Question

When was the special frontier force established?
A) 1960
B) 1970
C) 1965
D) 1962

Answer 1

Hint: The special frontier force was raised by the Indian Intelligence Bureau in the immediate aftermath of the war between India and China. This force is also known as the Vikas battalion.

Complete answer:
The Special Frontier Force is an Indian special force created on 14 November 1962. Its main goal was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in the event of another Sino-Indian War. The covert outfit recruited Tibetan exiles to the force which now has a mixture of Gorkhas and Tibetans. Initially, the force was named Establishment 22 by Major Gen Sujan Singh Uban who raised the group, named it after the 22 mountain regiment. Later it was renamed SSF, and it now falls under the purview of the cabinet secretariat. On the ground, an army officer of the rank of Major General heads the force. The units comprising the special frontier force are known as Vikas battalions. Also, it is believed that the force was raised in coordination with US intelligence agencies.
The SFF operated in the Chittagong hill tracts in 1971, to neutralize Pakistan Army positions and also to help the Indian Army in advance. The SFF units have taken part in many other covert and overt operations over these years, including the Kargil conflict, the operation blue star in Golden temple Amritsar and counter-insurgency operations.
So, the correct answer is Option D.

Note: Even if the SFF units are not part of the Indian Army, they function under the operational control of the Army. The units have their own rank structure which is of equivalent status with Army ranks; also they have their own training establishment where the new recruits to SFF are imparted in Special Forces training.