Shimla, October 25, 2026 (PTI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has called on the Union Government to create a dedicated Himachal Scouts Battalion, modelled on the Ladakh Scouts, Sikkim Scouts and Arunachal Pradesh Scouts. According to his statement on Sunday, the proposed unit would add to India’s defence preparedness along the Sino-Indian border and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), especially in the state’s difficult mountain environment.
Focus on Border District Recruitment
Sukhu said the battalion should give priority to young people from Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, the border districts identified in his proposal. He argued that residents from these areas are already accustomed to high altitude, rough terrain and severe weather, which would make them particularly useful for deployment in the Himalayan frontier zone.
The Chief Minister also linked the proposal to wider security and employment goals. In his view, a force made up of locals with knowledge of the region would improve border security while creating more recruitment opportunities for youth from strategically important areas.
Himachal’s Military Legacy
Recalling the state’s long association with the Armed Forces, Sukhu described Himachal Pradesh as both “Dev Bhoomi” (Land of the Gods) and “Veer Bhoomi” (Land of the Brave). He said more than one lakh youth from the state are currently serving in the Armed Forces, while a similar number of ex-servicemen have already contributed to national defence and security.
He also referred to the state’s record of producing decorated soldiers. Sukhu noted that Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, was from Himachal Pradesh. He added that the state has produced four Param Vir Chakra awardees in all: Major Somnath Sharma, Lieutenant Colonel Dhan Singh Thapa, Captain Vikram Batra and Rifleman, later Subedar Major, Sanjay Kumar. “Our soldiers have never hesitated to make the supreme sacrifice for the nation,” he said.
Long-Pending Proposal
The demand for a Himachal Scouts Battalion is not new. Sukhu said he has raised the matter earlier as well, including during discussions with Army and Border Roads Organisation officials and ahead of planned visits to Delhi. He has presented the idea as a way to use local expertise for border defence while also recognising Himachal Pradesh’s contribution to national security.
Units of this type already exist in other Himalayan regions. The Ladakh Scouts, raised in 1963, now comprise five battalions. The Arunachal Scouts had their first battalion raised in 2010 and a second in 2013, while the Sikkim Scouts were raised in 2013. These formations recruit from local populations in high-altitude border areas and focus on mountain warfare, reconnaissance and border security, drawing on soldiers’ familiarity with terrain, climate and local conditions.
If approved, a Himachal Scouts Battalion would follow the same model for the state’s LAC-facing districts. The proposal is intended to improve operational readiness along a sensitive northern frontier while creating a dedicated path for border-area youth to serve in a specialised infantry role suited to Himalayan conditions. As of Sunday evening, no official response from the Centre had been reported.
