• Seven new battalions of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will be raised and a 4.1-km tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh built with the government giving its approval on February 15.

• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared the proposal for hiring of 9,400 fresh personnel for raising seven new border battalions apart from a new operational base for the ITBP. 

• The government decisions come amid the India-China military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh that erupted in May 2020 and scuffles in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh in December last year.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police

• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was raised in the wake of Chinese aggression in 1962 with a modest strength of four battalions. It was originally conceptualised as an integrated  “guerrilla-cum-intelligence-cum-fighting force”. It evolved with passage of time into a border guarding force.

• ITBP was initially raised under the CRPF Act. In 1992, the Parliament enacted the ITBP Act and the rules there under were framed in 1994.

• ITBP is guarding 3,488 km of India-China border and is manning Border Out Posts (BOPs) on altitudes ranging from 9,000 to 18,750 ft in the western, middle and eastern sector of the India-China border along with Himalayas from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. 

• The motto of the Force is “Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha” (Valour – Determination – Devotion to Duty). 

Tasks of ITBP:

1) Vigil on the northern borders, detection and prevention of border violations, and promotion of the sense of security among the local populace.

2) Check illegal immigration, trans-border smuggling and crimes.

3) Security to sensitive installations, banks and protected persons.

4) Restore and preserve order in any area in the event of disturbance.

47 new border posts

• The ITBP proposal was cleared during the CCS meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• The new personnel will be stationed mainly in Arunachal Pradesh.

• The new battalions and the sector headquarters are expected to be put in place by 2025-26.

• The fresh manpower will be utilised for manning 47 new border posts and a dozen ‘staging camps’ or troops bases to be created along the LAC, largely in Arunachal Pradesh.

• The creation of 47 new border posts will lead to a 26 per cent increase in the strength of these bases while the induction of 9,400 fresh personnel will enhance the force’s strength by 10 per cent. The force has 176 border posts at the LAC currently.

Shinkun La tunnel

• The Union Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi gave its nod for the construction of the 4.1-km Shinkun La tunnel on the Nimu-Padam-Darcha road link to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Ladakh.

• The tunnel will be completed by December 2025 at a cost of Rs 1,681 crore.

• The tunnel will provide all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh and this will be the shortest route to the border areas of the Union Territory.

• After the Shinkun La tunnel is built it will help connect the Ladakh area, especially the Zanskar valley, with the entire country. 

• Another tunnel which is under construction is the Zojila tunnel on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh national highway which will be dedicated soon.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store