Gadkari salutes ITBP Himveers on 64th Raising Day
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari greeted ITBP personnel on their 64th Raising Day, honouring the 'Himveers' who guard India's Himalayan frontier. The ITBP was raised on 24 October 1962 after the Sino-Indian War to secure the Line of Actual Control with China.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari posted greetings for ITBP Raising Day on 24 October 2026 .
The ITBP was established on 24 October 1962 in response to the Sino-Indian War to guard India's Himalayan border with China.
Gadkari praised the 'Himveers' for their courage, discipline and commitment under 'the harshest conditions.' The ITBP operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is India's primary force along the Line of Actual Control .
The tribute reflects a broader pattern of India's focus on border security and infrastructure in high-altitude zones.
Sixty-four years after the Indo-Tibetan Border Police was forged in the crucible of war, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari extended warm greetings to every ITBP personnel on Saturday, 24 October 2026 — the force's Raising Day — honouring the 'Himveers' who stand watch over India's highest and harshest frontiers.
Born in war, tempered by the Himalayas
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police was raised on 24 October 1962, in direct response to the Sino-Indian War, with a mandate to secure the vast Himalayan frontier along the Line of Actual Control with China. Over six decades it has grown into one of India's most specialised Central Armed Police Forces — operating at altitudes where the air is thin, temperatures plunge far below zero, and logistics remain a constant battle against nature itself.
Gadkari's message captured that reality in plain terms: 'The courage, discipline and unwavering commitment of our Himveers in safeguarding the nation's frontiers, often under the harshest conditions, reflect the finest traditions of service and sacrifice.'
Why ministers mark this day
Raising Day acknowledgements from across the political spectrum are a routine but meaningful ritual in Indian public life — a formal signal that the state sees, and values, its men and women in uniform. For the ITBP, that recognition carries particular weight against a backdrop of heightened attention to border infrastructure and security along the LAC. Road connectivity projects in high-altitude border zones — an area where Gadkari's own ministry has skin in the game — depend directly on the security envelope that the ITBP provides.
Gadkari, who has overseen ambitious highway and tunnel projects in border states including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, closed his message with a line that resonated beyond ceremony: 'Their dedication remains a matter of immense pride for every Indian.'
Point of View
Though ceremonial in form, sits at the intersection of security and infrastructure — two policy arcs his ministry actively drives. His department's highway and tunnel projects in Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh depend on the security umbrella that ITBP provides, making the goodwill gesture quietly strategic. The message also underscores the BJP government's consistent effort to foreground border security as a national-pride narrative, particularly along the LAC where India-China tensions have remained an undercurrent. For ITBP, whose 64th year lands amid continued focus on frontier modernisation, public acknowledgement from a senior Cabinet minister reinforces the political capital the force commands.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the ITBP raised and why?
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police was raised on 24 October 1962 , following the Sino-Indian War, specifically to guard India's Himalayan frontier along the Line of Actual Control with China.
What does 'Himveer' mean in the context of ITBP?
'Himveer' — meaning 'Hero of the Himalayas' — is the popular honorific used for ITBP personnel , reflecting their service in some of the world's most extreme high-altitude terrains.
Why did Nitin Gadkari greet ITBP on Raising Day?
As a senior Union Cabinet minister, Nitin Gadkari extended greetings to honour ITBP's 64th Raising Day on 24 October 2026 , recognising the force's service on India's northern borders.
Which ministry controls the ITBP?
The ITBP functions as a Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs , Government of India.
What is Nitin Gadkari's connection to border areas?
As Union Road Transport and Highways Minister , Gadkari has overseen major highway, tunnel and connectivity projects in border states such as Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
