Assam Rifles Relocation in Mizoram:

Context:

This analysis is based on Assam Rifles and its Relocation in Mizoram . It discusses the ceremonial land transfer between Assam Rifles and the Mizoram government on March 15, 2025, marking the relocation of the paramilitary force from Aizawl to Zokhawsang.

1. Event Overview: On March 15, 2025, a land transfer ceremony in Aizawl, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, marked the relocation of Assam Rifles from central Aizawl to Zokhawsang, 15 km away, fulfilling a decades-old demand of Mizoram’s residents.
2. Assam Rifles Profile: India’s oldest paramilitary force, established in 1835 as the Cachar Levy, Assam Rifles operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) but is led by Army officers, tasked with maintaining law and order in Northeast India and guarding the Indo-Myanmar border.
3. Dual Control Structure: Unique among paramilitary forces, Assam Rifles functions under dual control—MHA for administrative oversight and the Ministry of Defence for operational command—making it a hybrid entity relevant for security-related questions.
4. Relocation Significance: The shift frees up prime land in Aizawl for public use, addressing a demand raised by former Mizoram CM Laldenga in 1988, a year after Mizoram’s statehood, reflecting local aspirations and Centre-State negotiations.
5. Historical Context: Mizoram, formed as a state in 1987 after decades of insurgency led by the Mizo National Front (MNF), has seen Assam Rifles as a symbol of central authority; its relocation signals improved trust and development focus.
6. Security Role: With over 60 battalions, Assam Rifles counters insurgency and secures the 1,643-km Indo-Myanmar border, a hotspot for illegal activities, making its strategic positioning a critical topic for internal security discussions.
7. Beyond the Nugget - Lachit Borphukan: The article mentions Lachit Borphukan, the “Shivaji of the Northeast,” a 17th-century Ahom general celebrated for resisting Mughal forces, honored annually on Lachit Diwas (November 24)—a potential prelims fact.

Link To The Original Article – https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/knowledge-nugget-assam-rifles-mizoram-upsc-prelims-exam-2025-9889008/