Rijiju salutes ITBP Himveers on 64th Raising Day
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju saluted ITBP's 'Himveers' on the force's 64th Raising Day, honouring their high-altitude border vigil. The ITBP was raised on 24 October 1962 following the Sino-Indian War and guards the India-China frontier in extreme Himalayan conditions.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju , Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, posted a tribute to ITBP on its Raising Day, 24 October 2026 .
He invoked the ITBP motto 'शौर्य-दृढ़ता-कर्मनिष्ठा' — Valour, Fortitude, Devotion to Duty.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police was raised on 24 October 1962 in the aftermath of the Sino-Indian War.
The ITBP guards the India-China border at extreme high-altitude posts, often above 18,000 feet .
Rijiju represents Arunachal Pradesh , a state with a contested border with China, giving his tribute added geographical weight.
Sixty-four years after the Indo-Tibetan Border Police was forged in the crucible of the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday, 24 October 2026 paid tribute to the force's personnel — the 'Himveers' — saluting their sacrifice at some of the harshest altitudes on earth.
Posting on the occasion of ITBP Raising Day, Rijiju invoked the force's motto — 'शौर्य-दृढ़ता-कर्मनिष्ठा' (Valour, Fortitude, Devotion to Duty) — as the frame for his message. 'Your vital resilience in protecting our borders in extreme conditions is an inspiration,' he wrote, adding a 'Salute to your spirit of sacrifices and patriotism.'
A force born from the scars of 1962
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was raised on 24 October 1962, days into India's border war with China — a conflict that reshaped the country's approach to high-altitude frontier security forever. Tasked with guarding the India-China border across glaciers, passes, and Himalayan ridgelines often above 18,000 feet, the ITBP's personnel operate in conditions where temperature, terrain, and altitude are adversaries before any external threat is considered.
Rijiju's tribute carries particular resonance given his constituency. As a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh — a state whose borders with China remain a live diplomatic and strategic question — he speaks with a proximity to the frontier that few ministers share.
Why Raising Day messages matter beyond ceremony
Union ministers routinely mark the Raising Days of Central Armed Police Forces, but these acknowledgements are not purely ceremonial. They signal political attention to forces whose operational environment — and resource needs — are directly tied to India's border policy calculus. With discussions on CAPF modernisation and Himalayan border infrastructure expected in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, public salutes like this one set the rhetorical stage for those debates.
For the Himveers themselves, standing watch through blizzards and sub-zero nights on the world's most contested high-altitude frontier, the nation's acknowledgement — however brief — is the point. Valour, fortitude, devotion to duty: the motto earns its words every winter.
Point of View
But Rijiju's message carries layers beyond the routine. As an MP from Arunachal Pradesh — territory that China disputes — his salute to the ITBP connects personal political geography to national security optics. The timing also matters: with the winter session approaching, public affirmations of CAPF valour often precede or accompany parliamentary pressure for modernisation budgets and border infrastructure funding. The tribute is ceremonial on the surface; the policy subtext runs deeper.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was ITBP raised and why?
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police was raised on 24 October 1962 in direct response to the Sino-Indian War, to guard India's high-altitude frontier with China.
What does 'Himveer' mean?
'Himveer' translates roughly to 'Hero of the Snow' or 'Himalayan Brave' and is the informal honorific used for ITBP personnel who serve in extreme cold and high-altitude conditions.
What is the ITBP motto?
The ITBP motto is 'शौर्य-दृढ़ता-कर्मनिष्ठा' , meaning Valour, Fortitude, and Devotion to Duty.
Who is Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju is the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, a senior BJP leader, and a Member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh .
What area does the ITBP guard?
The ITBP is responsible for guarding the India-China border across the Himalayas, including high-altitude glaciers and mountain passes, often at elevations above 18,000 feet .
