All-Women ITBP Outposts to Enhance India-China Border Vigilance

In a significant step towards bolstering its operational capabilities and promoting women in combat roles, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is establishing 10 all-women border outposts along the India-China Line of Actual Control (LAC). This initiative is a core component of the ITBP’s ‘forwardisation’ strategy, aimed at enhancing its presence and surveillance capabilities in sensitive frontier areas. The force has already advanced the location of 215 border outposts, an increase from the previous 180, reinforcing its commitment to proactive border management. The recent sanction of seven new battalions and a sector headquarters has provided a substantial boost to its strength and operational reach. The ITBP has also announced plans to establish a further 41 forward bases along the LAC to strengthen security mechanisms. Two of the new all-women outposts will be situated in Lukung, Ladakh, and Thangi, Himachal Pradesh, with an additional eight to be established subsequently. This expansion is supported by enhanced training programs, including new modules on mountain warfare and tactical survival. The ITBP, comprised of over 100,000 personnel, is tasked with guarding the challenging 3,488-km-long LAC, often in extreme altitude and weather conditions.