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Assam Rifles

Not to be confused with Assam Regiment.
Assam Rifles
Insignia of the Assam Rifles
Insignia of the Assam Rifles
Flag of the Assam Rifles
Flag of the Assam Rifles
AbbreviationAR
MottoFriends of the Hill People
Sentinels of the North East
Agency overview
Formed1835
Employees65,143[1]
Annual budget₹13556.89 crore (2024–25)[2]
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyIndia
Operations jurisdictionNortheast India, India
Map of Assam Rifles's jurisdiction
Governing bodyMinistry of Home Affairs
Constituting instrument
  • Assam Rifles Act, 2006 [3]
General nature
Specialist jurisdictions
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.
  • Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, and riot control.
Operational structure
HeadquartersShillong, Meghalaya, India
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Parent agencyCentral Armed Police Forces[2][5]
Website
assamrifles.gov.in

The Assam Rifles (AR) is a central paramilitary force[6] responsible for border security, counter-insurgency, and maintaining law and order[7] in Northeast India. Its primary duty involves guarding the Indo-Myanmar border. The AR is one of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Indian Army maintains its operational control. As a central police force, its recruitment, perks, promotions, and retirement policies are governed by CAPF rules.[8] Approximately 80 percent of the officers are deputed from the Army, while the remaining are drawn from the AR cadre.[9][10] The AR is commanded by the Director General of the Assam Rifles (DG AR), appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.[11]

The AR is often nicknamed "Sentinels of the North East" and "Friends of the Hill People". It is the oldest paramilitary force in India, originally raised in 1835 as Cachar Levy, a militia to protect tea gardens and the fertile plains of Assam against unruly tribes. Its scope increased with the expansion of British Raj in Northeast India, and it was used against insurgencies in the region. The force was redesignated as Assam Frontier Police in 1883, Assam Military Police in 1891, and East Bengal and Assam Military Police in 1913.[12] It got its present name in 1917.[13] After independence, the AR functioned under the Ministry of External Affairs.[14] Its operational control was transferred to the Indian Army after the Sino-Indian War of 1962.[15] It came under the administration of Ministry of Home Affairs in 1965, with the Army retaining operational control.[14]

Throughout its history, the Assam Rifles have served in various conflicts and theaters, including World War I by serving in Europe and the Middle East, and World War II, where they served mainly in Burma. After the Chinese annexation of Tibet, the AR were tasked with manning Assam's section of the Tibetan border. They were also instrumental in maintaining law and order in Arunachal Pradesh.

As of the 2019–2020 report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, there are 46 battalions in the Assam Rifles with a sanctioned strength of 65,143 personnel.[16][17] They perform many roles including upholding internal security under the control of the army through the conduct of counterinsurgency and border security operations, provision of aid to civilians in times of emergency, and the facilitation of communications, medical assistance and education in remote areas.[18] In times of war they can also be used as a combat force to secure rear areas if needed. Since 2002, the force has had the role of guarding the India–Myanmar border.[19]

  1. ^ "Annual Report Ministry of Home Affairs 2019–2020" (PDF). mha.gov.in. MHA. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Rs 1.85 lakh crore allocation to MHA in budget". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. ^ "THE ASSAM RIFLES ACT, 2006".
  4. ^ "Lt Gen Pradeep Chandran Nair takes over as DG of Assam Rifles". The Economic Times.
  5. ^ "Central Armed Police Forces | Ministry of Home Affairs". Ministry of Home Affairs. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  6. ^ Singh, Soibam Rocky (6 September 2020). "HC asks Centre to decide on control over Assam Rifles". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Section 4 in Assam Rifles Act, 2006". Indian Kanoon. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  8. ^ "MHA to explain functioning of Assam Rifles in northeastern states before Parliamentary panel". Asian News International. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  9. ^ Nathanael, M. P. (7 November 2019). "Changing the status quo". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  10. ^ Standing Committee on Home Affairs (12 December 2018). "Committee Reports". PRS Legislative Research. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  11. ^ Press Trust of India (24 August 2012). "Lt Gen Ranbir Singh appointed new DG of Assam Rifles". Business Standard. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  12. ^ Pant, Harsh V. (11 May 2020). The Routledge Handbook of Indian Defence Policy: Themes, Structures and Doctrines. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-07435-2. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  13. ^ News desk (13 November 2021). "From 'Cachar Levy' to Assam Rifles: All You Need to Know About India's Oldest Paramilitary Force". CNN-News18. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  14. ^ a b Singh, K. J. (29 September 2019). "Ain't broke? Don't fix: Assam Rifles delivers beyond expectations". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  15. ^ Tribune News Service (14 September 2019). "Assam Rifles may soon be merged with ITBP". Tribune India. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  16. ^ "History of the Assam Rifles". Archived from the original on 10 March 2009.
  17. ^ "Annual Report Ministry of Home Affairs 2019-2020" (PDF). mha.gov.in. MHA. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  18. ^ Sharma 2008.
  19. ^ "One Border One Force?". outlookindia.com.

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