In a significant move to bolster security along the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has announced plans to establish 10 all-women Border Outposts (BOPs) in the sensitive Himalayan region. This initiative is part of a larger effort to enhance surveillance and operational capabilities across the 3,488-km-long LAC, particularly in the wake of the 2020 Ladakh standoff.
During the ITBP’s 64th Raising Day parade held in Jammu, Director General Praveen Kumar revealed that the first two all-women posts are set to be established in Lukung, Ladakh, and Thangi, Himachal Pradesh. The remaining eight posts will be strategically located in other critical areas along the high-altitude border.
The deployment of women combatants to frontline posts represents a noteworthy advancement in gender empowerment within India’s border security forces. This initiative underscores the ITBP’s commitment to integrating women personnel into demanding operational roles, ensuring they serve alongside their male counterparts in challenging environments.
Supporting this expansion, the government has sanctioned seven new battalions and an additional sector headquarters in 2023, which will increase the force’s strength by nearly 9,400 personnel. These reinforcements are aimed at enhancing supervision, patrolling, and rapid response capabilities in the forward areas.
In line with its strategic border posture, the ITBP has also announced plans to establish 41 additional forward bases along the LAC in response to ongoing geopolitical tensions. The force is actively restructuring its training programs to better prepare personnel for the demanding conditions encountered at altitudes ranging from 9,000 to over 14,000 feet. Five new training modules focused on mountain warfare, tactical survival, and high-altitude operations have been introduced to meet these challenges.
Operating under the Union Home Ministry, the ITBP has grown to encompass over one lakh personnel and is undergoing modernization through advanced border technology, sustainable infrastructure initiatives, and improved human resource capabilities. These steps aim to ensure robust and effective border management along one of India’s most sensitive and challenging frontiers.
