Who Are Shaurya Commandos? Inside ITBP Warriors’ Role In The Ongoing India-China Border Face-Offs

Last Updated:October 23, 2026, 12:37 IST

The Shaurya commandos are specialised combat teams raised within the ITBP to strengthen its ability to respond to security challenges along the China border.

ITBP’s Shaurya Commandos (Image: X/NetramDefence)

The continuing face-offs between Indian and Chinese troops at multiple locations along the Arunachal Pradesh border have brought a newly raised combat unit of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) into focus. The Shaurya commandos, designed to strengthen the force’s capabilities in high-altitude operations, have played an “exemplary role” in the ongoing confrontations, according to ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapur.

Kapur’s remarks on Thursday offer a significant indication of the role being played by the specialised teams as India and China continue to grapple with unresolved border tensions, despite military-level discussions.

“In the past few days, a situation arose where face-offs happened at several locations in Arunachal, and it still continues,” Kapur said while addressing ITBP personnel at a felicitation ceremony in Alwar, Rajasthan.

He added that the newly raised Shaurya commandos had performed exceptionally during the encounters. However, the ITBP chief did not disclose the precise locations of their deployment or the specific actions undertaken by the teams.

Who Are Shaurya Commandos?

The Shaurya commandos are specialised combat teams raised within the ITBP to strengthen its ability to respond to security challenges along the China border. Their creation reflects a shift towards more specialised, combat-oriented capabilities within a force whose primary responsibility is guarding India’s high-altitude frontier.

The ITBP was raised in October 1962, following the India-China war, and is responsible for guarding the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC). Its personnel operate across some of the country’s most challenging terrain, where extreme cold, thin air, difficult access and long distances complicate routine patrols as well as emergency responses.

The new commandos have been developed along the lines of the Indian Army’s Ghatak platoons, with a focus on specialised mountain warfare and high-altitude combat. Their role is to strengthen the capabilities of ITBP battalions deployed along the frontier, particularly when face-offs or other contingencies require a more specialised response.

In March 2026, Shaurya commando platoons were reported to be undergoing joint training with the Army’s Fire and Fury Corps in high-altitude operations. The training included mountaineering, the use of modern weapons, drone operations and unarmed combat, aimed at improving their ability to operate in demanding mountain conditions.

What Are Shaurya Commandos Doing In The Ongoing China Face-Offs?

Kapur’s latest statement is significant because it places the Shaurya commandos in the context of actual, ongoing border confrontations rather than simply training exercises.

The ITBP chief said face-offs had taken place at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh and that the situation remained unresolved. He specifically credited the new teams with playing an exemplary role during these encounters.

The broader context is the continuing tension around the Taksing area of Arunachal Pradesh. Reports of a face-off near Maja emerged in July, while India and China subsequently held Corps Commander-level talks on September 6 at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point in Arunachal Pradesh.

The latest remarks indicate that the confrontations have not been fully resolved. They also underline the importance of specialised border units in responding to situations where Indian and Chinese patrols encounter each other in areas claimed or patrolled by both sides.

From Galwan To Arunachal: The Role Of ITBP

The 2020 Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh remains a defining moment in India’s approach to the China border. The violent confrontation on June 15 that year killed 20 Indian soldiers and triggered a prolonged military standoff.

The episode highlighted the risks of confrontations along a disputed boundary where differing perceptions of the LAC can bring troops into direct contact. It also reinforced the need for specialised training, improved equipment, stronger forward infrastructure and coordination between forces operating along the frontier.

The Shaurya commandos form part of the broader effort to enhance the ITBP’s ability to handle such contingencies. The force has also introduced a new ‘Strike’ training course intended to prepare personnel for situations resembling the Galwan clash. Kapur has said the entire force will undergo this training by the end of 2027.

The commandos are not a replacement for the Army. The ITBP is a border-guarding force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the Army is responsible for broader military operations. The two forces work alongside each other in forward areas, making coordination and interoperability important during periods of heightened tension.

Drones, Underground Shelters And A New Border Strategy

The ITBP’s modernisation drive extends beyond the creation of specialised combat teams. Kapur said drone platoons had been established in all border-guarding battalions, with the force also investing in drone pilots and anti-drone capabilities.

“We have to move towards drones and anti-drone systems,” he said, explaining that a substantial share of the force’s modernisation funding was being directed towards these technologies.

The ITBP is also developing underground shelters at border outposts to reduce the vulnerability of personnel and infrastructure during a potential conflict. Kapur said above-ground positions could be targeted in modern warfare, making protected infrastructure increasingly important.

The force is seeking to build a specialised high-altitude mountain-fighting capability while retaining its core border-guarding responsibilities.

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What are Shaurya commandos and what role do they play in ITBP?

Shaurya commandos are specialized combat teams raised within the Indo-Tibetan Border Police to enhance high-altitude and mountain warfare capabilities along the China border, modeled after the Indian Army’s Ghatak platoons. According to ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapur, these newly formed commando teams performed exceptionally well during ongoing confrontations with Chinese troops at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh.

What modernization steps is the ITBP taking along the China border?

The ITBP is advancing its modernization efforts by establishing drone platoons across all border-guarding battalions, investing in anti-drone capabilities, and developing underground shelters at border outposts to minimize personnel vulnerability. Additionally, the force has introduced a specialized ‘Strike’ training course designed to prepare personnel for Galwan-like contingencies, with the entire force scheduled to complete it by the end of 2027.

What did the ITBP Director General confirm regarding the Arunachal Pradesh border?

ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapur confirmed that face-offs between Indian and Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops have continued at multiple sites along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese troops have reportedly pitched military tents several kilometers from India’s perception of the LAC in sectors like Asapfila and Taksing, prompting counter-deployments by Indian forces.

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Pragati Ratti

Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures…Read More

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