NEW DELHI, September 22, 2026 – The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is set to commemorate a historic milestone by celebrating the 40th anniversary of the raising of its first all-women battalion. According to official announcements made on Tuesday, a special commemorative event will be held on September 25 at the campus of the 88th ‘Mahila Battalion’ in New Delhi. The grand ceremony will be presided over by CRPF Director General G.P. Singh. Alongside his wife, who serves as the president of the force’s family welfare association, the Director General will formally felicitate both veteran and actively serving women personnel for their relentless dedication and extraordinary service to the nation. This celebration aims to honor the decades of barrier-breaking service that female officers have provided since the pioneering unit was officially raised on February 6, 1986.
Since its inception, the role of women within the country’s leading internal security force has expanded exponentially. What began as a single unit has now grown into six dedicated all-women battalions. Today, the CRPF boasts a formidable strength of over 10,000 women personnel deployed across various ranks and operational theaters. Demonstrating their versatile combat capabilities, female personnel are no longer restricted to regular units; they actively serve in specialized and highly demanding tactical wings, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). With a total force strength of approximately 3.25 lakh personnel, the CRPF heavily relies on its women officers for critical internal security duties, encompassing anti-Naxal operations, counter-terrorism grids in Jammu and Kashmir, and anti-insurgency operations across the Northeastern states.
The upcoming anniversary will also serve as a solemn occasion to remember the exceptional bravery exhibited by CRPF women in the line of duty. Official records proudly highlight numerous gallantry awards bestowed upon female personnel, most notably Constable Kamlesh Kumari, who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra for her supreme sacrifice while thwarting the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament. Other distinguished awardees include Constable Vimla Devi, recipient of the Sena Medal, and Lance Naik Rajwanti Devi, who received the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card for her critical operational role with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1988. Additionally, Constable Bindu Kumre is remembered for receiving a gallantry medal for her exemplary bravery during the 2001 Srinagar Airport terrorist attack. The 40th anniversary stands as a testament to their enduring courage and their indispensable role in safeguarding India’s internal security.
Published by True Roots Media Network