CRPF Achieves First Zero Operational Fatality Year in 47 Years, PM Modi Hails Milestone

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has achieved a major milestone in its operational history by completing 12 consecutive months without recording a single operational fatality. The achievement marks the first time in 47 years that India’s largest central armed police force has maintained such a record, reflecting improvements in operational preparedness, personnel protection and emergency medical response.

CRPF Director General G.P. Singh announced the development on November 2, stating that the force had completed one full year without an operational fatality. He confirmed that the last operational death among CRPF personnel occurred on October 30, 2025, while the previous comparable period had ended in January 1979.

The announcement is particularly significant given the CRPF’s continued involvement in high-risk security operations across the country. Its personnel remain deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, northeastern states and areas previously affected by Left-Wing Extremism, where counter-insurgency and internal security responsibilities require sustained operational readiness.

Singh credited the achievement to several improvements in the force’s operational approach, including the introduction of modern equipment, enhanced training, better strategic planning and stronger post-incident response arrangements. He particularly highlighted the importance of quickly evacuating injured personnel to secondary and tertiary medical facilities, where they can receive specialised treatment without unnecessary delays.

Rapid medical evacuation has become an important element of the CRPF’s personnel protection strategy. The force has placed greater emphasis on ensuring that injured personnel receive timely medical attention, recognising that the availability of advanced treatment facilities and the speed of transportation can significantly influence survival outcomes following operational incidents.

The milestone also reflects the importance of protective equipment and improved preparedness during field deployments. CRPF personnel regularly operate in difficult terrain and sensitive security environments, where threats can emerge during patrols, area domination exercises and counter-insurgency missions. Better equipment, operational coordination and awareness of potential threats have become increasingly important in reducing risks to personnel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also acknowledged the achievement on November 3 through a post on his official X account. Reacting to the CRPF’s announcement, he wrote, “A ZERO that speaks volumes”, highlighting the significance of the force’s accomplishment.

The CRPF plays a central role in India’s internal security framework and is responsible for supporting state authorities in maintaining law and order, conducting counter-insurgency operations, combating Maoist violence and undertaking security deployments in sensitive regions. Its specialised units, including the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), are trained for demanding operational environments, particularly in areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism.

The latest achievement comes after decades of challenging deployments in which CRPF personnel have faced militant attacks, improvised explosive devices, ambushes and other operational threats. The force’s ability to complete an entire year without an operational fatality therefore represents an important development in its efforts to improve personnel safety.

However, the achievement specifically relates to operational fatalities and should not be interpreted as meaning that the force recorded no deaths from all causes during the period. The distinction is important when assessing the milestone and its implications for personnel welfare.

The CRPF’s latest record highlights how modern equipment, effective training, careful mission planning and timely medical intervention can contribute to reducing risks during security operations. As the force continues its deployments across India’s sensitive regions, maintaining this focus on personnel safety will remain an important part of its operational priorities.