UPSC Prelims 2023 · Question 51 of 97
UPSC Prelims 2023 question on Home Guards
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2023
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectPolity
- TopicGovernance
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeStatement
With reference to 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 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?
Show answer
Answer: B. Only two
Verdict
Only statements 2 and 3 are correct → Option (b) Only two.
Statement by statement
Statement 1 – INCORRECT: Home Guards is a voluntary force, first raised in India in December 1946. The Central Government does not directly raise Home Guards. They are raised by the state governments under state acts — not under a Central Government Home Guards Act and Rules.
Statement 2 – CORRECT: The role of Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary Force to the Police in maintenance of internal security situations, help the community in any kind of emergency such as air-raid, fire, cyclone, earthquake, epidemic etc., help in maintenance of essential services, promote communal harmony and assist the administration in protecting weaker sections.
Statement 3 – CORRECT: Fifteen Border Wing Home Guards (BWHG) Battalions have been raised in the border States viz. Punjab (6 Bns.), Rajasthan (4 Bns.), Gujarat (2 Bns.) and one each Battalion for Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal to serve as an auxiliary to Border Security Force for preventing infiltration on the international border/coastal areas.