ITBP to Set Up 10 All-Women Border Outposts Along India-China LAC
In a significant development aimed at bolstering security along the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has revealed plans to establish 10 all-women Border Outposts (BOPs) along the critical Himalayan boundary.
This move is part of the force’s forwardisation strategy, initiated after the 2020 Ladakh standoff, to improve deployment, surveillance, and operational reach across the 3,488 km long LAC. As a result of this initiative, the number of forward-deployed posts has increased from 180 to 215.
During the ITBP’s 64th Raising Day parade in Jammu, Director General Praveen Kumar announced the establishment of the first two all-women posts in Ladakh’s Lukung and Himachal Pradesh’s Thangi, with an additional eight to be set up in other key sectors along the high-altitude border.
The introduction of women combatants at these frontline posts signifies a noteworthy advancement in gender empowerment within India’s border security forces, emphasizing the ITBP’s dedication to enabling women personnel to undertake challenging operational roles alongside their male colleagues.
The expansion effort is supported by the approval of seven new battalions and an additional sector headquarters in 2023, which will add nearly 9,400 personnel to the force. These reinforcements are anticipated to enhance supervision, patrolling, and rapid response capabilities in forward areas.
The ITBP also intends to establish 41 more forward bases along the LAC as part of its strategy to reinforce its border presence amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
To address the challenges of deployment at altitudes ranging from 9,000 to over 14,000 feet, the force has revamped its training programs, introducing five new modules focused on mountain warfare, tactical survival, and high-altitude operations.
Under the Union Home Ministry, the ITBP—comprising over one lakh personnel—is advancing its modernization efforts through the implementation of smart border technology, sustainable infrastructure, and enhanced human resource capabilities, thereby ensuring strong and resilient border management along one of India’s most sensitive and challenging frontiers.
