BSF, Army pay parity remains elusive

New Delhi: Nearly two weeks after soldiers from several central paramilitary forces went public with their grievances, documents reveal the stark disparity between the Indian Army and the Border Security Force (BSF).

Salary documents provided by the BSF to Mint reveal there is a difference ranging from 2.5% to 48%, after the Seventh Pay Commission was implemented, between pay scales of the BSF and the Army.

They show that a head constable in the BSF earns Rs25,500 a month—Rs3,700 less than his Army counterpart. A deputy commandant earns Rs1,700 less than a major in the Army, a commandant draws Rs7,200 less than a colonel, and a deputy inspector general of the BSF draws Rs8,500 less than a brigadier in the Army. The biggest disparity is between the second-in-command (2IC) of the BSF and a Lt. Colonel of the Army—a pay gap of Rs37,900.

“This debate has been going on for the last 50 years. But there has been no resolution as yet to bring the BSF and the Army on a par as far as salaries are concerned. The line of duty and combat is the same for both forces, but there is a major distinction,” said a senior BSF officer on condition of anonymity.

While the home ministry is silent on the matter, the BSF bill of 1968, which was discussed in the Rajya Sabha in 1968, had argued that “the BSF in its functioning has all the disadvantages of the police and the Army without their corresponding advantages. This is a matter which needs looking into and remedial steps taken to redress balance in favour of the BSF with regard to leave, travel concessions, housing, education, allowance, etc.” Mint has reviewed a copy of this bill.