Border Infrastructure

What is the issue?

Though India’s infrastructure development along the border with China has picked up, there has been some serious roll backs.

What is the status of Mountain Strike Corps?

The Mountain Strike corps is India’s first dedicated strike corps for mountain operations.
It focuses on the eastern end of the contested border to bolster India’s defence of Arunachal Pradesh.
They can also be used in any mountainous region, which means all the northern borders.
It was originally supposed to have three full divisions.
It has been scaled down to two, of which just one division has been raised until now.
With two divisions, the 17 Corps would have about 60,000 men, against the original plan of over 90,000.

What is the present status of other infrastructures?

All 61 India-China Border Roads (ICBR) included in the Border Roads Development Board (BRDB) programme were planned to be completed by 2012.
However, only 15 roads had been completed by 2012.
Out of the balance, 46 roads, only 7 roads were completed by March 2016, extending the Planned Date of Completion (PDC) of balance roads to 2021.
However a 9.2-km Dhola-Sadiya bridge was recently constructed.
It will cut down the distance between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 165 km.
India is also constructing some critical bridges in the northeast which will cut down time for troop movement.

Quick Fact

Cabinet Committee on Security

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) of the Central Government of India decides on India's defence expenditure, matters of National Security,and makes significant appointments.
CCS is chaired by the Prime Minister of India and comprises the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Home Affairs, and the Minister of External Affairs.

Source: The Hindu