The Government has decided to continue the Umbrella scheme of Border Infrastructure & Management (BIM) from 2021-22 to 2025-26
What is the news:
- The Government has approved the continuation of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme of “Border Infrastructure and Management” (BIM) over the 15thFinance Commission Cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26,
- The corpus of a scheme is Rs.13,020 crore.
- The scheme’s main aim to improve border infrastructure and management.
- This decision 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 Indo-Pakistan, Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-China, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar borders.
Border Infrastructure and Management BIM: Significance of border infrastructure
- Better trade relations: Robust border infrastructure helps in building ties with the neighbouring countries. Example: Border Haats with Bangladesh.
- Inclusive growth: Border road infrastructure plays a significant role in the overall development of the region, especially in harsh terrains such as northeast and Jammu & Kashmir.
- Unravel tourism: Proper road infrastructure would help in promoting tourism in the lofty Himalayas.
- Resilience against security challenges: Border infrastructure helps in dealing with transnational issues like cross-border terrorism, infiltration of armed militants and insurgents, narcotics and arms smuggling; illegal migration; left-wing extremism and separatist movements fuelled by external powers.
- Maintaining peace and stability: Border road infrastructure helps in maintaining peace and stability in the border areas.
- Disaster management: Better border infrastructure in the difficult and harsh terrains of Indian borders will make the country prepared and self-sufficient to handle the wide range of disasters.
Government Efforts to improve border infrastructure
- In 1960, Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), under the aegis of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, to provide border infrastructure including roads, bridges, highways, airports, tunnels, and buildings.
- Government launched a Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) to improve the capability of Border Security Force in detecting and controlling the cross border crimes like illegal infiltration, smuggling of contraband goods, human trafficking and cross border terrorism etc.
- Border Area Development Programme (BADP) is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to adopt a comprehensive approach to border management.
- Bharatmala Pariyojana: One of the objective of the scheme is to better border road infrastructure that would ensure greater maneuverability, while also boosting trade with neighbouring countries.
About fifteenth finance commission :
- The FifteenthFinance Commission is an Indian Finance Commission constituted in November 2017 and is to give recommendations for devolution of taxes and other fiscal matters for five fiscal years, commencing 2020-04-01.
- The commission’s chairman is Nand Kishore Singh, a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since March 2014, with its full-timemembers being Ajay Narayan Jha, Ashok Lahiri and Anoop Singh.
- In addition, the commission also has a part-timemember in Ramesh Chand. Shaktikanta Das served as a member of the commission from November 2017 to December 2018.
What is the finance commission:
- The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under article 280 of the Constitution, mainly to give its recommendations on distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States and amongst the States themselves.
- Two distinctive features of the Commission’s work involve redressing the vertical imbalances between the taxation powers and expenditure responsibilities of the centre and the States respectively and equalization of all public services across the States.
Functions of finance commission:
- It is the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to—
- the distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be, or may be, divided between them and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds;
- the principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India;
- the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State;
- the measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Municipalities in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State;
- any other matter referred to the Commission by the President in the interests of sound finance.
- The Commission determines its procedure and have such powers in the performance of their functions as Parliament may by law confer on them.
Who appoints the Finance Commission and what are the qualifications for Members?
- The Finance Commission is appointed by the President under Article 280 of the Constitution. As per the provisions contained in the Finance Commission [Miscellaneous Provisions] Act, 1951 and The Finance Commission (Salaries & Allowances) Rules, 1951, the Chairman of the Commission is selected from among persons who have had experience in public affairs, and the
four other members are selected from among persons who–
(a) are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as Judges of a High Court; or
(b) have special knowledge of the finances and accounts of Government; or
(c) have had wide experience in financial matters and in administration; or
(d) have special knowledge of economics
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