Why is ITBP overhauling its training and combat strategy along the China border? Explained

The ITBP was formed on October 24, 1962 after the Indo-China war

Updated - October 24, 2026 09:04 am IST

A view of the Indo-Tebetan Border Police during the Republic Day celebrations. Image used for representation purpose only. File | Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

The story so far: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is all set to overhaul its training and operational strategy. On October 22, ITBP Director-General Shatrujeet Kapur, while addressing the Himveer Samman Samaroah at the Central Training College (CTC) at Alwar in Rajasthan said that the newly raised Shaurya Commandos had done an exemplary work during the recent “face-off” with Chinese troops, which “continues at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh.”

Mr. Kapur said, “In the past few-days, a situation arose where face-off happened at several locations in Arunachal and it still continues. Our Shaurya commandos played an exemplary role in this.”

The 1-hour 13 minute long-video where Mr. Kapur also stressed on the need to invest and develop drone and counter-drone technology adding that it may not be possible to face China through traditional methods as they have invested a lot in the modernisation of their weapons and infrastructure, has since been taken down from ITBP’s official You Tube page.

What is ITBP’s primary role?

The ITBP was formed on October 24, 1962 after the Indo-China war. The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), specialised in border guarding duties and posted at an altitude of up to 18,900 feet, was initially raised with only four battalions. Each battalion in the ITBP, one of the seven CAPFs, typically comprises over 1,300 personnel. They are deployed at 228 border outposts (BOPs) from the Karakoram Pass in the north-west to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh in the north-east.

Most forward posts remain cut off by land routes, and temperature at these locations sometimes dips to minus 45 degree Celsius. The border posts are exposed to high-velocity storms, snow blizzards, avalanches, and landslides. Post Kargil war, in pursuance of Group of Ministers recommendations to stick to ‘One Border one Force’, the entire border guarding duties along China was assigned to the ITBP in 2004. The ITBP, though being the primary force deployed along the China border works in coordination with the Army in certain locations. Army has been seeking operational control of the army for the past many years, the government has not agreed to the proposal.

Since the LAC is neither demarcated nor fenced, ITBP acts as “eyes and ears” to report Chinese activities and violations near and across the border and is the lead intelligence agency.

What is the Strike course?

The D-G, in his address to the officers and jawans of ITBP said that to deal with situations like “Galwan”, the Training Directorate has designed a “good course” called ‘Strike’ to improve the operational preparedness. For the Strike course, 330 master trainers have been trained and 10,000 ITBP personnel have undergone the training. He said that from December onwards the training will be held continuously in all units, and the whole Force’s Strike training will be completed before the end of 2027. The equipment needed for it will also be available at all the forward Border Outposts (BOPs), he said. On June 15, 2020, at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Galwan Valley in Ladakh. Days before this, in May-June 2020, ITBP jawans arrested Chinese troops in their tracks at multiple locations along the undefined Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. Later as many as 291 jawans were accorded Director General commendation rolls and discs “for their gallant actions during the face offs and border skirmishes” as their “befitting response” helped safeguard many “hyper sensitive” locations from the Chinese troops.

Who are the Shaurya commandos?

Mr. Kapur said that ITBP wants to go back to its roots and plans to establish a dedicated elite high-altitude commando battalion. He said that the Shaurya commandos played an exemplary role during the recent face-off with the Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. He stated that ITBP was raised as a mountain guerilla force and they were given border guarding duty along whole of China border in 2004. “We need not leave our original function and a specialised high altitude mountain fighting force is being set up, distinct than the army. We will soon have one full battalion of Shaurya commandos, high-altitude (deployment) is our strength,” Mr. Kapur said.