Assam Rifles

The Assam Rifles (AR) is a <a href="/facts/Paramilitary_forces_of_India/XEqr8sCm">paramilitary force of India</a> responsible for <a href="/facts/Border_security/ngScQKAz">border security</a>, <a href="/facts/Counter-insurgency/gvfLNewj">counter-insurgency</a>, and maintaining <a href="/facts/Law_and_order_(politics)/pjKtwSx7">law and order</a> in <a href="/facts/Northeast_India/JtFJkH2A">Northeast India</a> and in Jammu & Kashmir in lines of <a href="/facts/Rashtriya_Rifles/Ea7Gst5K">Rashtriya Rifles</a>. Its primary duty involves guarding the <a href="/facts/Indo-Myanmar_border/DUkn74EG">Indo-Myanmar border</a>. The AR is one of the Oldest Central Para-military Forces of India administered by the <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Home_Affairs_(India)/UBm79XDH">Ministry of Home Affairs</a> while operational control rests with Indian Army. As a central paramilitary force, its recruitment, perks, <a href="/facts/Police_ranks_and_insignia_of_India/j6c7E0YU">promotions</a>, and retirement policies are governed by Assam Rifles Regulations. Approximately 80 percent of the officers are deputed from the Army, while the remaining are drawn from the AR cadre. The AR is commanded by the <a href="/facts/Director_General_of_the_Assam_Rifles/Kdn7ps4S">Director General of the Assam Rifles</a> (DG AR), appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The AR is often nicknamed "Sentinels of the North East" and "Friends of the Hill People". It is the oldest <a href="/facts/Paramilitary_forces_of_India/XEqr8sCm">paramilitary force in India</a>, originally raised in 1835 as Cachar Levy, a <a href="/facts/Militia/c7CHBd54">militia</a> to protect <a href="/facts/Tea_garden/HVeKKt1U">tea gardens</a> and the fertile plains of <a href="/facts/Assam/64Hs7TwB">Assam</a> against unruly <a href="/facts/Tribes_of_Assam/VEuFJXAo">tribes</a>. Its scope increased with the expansion of <a href="/facts/British_Raj/hBe6wvPS">British Raj</a> in <a href="/facts/Northeast_India/JtFJkH2A">Northeast India</a>, and it was used against <a href="/facts/Insurgency_in_Northeast_India/TmUsESzE">insurgencies in the region</a>. The force was redesignated as Assam Frontier Police in 1883, Assam Military Police in 1891, and East Bengal and Assam Military Police in 1913. It got its present name in 1917. After independence, the AR functioned under the <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_External_Affairs_(India)/mBD5vS9I">Ministry of External Affairs</a>. Its operational control was transferred to the Indian Army after the <a href="/facts/Sino-Indian_War/UPF3RfjN">Sino-Indian War</a> of 1962. It came under the administration of Ministry of Home Affairs in 1965, with the Army retaining operational control.
Throughout its history, the Assam Rifles have served in various conflicts and theaters, including <a href="/facts/World_War_I/vITTUanQ">World War I</a> by serving in Europe and the <a href="/facts/Middle_East/8CD6pLWv">Middle East</a>, and <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>, where they served mainly in <a href="/facts/Burma/zcqQH2oE">Burma</a>. After the <a href="/facts/Annexation_of_Tibet_by_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China/PJee5KaP">Chinese annexation of Tibet</a>, the AR were tasked with manning Assam's section of the <a href="/facts/China_India_border/ND1Dl6yn">Tibetan border</a>. They were also instrumental in maintaining law and order in <a href="/facts/Arunachal_Pradesh/4rrSKgGE">Arunachal Pradesh</a>.
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. They perform many roles including upholding internal security under the control of the army through the conduct of <a href="/facts/Counterinsurgency/gvfLNewj">counterinsurgency</a> and border security operations, provision of aid to civilians in times of emergency, and the facilitation of <a href="/facts/Communications/EGEkchsT">communications</a>, medical assistance and education in remote areas. 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.

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Assam Rifles