Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended greetings to the Central Reserve Police Force on its Raising Day, Monday, 27 July 2026, honouring the force's personnel and their families for decades of service in safeguarding India's internal security. Shah paid tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, calling them warriors who have consistently lived up to the nation's expectations.

Context

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) marks its Raising Day on 27 July every year, commemorating its establishment on 27 July 1939 as the Crown Representative's Police under British rule. After independence, the force was reconstituted under the CRPF Act of 1949 and has since grown into India's largest Central Armed Police Force. Shah wrote: 'The CRPF has set countless milestones of pride by winning every battle to ensure India's internal security.'

As Union Home Minister, Amit Shah holds direct administrative oversight over all Central Armed Police Forces, including the CRPF, making his Raising Day message both ceremonial and a statement of policy continuity. The force operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is deployed across states for law-and-order duties, election security, and counter-insurgency operations.

Policy Backdrop

Shah's message specifically highlighted the CRPF's role in 'stamping out Naxalism' — a reference to the long-running counter-insurgency campaign against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in central and eastern India. Successive central governments have deployed CRPF battalions in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and neighbouring states since the early 2000s as part of a sustained effort to dismantle Maoist networks.

The government has in recent years declared the elimination of Naxal violence as a stated policy goal, combining security operations with development outreach in affected districts. The CRPF's specialised unit, the CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), has been central to jungle warfare operations in these regions. Shah's tribute underscores the continued political emphasis on this campaign as a pillar of internal security strategy.

Stakeholders and Impact

The CRPF's strength runs into several lakh personnel deployed across the country, making its Raising Day a significant occasion for serving jawans, officers, and the families of those killed or injured in active duty. Shah's explicit salute to those who 'made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty' carries particular weight for next-of-kin who receive welfare support through central government schemes.

Residents in Naxal-affected districts also have a direct stake in the CRPF's operational record. Reduced extremist violence in these areas has enabled infrastructure development and the extension of government services that were previously disrupted. The force's dual mandate — maintaining law and order while enabling civilian administration — means its anniversary is observed beyond security circles.

What's Next

Raising Day events are typically marked by parades, investiture ceremonies, and welfare announcements for personnel and their families at CRPF establishments across the country. Parliamentary scrutiny of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) modernisation, budgetary allocations, and casualty welfare measures is expected in forthcoming sessions. The government's declared objective of fully eliminating Naxal violence remains a benchmark against which the CRPF's operational performance will continue to be assessed in the months ahead.