India’s land borders span 15,106 km across seven neighbours. Examine the integrated border management approach under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System and the residual gaps.

Introduction: MHA's Border Management Division (2024) records India's land borders at 15,106.7 km across seven neighbours; the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) was launched in 2017 with pilots on the Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Pakistan borders, and the Vibrant Villages Programme (2023) commits ₹4,800 crore for border-area development.

Body: First, CIBMS components — smart fences, ground sensors, surveillance towers, command-and-control centres, and UAV integration along sensitive stretches. Second, sector-specific — Border Roads Organisation (BRO) anchors China LAC infrastructure (Sela Tunnel inaugurated March 2024); 1,643 km fencing announced for the Myanmar border in 2024; Indo-Bangladesh dual-use rivers managed via Joint Working Groups. Third, gaps — fence breaches, cattle smuggling, narcotic corridors through Sir Creek and the IGB; BSF Operation Sard Hawa typifies the perennial Rajasthan challenge.

Way forward: Complete CIBMS rollout, integrate UAV-based ISR, accelerate land-port commerce via LPAI, and launch Vibrant Villages Phase II by 2028 under MHA.