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?
Correct Answer: Option B
Statement 1 is not correct: The Home Guards is a voluntary force that was first raised in India in December 1946 to assist the police in controlling civil disturbances and communal riots.
In 1962, after Chinese aggression, the Central Government advised States and Union Territories to merge existing voluntary organizations into the Home Guards.
The Central Government does not directly raise Home Guards; they are raised by state governments under state acts.
Statement 2 is correct: The Home Guards serve as an auxiliary force to the Police in maintaining internal security, assisting communities during emergencies (air-raids, fire, cyclones, earthquakes, epidemics), maintaining essential services, promoting communal harmony, assisting in protecting weaker sections, participating in socio-economic activities and performing Civil Defence duties.
Statement 3 is correct: Fifteen Border Wing Home Guards (BWHG) Battalions have been raised in border states including Punjab (6 Bns.), Rajasthan (4 Bns.), Gujarat (2 Bns.), and one each in Meghalaya, Tripura, and West Bengal.
These battalions serve as an auxiliary to the Border Security Force to prevent infiltration on international borders/coastal areas, guard VA/VPs, and protect lines of communication in vulnerable areas during external aggression.
Hence, only two statements are correct.