Why in news?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice‑President C.P. Radhakrishnan extended greetings to the Indo‑Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on its 64th Raising Day in October 2025. They praised the force’s courage and dedication in guarding India’s remote Himalayan frontier.
Background
The ITBP was created in 1962 in the aftermath of the Sino‑Indian War to secure the mountainous border with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. Initially raised as a unit of the Central Reserve Police Force, it became a standalone Central Armed Police Force under the ITBPF Act of 1992. In 2004 the entire 3,488‑kilometre India–China border was placed under ITBP’s responsibility. Today the force operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is headquartered in New Delhi.
Roles and responsibilities
- Border security: ITBP guards 197 border outposts located at altitudes of 9,000–18,750 feet, stretching from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Disaster response: Trained in mountaineering, skiing and avalanche rescue, ITBP personnel assist in disaster relief operations and humanitarian missions in the Himalayas.
- Law enforcement: The force enforces border laws, prevents illegal crossings and helps protect infrastructure in sensitive areas. It also conducts anti‑Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.
- Training and expertise: ITBP runs specialised training centres for high‑altitude warfare and paramedic skills, making it one of the world’s most experienced mountain forces.
Significance
- National security: By maintaining a constant presence along a challenging frontier, ITBP deters aggression and reassures local populations.
- Humanitarian service: The force delivers medical assistance, evacuates villagers during natural disasters and supports civil administration in remote areas.
- Motto: The ITBP lives by “Shaurya – Dridhata – Karma Nishtha” (Valour – Determination – Devotion to Duty), reflecting its values of courage, resilience and service.
Conclusion
For more than six decades, the Indo‑Tibetan Border Police has safeguarded some of the most inhospitable terrain on earth. Its contribution to national security and disaster relief makes it an indispensable arm of India’s security apparatus.
Source: DD News