Is Assam Rifles Part Of Indian Army ?

The Assam Rifles (AR) is a central paramilitary force[6] responsible for border security, counter-insurgency, and maintaining law and order[7] in Northeast India. It guards the Indo-Myanmar border. The Assam rifles is the oldest paramilitary force of India and Its comes under the administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs, while its operational control is maintained by the Indian Army. Being a police force, its recruitment, perks, promotions, and retirement policies are governed by CAPF rules.[8] Around 80 percent of its officers are deputed from the Indian Army and remaining from AR cadre.[9][10] The AR is commanded by the Director General of the Assam Rifles (DG AR) who is appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.[11]

The AR is also dubbed as "Sentinels of North East" and "Friends of the Hill People". It is the oldest paramilitary force in India, originally raised in 1835 as Cachar Levy, a militia to protect tea gardens and fertile plains of Assam against unruly tribes. Its scope increased with the expansion of British Raj in Northeast India, and were used against insurgency in the region. The force was redesigned as Assam Frontier Police in 1883, Assam Military Police in 1891, and East Bengal and Assam Military Police in 1913.[12] It got its present name in 1917.[13] After independence, the AR functioned under the Ministry of External Affairs.[14] Its operational control was transferred to the Indian Army post Sino-Indian War of 1962.[15] It came under the administration of Ministry of Home Affairs in 1965, with Army retaining operational control.[14]

Over the course of its history, the Assam Rifles have served in a number of roles, conflicts and theatres including World War I, they served in Europe and the Middle East, and World War II, where they served mainly in Burma. After the Chinese annexation of Tibet, the Assam Rifles were tasked with manning the Tibetan border of Assam Himalayan region. They were also instrumental in maintaining law and order in Arunachal Pradesh.

As of 2019-2020 report of Ministry of Home Affairs, there are 46 battalions of Assam Rifles with a sanctioned strength of 65,143 personnel.[16][17] They perform many roles including the provision of internal security under the control of the army through the conduct of counterinsurgency and border security operations, provision of aid to the civilians in times of emergency, and the provision of communications, medical assistance and education in remote areas.[18] In times of war they can also be used as a combat force to secure rear areas if needed. Since 2002, the force has been given the role of guarding the India–Myanmar border