64th Raising Day of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on its 64th Raising Day on October 24.

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. 

• Apart from the LAC, the ITBP having strength of about 98,000 personnel is deployed for rendering a number of internal security duties in the country including conduct of anti-Naxal operations. 

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

Tasks of ITBP:

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

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

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

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

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)