CM Yogi Salutes ITBP on Its 64th Raising Day
Synopsis
On ITBP's Raising Day, UP CM Yogi Adityanath honoured the force's 'Himveers' for guarding India's Himalayan frontier in sub-zero conditions. The ITBP was raised on 24 October 1962 following the Sino-Indian War to secure India's border with China.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath greeted all ITBP personnel and their families on the force's Raising Day, 24 October 2026 .
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police was established on 24 October 1962 , in the wake of the Sino-Indian War , to guard India's Himalayan border with China.
CM Yogi praised the 'Himveers' for standing firm in extreme cold and harsh mountain conditions to protect India's borders.
The tribute extended to ITBP personnel's families , acknowledging the personal sacrifice behind every deployment.
Senior Indian leaders routinely observe raising days of central paramilitary forces as part of national security discourse.
At sub-zero altitudes where most would falter, the soldiers of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police stand watch — and on Saturday, 24 October 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined the nation in marking the force's Raising Day with a tribute to every 'Himveer' and their family.
In a post on X, CM Yogi wrote: 'हमारे वीर जवान हिमालय की अत्यंत विषम परिस्थितियों और शून्य से नीचे के तापमान में भी अडिग रहते हुए देश की सीमाओं की रक्षा कर रहे हैं' — 'Our brave soldiers, standing firm even in the harshest conditions of the Himalayas and in temperatures below zero, are protecting the borders of the nation.' He added that the valour, might, and dedication with which they keep the borders secure fills every Indian with pride, signing off with 'Jai Hind.'
A Force Born From Crisis, Forged in Ice
The ITBP was raised on 24 October 1962 — in the direct shadow of the Sino-Indian War — to guard India's vast Himalayan frontier with China. The force operates at some of the most punishing elevations on earth, patrolling passes where oxygen is thin, frostbite is constant, and the nearest road can be days away. Its personnel are trained as mountaineers, disaster responders, and combat soldiers — often the first line of presence in terrain that most armies would designate as inaccessible.
Decades on, the strategic logic that created the ITBP has only sharpened. The Himalayas remain the defining theatre of India's northern security calculus, and the force's 'Himveers' — a name that fuses 'Himalaya' with 'veer,' meaning brave — carry both the symbolism and the operational weight of that reality.
A Ritual of Recognition, Rooted in Real Stakes
Indian political leaders across parties observe the raising days of central paramilitary forces — the BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB — as a matter of national course. But ITBP's anniversary carries a particular edge: it falls on the calendar date the 1962 war began reshaping India's strategic imagination. Every Raising Day, then, is a quiet reminder of why the force exists and what silence on those peaks actually costs.
CM Yogi's message, addressed specifically to the Himveers and their families, reflects the standard grammar of such tributes — honouring not just the soldiers but the households that absorb the sacrifice of long, cold, high-altitude postings far from home.
Point of View
But it lands against a backdrop where India's Himalayan frontier remains one of the most closely watched strategic theatres in Asia. By addressing Himveers and their families directly, the message performs dual duty: reaffirming political solidarity with the security establishment and signalling to a domestic audience that border vigilance is a continuous, valued commitment. For BJP leaders, saluting border forces also reinforces a core brand positioning around national security — though in this instance, the anniversary's deep historical roots in the 1962 conflict give the gesture resonance well beyond partisan messaging.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the ITBP founded and why?
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police was founded on 24 October 1962 , during the Sino-Indian War , specifically to guard India's long Himalayan border with China.
What does 'Himveer' mean in the context of ITBP?
'Himveer' combines 'Himalaya' and 'veer' (brave), and is the informal title used for ITBP soldiers who serve in high-altitude Himalayan conditions.
Why did CM Yogi greet ITBP on 24 October 2026?
24 October is the ITBP's annual Raising Day, marking the date the force was established in 1962. CM Yogi posted a tribute on X honouring personnel and their families.
What are the main duties of ITBP soldiers?
ITBP soldiers patrol India's border with China across the Himalayas, operating at extreme altitudes and sub-zero temperatures, and are also trained for mountain rescue and disaster response.
Do other Indian leaders also mark ITBP Raising Day?
Yes. Indian political leaders across parties routinely issue messages on the raising days of central paramilitary forces including the ITBP, BSF, and CRPF as part of national security observance.
