:Rashtriya Rifles

The continuous deployment of the Indian Army in domestic counter-insurgency operations, alongside the existing conventional duties at the borders, necessitated a specially structured and organized force to manage India's internal security challenges while also supporting the Indian Army during conventional conflicts.{{cite news |title=Silver Jubilee of Rashtriya Rifles |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/silver-jubilee-of-rashtriya-rifles-115093000900_1.html |access-date=13 November 2024 |work=Business Standard |date=1 October 2015}} In 1988, a proposal for a counter-insurgency force was presented to the Government of India.{{cite news |last1=Dasgupta |first1=Sunil |title=Rashtriya Rifles, the new force becomes army's biggest expansion in recent times |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defence/story/19950415-rashtriya-rifles-the-new-force-becomes-armys-biggest-expansion-in-recent-times-807132-1995-04-14 |access-date=13 November 2024 |work=India Today |date=15 April 1995}}

Rashtriya Rifles was raised on 1 October 1990 by the then Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General S. F. Rodrigues,{{cite web|last1=Gokhale|first1=Nitin|title=Unsung and unheard, the Rashtriya Rifles plays a critical role|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-unsung-and-unheard-rashtriya-rifles-plays-a-crucial-role/20111019.htm|work=Rediff.com|access-date=20 November 2024|date=19 October 2011}} with Lieutenant General P. C. Mankotia serving as its first Director General of Rashtriya Rifles (DG RR). The force was composed entirely of personnel on deputation from the Indian Army. It was created by reconstituting two Indian Army corps (about 75,000 troops).{{cite web|title=Paramilitary Forces and Internal Security|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/paramilitary-forces-and-internal-security|publisher=Encyclopedia.com|access-date=23 August 2022|archive-date=17 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017172915/https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/paramilitary-forces-and-internal-security|url-status=live}} Initially, six battalions were raised, with three deployed in Punjab and three in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the next COAS, General B. C. Joshi, the RR underwent substantial expansion, including raising a sector in Northeast India.

By 1994, prior to his passing, General Joshi had expanded the force to 36 battalions through persistent advocacy with the government. Eventually, all battalions were repositioned exclusively to Jammu and Kashmir, where they have since engaged in low-intensity conflicts. The next COAS, General Shankar Roy Chowdhury, directed each regiment to raise two battalions for the RR. The Indian Army describes RR as their "specialist elite force to combat insurgency". Their motto is dridta aur veerta, meaning determination and valour.{{cite web |title=Combat Edge - The Rashtriya Rifles |url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/KnowYourArmy/know-your-army-main/combat-edge |website=Indianarmy.nic.in |publisher=Indian Army |access-date=13 November 2024}}

Until 1997, the Rashtriya Rifles was funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as internal security fell under its jurisdiction, despite the force being carved out from existing Indian Army regiments. From 1990 onwards, the MHA owed a sum of ₹950 crore to the Army for the raising and equipping of the RR. Beginning in the 1998-99 fiscal year, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) allocated separate funds for the RR under the Army's demands for grants. By the end of 2005, the force was projected to consist of 66 battalions, each with 1,150 personnel dedicated to counter-insurgency operations. The budgetary allocation for the force rose significantly, from ₹263 crore in 1998-99 to ₹1,414 crore in 2006-07.{{cite book |title=Economic and Political Weekly |date=March 2006 |publisher=Sameeksha Trust |page=1339 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fMCwAAAAIAAJ |access-date=13 November 2024}} Today, the RR budget is allocated separately from the Army's budget under distinct heads. In 2024-25, the government of India allocated ₹10,534.50 crore as demands for grants.{{cite web |title=Notes on Demands for Grants, 2024-2025 |url=https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/eb/sbe20.pdf |website=Indiabudget.gov.in |publisher=Government of India |access-date=20 November 2024 |date=2024}}

The Rashtriya Rifles (RR) has a distinct administrative and organizational structure compared to the Indian Army. It lacks formal categorization and is often described as a paramilitary force. In terms of training and equipment, it occupies a position between a paramilitary organization and the regular army. General K. V. Krishna Rao, former Chief of the Army Staff, referred to it as "a semi-military organization". Unlike the Army, RR battalions have support services, such as the Indian Army Service Corps and Indian Army Corps of Engineers, available at the battalion level rather than the brigade level. Each battalion consists of six companies without heavy weapons, though troops are trained to operate them. Unlike regular Army units, RR units are stationed in fixed locations and operate under five sector headquarters, each led by a two-star ranking Major General: Victor Force (Kashmir Valley), Kilo Force (Kupwara and Baramulla), Delta Force (Doda), Romeo Force (Poonch and Rajouri), and Uniform Force (Udhampur).{{cite book|last1=Vaishnav|first1=Milan |title=Institutional Roots of India's Security Policy|date=27 February 2024|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-889463-6|pages=228–238|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=--P6EAAAQBAJ|access-date=20 November 2024}}

The RR was raised in 1990 as a temporary force under the provisions of Union Composite Table, Part II, allowing it to be disbanded at any time through an executive order. It continues to operate as a temporary force without a permanent mandate from the Ministry of Defence. The question of granting it a permanent status has been a subject of contention between the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also questioned the rationale behind the creation of the RR, arguing that it suggests internal rebellions are a "permanent feature in India". During the Kargil War (1999), the Border Security Force (BSF) refused to serve under RR, arguing that they were of equal stature.

The RR was initially headquartered at the Army's main office in New Delhi and led by the Director General of Rashtriya Rifles (DG RR), a lieutenant general in the Indian Army. In 2021, as part of restructuring aimed at reducing its scope, its headquarters was shifted to Northern Command in Udhampur and its chief was downgraded to an Additional Director General of Rashtriya Rifles (ADG RR), a major general.{{cite news |last1=Philip |first1=Snehesh Alex |title=Army HQ is in the middle of a makeover, and these are the changes introduced so far |url=https://theprint.in/defence/army-hq-is-in-the-middle-of-a-makeover-and-these-are-the-changes-introduced-so-far/635178/ |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=The Print |date=6 April 2021}}

The personnel in RR comes on deputation from all arms and services of Indian Army. Originally, only 25% of RR personnel were meant to be drawn from the Indian Army, with the remainder recruited from ex-servicemen and lateral inductees from other paramilitary forces. RR battalions are affiliated with various regiments of the Army, with their officers and soldiers typically serving a tenure of around 30 months. Since RR units operate in places designated as "disturbed areas", they operate by the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).{{cite news|last1=Sagar|first1=Pradip R.|title=Rashtriya Rifles {{!}} Force reduction|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defence/story/20221017-rashtriya-rifles-force-reduction-2009136-2022-10-07|access-date=20 November 2024|work=India Today|date=17 October 2022}} The RR underwent significant expansion during the Bharatiya Janata Party-administration, with its strength increasing from 36 battalions in 1999 to a planned 66 battalions by 2005.{{cite book|last1=Adeney|first1=Katharine|last2=Saez|first2=Lawrence|title=Coalition Politics and Hindu Nationalism|date=11 April 2007|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-23978-8|page=226|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sll_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA226|access-date=20 November 2024}} However, three battalions did not receive final sanction, leaving the total at 63 battalions with a strength of approximately 75,000 personnel by 2005.{{cite news |last1=Pandit |first1=Rajat |title=Army in a fix over Rashtriya Rifles battalions|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/army-in-a-fix-over-rashtriya-rifles-battalions/articleshow/1187099.cms |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=The Times of India |date=1 August 2005}}

According to the Ministry of Defence, the RR is the "counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism arm of the Indian Army".{{cite book |author1=Ministry of Defence |title=Annual Report: 2007 - 2008 |date=24 February 2008 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |page=19 |url=https://mod.gov.in/sites/default/files/AR8.pdf |access-date=20 November 2024}} Since its inception, the RR has neutralised a total of 16,368 terrorists, including 8,522 killed, 6,737 apprehended, and 1,109 who surrendered, as of 2015. General Bipin Rawat, who later became India's first Chief of Defence Staff, commanded Sector 5 of RR at Sopore during his tenure as a brigadier.{{cite news |author1=Press Trust of India |title=CDS General Bipin Rawat: An outstanding, forthright military commander with vision of tri-service synergy |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/Dec/09/general-bipin-rawat-an-outstanding-forthright-military-commander-with-vision-of-tri-service-synergy-2393356.html |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=9 December 2021}} As of 2023, there were around 45,000 personnel and 63 battalions.{{cite news |author1=Express News Service |title=Phased thinout of troops from Kashmir planned |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/Feb/21/phased-thinout-of-troops-from-kashmir-planned-2549428.html |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=21 February 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Tiwary |first1=Deeptiman |title=Govt considers phased withdrawal of Army from Kashmir hinterland |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-considers-phased-withdrawal-of-army-from-valley-hinterland-8455146/ |access-date=20 November 2024 |work=The Indian Express |date=20 February 2023}}

The Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry does not have an RR battalion associated with it because their troops are all recruited locally from the J&K region which provides valuable local resource and knowledge of terrain, language and information of the region to the army, hence, the regiment has small teams allocated to all RR battalions instead of them having their own RR battalion.

RR units are organized under five "Counter Insurgency Force" (CIF) HQs. Each CIF is responsible for an area of the Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division.

• Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) R / Romeo Force – Rajouri and Poonch.
• Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) D / Delta Force – Doda and Kishtwar .
• Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) V / Victor Force – Valley districts (Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Budgam).
• Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) K / Kilo Force – Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar.
• Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) U / Uniform Force – Udhampur and Banihal, now also covering Ladakh.

Victor Force and Kilo Force operate under the control of the XV Corps. Delta Force, Romeo Force operate under the control of XVI Corps. Uniform Force, which earlier used to operate under the XVI Corps, was moved from the Poonch sector to the Ladakh sector (under I Corps) in 2020 to counter Chinese aggression.

The areas covered by the CIFs are further divided into sectors:

• Sector 1 – Anantnag district
• Sector 2 – Kulgam district
• Sector 3 – Manasbal Lake
• Sector 4 – Doda district
• Sector 5 – Baramulla district
• Sector 6 – Poonch district
• Sector 7 – Kupwara district
• Sector 8 – Kupwara district
• Sector 9 – Kishtwar district
• Sector 10 – Baramulla district
• Sector 11 – Banihal
• Sector 12 – Budgam district
• Sector 13 - Rajouri district

RR comprises 65 battalions.P361 The Military Balance, 2010, The International Institute for Strategic Studies Each battalion has over 1,100 men organized into six companies. {{cite web | url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/rashtriya-rifles.htm | title=Rashtriya Rifles }} Known RR battalion affiliations include:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1 RR – Mahar Regiment
• 2 RR – Sikh Light Infantry
• 3 RR – Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
• 4 RR – Bihar Regiment
• 5 RR – Jat Regiment
• 6 RR – Sikh Regiment
• 7 RR – Punjab Regiment
• 8 RR – Madras Regiment
• 9 RR – Rajputana Rifles
• 10 RR – Rajput Regiment
• 11 RR – Dogra Regiment
• 12 RR – The Grenadiers
• 13 RR – Kumaon Regiment
• 14 RR – Garhwal Rifles
• 15 RR – Gorkha Rifles
• 16 RR – Sikh Regiment
• 17 RR – Maratha Light Infantry
• 18 RR – Rajputana Rifles
• 19 RR – Sikh Light Infantry
• 20 RR – Dogra Regiment
• 21 RR – Brigade of the Guards
• 22 RR – Punjab Regiment
• 23 RR – Rajput Regiment
• 24 RR – Bihar Regiment
• 25 RR – Madras Regiment
• 26 RR – Kumaon Regiment
• 27 RR – Maratha Light Infantry
• 28 RR – Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
• 29 RR – The Grenadiers
• 30 RR – Mahar Regiment
• 31 RR (Commando) – Parachute Regiment
• 32 RR – Gorkha Rifles
• 33 RR – Gorkha Rifles
• 34 RR – Jat Regiment
• 35 RR – Assam Regiment
• 36 RR – Garhwal Rifles
• 37 RR – Punjab Regiment
• 38 RR – Madras Regiment
• 39 RR – The Grenadiers
• 40 RR – Dogra Regiment
• 41 RR – Maratha Light Infantry
• 42 RR – Assam Regiment
• 43 RR – Rajputana Rifles
• 44 RR – Rajput Regiment
• 45 RR – Jat Regiment
• 46 RR – Sikh Regiment
• 47 RR – Bihar Regiment
• 48 RR – Garhwal Rifles
• 49 RR – Sikh Light Infantry
• 50 RR – Kumaon Regiment
• 51 RR – Mahar Regiment
• 52 RR – Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
• 53 RR – Punjab Regiment
• 54 RR – Madras Regiment
• 55 RR – The Grenadiers
• 56 RR – Maratha Light Infantry
• 57 RR – Rajputana Rifles
• 58 RR – Rajput Regiment
• 59 RR – Assam Regiment
• 60 RR – Naga Regiment
• 61 RR – Jat Regiment
• 62 RR – Dogra Regiment
• 63 RR – Bihar Regiment

{{div col end}}

The RR crest consists of the Ashoka Chakra and two crossed Kalashnikov rifles with fixed bayonets. Beneath, in a banner, is emblazoned the RR's motto: Dridhta aur Veerta (Persistence and Valour).

As of 2017, the RR personnel has received seven Ashok Chakras, 34 Kirti Chakras, 238 Shaurya Chakras, 1637 Sena Medals and 67 Chief of Army Staff Unit Citations.{{cite web |title=27th Raising Day Rashtriya Rifles |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1504798 |publisher=Pib.gov.in |access-date=20 November 2024 |date=1 October 2017}}

In 2017, Bipin Rawat, the Chief of Defence Staff, released his book Home of the Brave about RR, written by defence and security analyst Nitin Anant Gokhale and retired brigadier S. K. Chatterji.{{cite web |title=Army Releases Book on Rashtriya Rifles |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1485780®=3&lang=1 |publisher=Pib.gov.in |access-date=20 November 2024 |date=28 March 2017}} The 2024 Tamil-language biographical film Amaran depicts the life of former Rastriya Rifles Major Mukund Varadarajan during his service in 44 RR.

• Assam Rifles
• List of counter-terrorism units

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/rashtriya-rifles.htm Rashtriya Rifles on GlobalSecurity.org]

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Category:Paramilitary forces of India