MHA Approves 20 New CRPF Battalions for Jammu & Kashmir Deployment

New Delhi, July 16 – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted in-principle approval for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to raise 20 new battalions, adding more than 20,000 personnel for deployment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Initially, the CRPF had requested permission to raise 35 battalions, but the MHA cleared 20 as an immediate step. The decision follows the April 22 militant attack in Pahalgam and the launch of ‘Operation Sindoor’. The proposal has already been cleared by the Finance Ministry and now awaits final approval from the Union Cabinet.

The new battalions will reportedly be equipped with advanced operational gear and capabilities, specifically adapted to J&K’s challenging terrain and evolving security requirements.

This move signals a strategic shift in the CRPF’s deployment focus—from Naxal-hit regions to intensified counter-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Additional CRPF units are expected to be stationed across the Union Territory soon, as part of a broader security overhaul aimed at supporting local police in maintaining law and order and conducting anti-terror operations.