Raksha Mantri celebrates Deepawali with troops in forward areas of Sikkim
PIB National (English) · Published 8 November 2026 · Last updated
The Defence Minister’s Diwali visit to troops in Sikkim underscores the strategic importance of high‑altitude border posts and the symbolic role of military‑civil heritage sites.
Key points
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh celebrated Deepawali with soldiers of the Trishakti Corps (33 Corps) deployed in forward Sikkim on 8 Nov 2026.
- He was accompanied by COAS General Dhiraj Seth, EOC GOC‑in‑C Lt Gen VMB Krishnan, and 33 Corps GOC Lt Gen Man Raj Singh Mann.
- The ceremony took place at Sherathang, a high‑altitude border outpost, where the Minister praised soldiers as “the brightest lights of Diwali”.
- Singh paid homage at the Sherathang War Memorial and the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial, highlighting their role in collective memory.
- He stressed that discipline, courage and conduct are as vital as advanced technology for border security.
- The Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to the National War Memorial, New Delhi, which bears approximately 26,000 fallen soldiers’ names.
- He urged troops to strengthen trust with local communities in Sherathang and surrounding areas.
- The visit highlighted the integration of cultural symbolism with security imperatives in India’s frontier regions.
Background
- Sherathang, at 13,300 ft, has been a critical Indian Army outpost since the 1999 Kargil conflict, overseeing the Nathu La and Jelep La passes.
- The National War Memorial was inaugurated in 2019 under PM Narendra Modi to honor all armed forces martyrs, inscribing ~26,000 names to date.
- The Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial dates to 1968, symbolising the soldier‑civil tradition in the Sikkim‑Arunachal frontier.
- India’s forward deployment policy in the Eastern sector was reinforced after the 2020 China‑India border standoff, leading to increased troop presence in Sikkim.
- The Ministry of Defence’s ‘Border Area Development Programme’ (2018‑2024) allocated ₹1,200 crore for infrastructure in high‑altitude posts, including Sherathang.
UPSC relevance, Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: PIB National (English)