Government approves continuation of Border Infrastructure and Management scheme.

Why in news?

• The Central Government has approved the continuation of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme of ‘Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM)’ over the 15th Finance Commission Cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26, at a cost of Rs 13,020 crore.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is responsible for the implementation of BIM.
• This continuation will strengthen the border infrastructure for improving border management, policing and guarding the borders.
• The BIM scheme will help in the creation of infrastructure such as construction of border fence, border flood lights, technological solutions, border roads and Border Outposts (BOPS)/Company Operating Bases (COBs) to secure the Indian borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
• India’s border with Pakistan is 3,323 km long, including about 775 km of the Line of Control (LoC). The length of the border is 4,096 km with Bangladesh, 3,488 km with China, 1,751 km with Nepal, 699 km with Bhutan, 1,643 km with Myanmar.
• In pursuance of Group of Ministers recommendations on Border Management, the Department of Border Management was created in the Ministry of Home Affairs in January, 2004.