New Delhi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the appointment of Brigadier Ranjit Singh (VSM, Madras Infantry) as Inspector General (East) of the Assam Rifles on Tuesday. According to an order from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) Singh has been appointed to the post on a deputation basis for a period of 18 months with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force of India. The unit can trace its lineage back to a paramilitary police force that was formed under the British in 1835 called Cachar Levy. Since then the Assam Rifles have undergone a number of name changes – the Assam Frontier Police (1883), the Assam Military Police (1891) and Eastern Bengal and Assam Military Police (1913), before finally becoming the Assam Rifles in 1917. Over the course of its history, the Assam Rifles and its predecessor units have served in a number of roles, conflicts and theatres including World War I where they served in Europe and the Middle East, and World War II where they served mainly in Burma. In the post World War II period the Assam Rifles has expanded greatly as has its role. There are currently 46 battalions of Assam Rifles with a sanctioned strength of 63,747 personnel.
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