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CRPF Celebrates 40 Years of Women in Combat, Expands Frontline Presence
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News18•22-09-2026, 17:00
CRPF Celebrates 40 Years of Women in Combat, Expands Frontline Presence
- •The CRPF marks 40 years of women in combat service, commemorating the raising of India’s first-ever women combatant battalion in 1986.
- •A special commemorative event on September 25 will honor veteran and serving women personnel for their extraordinary contributions.
- •The CRPF now has six dedicated Mahila Battalions and women personnel in specialized roles, including Rapid Action Force units and the Bastariya Battalion.
- •CRPF women have earned recognition for gallantry, with late constable Kamlesh Kumari receiving the Ashok Chakra posthumously for her sacrifice in the 2001 Parliament attack.
- •Other CRPF women personnel, including Vimla Devi, Rajwan Devi, and Bindu Kumre, have also been awarded for their operational contributions and bravery.
Key Questions Answered
The CRPF currently has six dedicated Mahila Battalions deployed across the country, in addition to women personnel serving in specialized and frontline roles.
The CRPF has planned to host a special commemorative event on September 25 to mark 40 years of women in combat service.
The late constable Kamlesh Kumari remains the force's only recipient of the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, which she received posthumously for her courage during the 2001 Parliament terrorist attack.
