The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Foundation Day, also known as CRPF Raising Day, is observed annually across India on 27th July to commemorate the establishment of the CRPF in 1939, the largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India (GoI).
- The Day honours its vital role in ensuring national security and maintaining internal stability.
- 27th July 2025 marks the 87th observance of the CRPF Foundation Day.
History of CRPF:
Origin : The CRPF was formed as the Crown Representative’s Police (CRP) on 27th July 1939 in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh (MP), to help princely states maintain law and order during British rule.
Influence : The formation of the force was influenced by the Madras Resolution passed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1936, which called for a strong internal security system in India.
Reorganisation: After India gained independence, the force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on 28th December 1949 through an Act of Parliament, officially placing it under the jurisdiction of the Union Government.
Vision of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of independent India, envisioned the CRPF as a multi-role force.
CRPF Structure and Units:
Organisational Structure:Â The CRPF consists of 246 battalions and has a well-organised structure that includes a Force Headquarters, 4 Zonal Headquarters, 21 Administrative Sectors, 2 Operational Sectors, 39 Administrative Ranges, 17 Operational Ranges, 43 Group Centres, and 22 Training Institutions.
- Out of the 246 battalions, 208 are Executive, 6 are Mahila, 15 belong to the Rapid Action Force (RAF), 10 to the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), 5 are Signal Battalions, and 1 each for the Special Duty Group (SDG) and Parliament Duty Group (PDG).
Zonal Headquarters: The CRPF is divided into 4 Zonal Headquarters to manage operations across different regions of India.
- Jammu Kashmir (J&K) Zone;
- Central Zone – Kolkata (West Bengal, WB);
- Southern Zone – Hyderabad (Telangana);
- Northeast Zone – Guwahati (Assam).
Functions of CRPF:
Crowd and Riot Control: CRPF handles crowd control, riots, counter-insurgency, and Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), showing its ability to manage various internal security challenges.
VIP and Infrastructure Security: CRPF deploys 5.68% of its personnel for VIP security and 8.5% for protecting critical national infrastructure.
Election and Special Duties: CRPF ensures safe conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly elections and also takes part in disaster response, environmental protection, and UN peacekeeping missions.
Specialised Units: CRPF has special units like the Rapid Action Force (RAF), COBRA commandos, and Mahila Battalions for targeted security operations.
All-Women Battalions: CRPF is the only paramilitary force in India with 6 all-women Mahila Battalions, trained to handle women-led protests and maintain law and order.
Honouring Bravery and Sacrifice:
Gallantry Awards:CRPF personnel have received prestigious honours such as Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, and Police Medals for Gallantry for their exceptional courage.
Martyrdom:So far, 2,255 CRPF personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty while serving the nation.
2025 Event:
Main Event: The 2025 CRPF Foundation Day was observed on 27th July with a central ceremony held at Shaurya Officers’ Institute, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi (Delhi).
Chief Guest & Awards: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, as Chief Guest, honoured 30 personnel with Gallantry Medals, including 3 posthumous recognitions for bravery in operations across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and J&K.
Regional Celebration: A parallel event was organised at CRPF Group Centre, Imphal (Manipur), where tributes were paid at the Martyrs’ Memorial and personnel were honoured for their role in the 2024 General Elections.
Related Observance:
Valour Day (Shaurya Diwas): CRPF observes Valour Day every year on 9th April to honour the bravery of its soldiers who fought the Battle of Sardar Post in 1965. In this battle, CRPF troops successfully defended the post in Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, against a full brigade of the Pakistan Army.
Police Commemoration Day: On 21st October, Police Commemoration Day is observed to remember the CRPF soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Hot Springs in 1959, during a clash with Chinese forces in Ladakh.
About Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
Director General (DG) – Gyanendra Pratap Singh
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1939
Motto – Service and Loyalty
