.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Infrastructure and Technology Modernization**
* **Road Connectivity:** Construction has begun on a 1,096-km lateral road and a 520-km axial road in the Rajasthan desert to improve connectivity for BSF personnel.
* **Utility Deployment:** Piped drinking water has been successfully provided to nearly 180 BSF outposts in Rajasthan.
* **Technological Defense:** High-tech fencing is being installed, and anti-drone systems are scheduled for deployment within the next six months.
* **Modernization Policy:** The BSF is undergoing a fundamental transformation and modernization to provide a "befitting reply" to terrorism and cross-border threats.
**Strategic and Jurisdictional Changes**
* **Expanded Jurisdiction:** The BSF's operational jurisdiction has been increased from 15 km to 50 km from the border to counter the misuse of technology by anti-national elements.
* **Quadrangular Security Grid:** Border security is redefined as a shared "territorial responsibility" involving the BSF, the Army, border-area citizens, and local administration.
* **Zero Infiltration Goal:** The primary objective is to achieve zero infiltration through constant vigilance and inter-agency coordination.
**Gender Inclusivity and Personnel Welfare**
* **Barrack Construction:** A total of 356 barracks for women personnel are planned at a cost of ₹200 crore; 79 are sanctioned for Rajasthan, with 67 already completed.
* **2030 Commitment:** The government aims to ensure all necessary facilities for women personnel in border security are in place by 2030.
* **Environmental Efforts:** CAPF personnel have planted approximately 7.35 crore trees over the last five years to combat climate change.
**Internal Security and Border Development**
* **Demographic Monitoring:** BSF must monitor and report any "Unnatural Demographic Change" or unauthorized construction within the 50-km border radius.
* **Vibrant Villages Programme:** The BSF is tasked with leading this program to ensure every public welfare scheme reaches 100% saturation in border villages.
* **Law Enforcement:** Strict action is mandated against the smuggling of narcotics and weapons, as well as against those creating internal threats from within the borders.
**Impact Analysis**
**Border Security Force (BSF)**
**Impact**
The force faces expanded legal jurisdiction and a broader mandate that includes social welfare leadership and demographic monitoring.
**Action Required**
Must maintain constant vigilance within the 50-km radius, report unauthorized construction to local administration, and lead the "Vibrant Villages Programme."
**Women Personnel in BSF**
**Impact**
Significant improvement in living conditions and deployment convenience through the construction of specialized barracks.
**Action Required**
Utilize new facilities as they are completed; full facility saturation is expected by 2030.
**Local Administration and District Police**
**Impact**
Increased requirement for inter-agency coordination under the Quadrangular Security Grid.
**Action Required**
Must coordinate closely with the BSF to neutralize threats and act on reports of illegal construction or demographic changes.
**Border-Area Citizens**
**Impact**
Beneficiaries of 100% saturation of government welfare schemes and improved local infrastructure.
**Action Required**
Must act as "vigilant citizens" and participate as a core component of the Quadrangular Security Grid to ensure territorial security.
Key Entities Referenced
Border Security Force (BSF): The primary security agency responsible for guarding India's international borders and implementing the expanded 50-kilometer operational jurisdiction.
Quadrangular Security Grid: A strategic security framework comprising the BSF, the Indian Army, border-area citizens, and local administration to ensure zero infiltration.
Vibrant Villages Programme: A central initiative aimed at developing border villages and ensuring 100% saturation of public welfare schemes.
Shri Amit Shah: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation who inaugurated infrastructure and outlined the government's border security and development strategy.
Rajasthan: The central location for the implementation of the 1,096-km lateral road, high-tech fencing, and the construction of 79 women’s barracks.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Union Home Minister and Minister of
Cooperation Shri Amit Shah interacts with BSF
personnel & e-inaugurates Women’s Barracks at
Sanchu Post in Bikaner, Rajasthan
Modi government is transforming the landscape of the border
regions by constructing lateral roads, installing high-tech
fencing and providing piped drinking water to 180 BSF
outposts in Rajasthan
BSF has stood firm at the borders despite formidable
geographical challenges and adverse conditions; we pay
homage to the supreme sacrifice of 2,000 martyrs
Border security relies on a 'Quadrangular Security Grid'
comprising the BSF, the Army, border-area citizens and the
local administration; border security is not an isolated duty,
but a territorial responsibility
Ensuring 'zero infiltration' is our responsibility—a goal that
can only be achieved through this quadrangular security grid
BSF must keep a vigilant watch on any 'Unnatural
Demographic Change' occurring in villages situated within a
50-kilometer radius of the border and alert the local
administration regarding any unauthorized construction
Anti-drone systems will be deployed along the border within
the next 6 months, world-class technology for border security
will soon be made available
Anti-national elements are misusing technology; that is why
Modi government has expanded the BSF's operational
jurisdiction from 15 to 50 kilometersBSF should take the lead in the 'Vibrant Villages Programme'
to ensure 100% saturation of every public welfare scheme in
the border villages
BSF must take every necessary measure to strictly and
decisively put an end to the smuggling of narcotics and
weapons
We must maintain a sharp vigil over those who seek to
foment internal threats from within our borders, and ruthless
legal action must be taken against them
Posted On: 26 MAY 2026 7:58PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah interacted with personnel at the
Sanchu Post of the Border Security Force (BSF), located on the international border in Bikaner, and
virtually inaugurated women’s barracks. On this occasion, Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal
Sharma, Union Minister Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau,
Secretary (Border Management), Director General of BSF, and other senior officers were present.
Addressing the personnel, Shri Addressing the personnel, Amit Shah said that since the establishment of
the BSF, border guards have fulfilled the responsibility of protecting the nation’s borders with dedication
to duty, bravery, courage, and the spirit of supreme sacrifice, without caring for scorching heat, severe
cold, rain, dense forests, snow-covered peaks, or temperatures ranging from 45 degrees to minus 45
degrees Celsius. He said that the sacrifice of more than 2,000 border guards is not only a debt owed by the
BSF and the Government of India, but by all 1.4 billion Indians. The Home Minister added that the entire
nation is proud of the border guards.Shri Amit Shah said that the government has decided to ensure the participation of the country’s daughters
in every field in a gender-neutral manner and provide them with equal opportunities. He said that earlier
governments had not given adequate attention to the role of women in border security and the facilities
required for them, but the country’s daughters have gone two steps ahead of men in contributing to
national security. He added that by 2030, all necessary facilities for women personnel deployed in border
security will be ensured. Shri Shah informed that in Rajasthan, 79 barracks have been sanctioned, and
work on 67 of them has already been completed at a cost of around ₹39 crore. Of these, 14 barracks were
inaugurated today. The Home Minister said that along the borders guarded by the BSF, a total of 356
barracks will be constructed at a cost of around ₹200 crore. Once completed, these barracks will make
duty deployment much more convenient for women personnel.
Shri Amit Shah said that since Shri Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, there has been a
fundamental transformation in the country’s security landscape. He said that the armed forces are being
modernised and the Border Security Forces are also undergoing modernisation. He added that the
Government of India has adopted a policy of ruthlessly giving a befitting reply to any attempt by
terrorists. The Home Minister said that ensuring zero infiltration is our responsibility, and that this can be
achieved through a quadrilateral security grid.
Shri Amit Shah said that BSF personnel delivered a commendable performance during ‘Operation
Sindoor’. He said that wherever the BSF took charge of the frontlines, they stood firm with complete
determination.He added that the BSF also played a major role in maintaining the morale of people living
in border districts. Wherever required, BSF personnel gave a befitting reply to Pakistan in keeping with
their proud tradition.Union Home Minister expressed happiness over visiting the historic Sanchu post and said that during the
1965 India-Pakistan war, Sanchu had a population of more than 500, while the RAC post was located
about 25 kilometres behind in Ranjitpura village.He said that when the brave personnel of three RAC units
and the 13 Grenadiers received information that Pakistan was attempting to capture Sanchu, they launched
a fierce attack and ensured that Sanchu remained secure within India’s borders, forcing Pakistan to retreat.
Union Home Minister said that the three RAC units, which are now part of the 12thBattalion of the BSF,
proudly celebrate Vijay Utsav every year. This Victory Day has been named “SanchuDiwas.” He added
that this post is inscribed in golden letters in India’s military history.
Shri Amit Shah said that construction work on a lateral road across the entire Rajasthan desert has begun.
Home Minister added that the approximately 1,096-kilometre-long lateral road and the 520-kilometre-long
axial road will not only provide better facilities to BSF personnel but also improve connectivity.He further
said that work on new-design fencing is also underway, and that the task of supplying drinking water
through pipelines to nearly 180 border posts in Rajasthan has been completed.
Shri Amit Shah said that the traditional role of the BSF must now be viewed from a new perspective. He
said that along with border security, the force must strengthen its preparedness by maintaining constant
vigilance against illegal smuggling, infiltration, and cross-border activities.The Home Minister said that a
few years ago, the Government of India decided to expand the BSF’s jurisdiction from 15 kilometres to 50
kilometres from the border. He said that it is our responsibility to inform the civil administration if any
illegal construction takes place within villages located inside this 50-kilometre zone.Union Home Minister
added that if any artificial demographic change is taking place within the 50-kilometre radius, the BSF
must remain alert and inform the state government. He further said that it is also the responsibility of the
force to take all necessary measures to strictly stop the smuggling of narcotics and weapons through
drones and other means.
Union Home Minister said that the Government of India will begin installing anti-drone systems within
the next six months. However, he stressed that it is equally important to identify who receives the drones
once they land on Indian soil and who uses the materials brought by them for anti-national activities.Shri
Shah said that there must be constant vigilance on such activities. For their neutralisation, close
coordination with civil authorities and district police is essential, and the response must be result-oriented
Shri Amit Shah said that border villages are being developed under the plan envisioned by Prime Minister,
Shri Narendra Modi. He said that the BSF should take the lead under the Vibrant Villages Programme and
work towards ensuring 100 percent saturation of welfare schemes of the state governments and the
Government of India in border villages.He added that the coming generations in border villages must be
made aware and empowered, because only then can the BSF, the armed forces, and vigilant citizens
together build a strong security grid.Union Home Minister said that there must be constant vigilance over all threats originating from across
the border. At the same time, attention must also be paid to those within our borders who are used to create
internal threats, and strict action should be taken against them in accordance with the law.Shri Shah said
that the responsibility for securing the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders lies with the BSF. Along both
these borders, we have to strengthen the quadrilateral security grid. To deal with any threat, the BSF, the
armed forces, border residents, and the local administration must work jointly; that is why it has been
named a quadrilateral grid. Border security is not an isolated duty, but a territorial responsibility shared by
all of us.
Shri Amit Shah said that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have made a significant contribution
to tree plantation efforts. He said that over the past five years, personnel of CAPFs have planted nearly 7
crore 35 lakh trees.Shri Shah added that, in view of climate change and rising global temperatures, such a
large number of trees will prove extremely beneficial in the future. The Home Minister also planted a
Khejri sapling and said that the Khejri tree is like a wish-fulfilling tree for the desert region.
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