Regarding Home Guards, consider the following statements:

1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.

2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in the maintenance of internal security.

3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some states.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2023: General Studies (SET - A - Held on 28 May)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option 2

Key Points

Home Guards Act:
- Home Guards are not raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.
- Instead, they are governed by the State/Union Territory Home Guards Act and rules.
- They are recruited at the state level and give their time to community betterment.
- Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
Role of Home Guards:
- The primary role of Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintaining internal security.
- They also help in emergencies like natural disasters, promote communal harmony, assist the administration in protecting weaker sections, and perform civil defense duties.
- Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Border Wing Home Guards Battalions
- In some states, Border Wing Home Guards (BWHG) Battalions have been established to prevent infiltration on international borders or coastal areas.
- These battalions act as auxiliary support to the Border Security Force (BSF) in states such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Tripura, and West Bengal.
- Hence, statement 3 is correct.