India’s border security preparedness is receiving renewed attention after Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor confirmed continuing confrontations with Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops at multiple locations along the Arunachal Pradesh frontier. Speaking ahead of the force’s 65th Raising Day on October 24, Kapoor highlighted the role of specialised combat units and the need to modernise India’s capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The ITBP Shaurya commandos, a newly raised combat unit, have demonstrated their capabilities during these encounters, according to the force chief. The announcement underscores the importance of specialised training and operational readiness in a strategically sensitive region where differing perceptions of the border have repeatedly led to face-offs.
Kapoor made the remarks while addressing personnel at an ITBP base in Alwar, Rajasthan. He also outlined plans to expand the specialised unit’s presence across the force’s border battalions.
Specialised Training to Strengthen Combat Readiness
The Shaurya commandos from the ITBP are a component of an overall plan for preparing people for combat in the tough conditions of the border regions. Kapoor explained that the ITBP aims to deploy Shaurya commandos in all border battalions and enhance its capability to handle any confrontation on the 3,488-kilometre LAC with China.
Furthermore, the ITBP has launched a new combat training program named “Strike” aimed at preparing people for combat situations like the violent one that took place in June 2020 at the Galwan Valley. Kapoor added that the whole ITBP would complete the training course by 2027.
The Galwan Valley incident led to the death of 20 soldiers from India. Later, China admitted that four of its soldiers had also been killed in the incident.
Drone Warfare Becomes a Modernisation Priority
In addition to its specialized military training, the ITBP is also working on drones and anti-drone technology. Kapoor mentioned that drone platoons have been formed in all battalions guarding the borders, and soldiers are being trained to use drones and technology.
According to the report, the force was granted ₹400 crore from the government, of which 70 per cent was allocated for increasing drone warfare capabilities. Moreover, the Ministry of Home Affairs has also given in-principle approval to the ITBP’s larger modernisation project worth around ₹4,000 crore, of which ₹1,000 crore was for drones and anti-drone technology.
These developments highlight the ITBP’s understanding that traditional measures may not be enough to counter a technologically advanced security environment. The ITBP Shaurya commandos and technology capabilities of the force are meant to supplement each other.
Underground Shelters and High-Altitude Infrastructure
Infrastructure improvement is yet another area of concern. According to Kapoor, the ITBP is constructing underground shelters at forward bases in view of its susceptibility in case of war since any open structure can become a target in a wartime scenario.
The ITBP is also improving the infrastructure for its troops stationed in extremely high altitudes. This includes insulated quarters, solar water heaters, generators for power supply, and cold-start kits for the vehicles.
All these measures are expected to improve endurance, mobility and operational efficiency of the troops.
Political Questions Amid Security Concerns
The recent revelations have also brought out political criticisms. Jairam Ramesh of the Congress Party criticised the government’s stance on the reported face-offs, claiming India has lost its patrolling points and highlighting that China has renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh. These allegations were made in a political sense and were not verified through the claims made by the ITBP chief.
A Broader Strategy for Border Preparedness
This latest move by ITBP suggests that the larger strategy involves having a team of specialists, modern technologies, and better-equipped borders. The fact that ITBP Shaurya commandos will be deployed to border battalions and the entire force will be trained for combat by 2027 shows that there is an effort to counter the changing threats from the Chinese border.