CISF women band felicitated for gold at 26th all India police band competition
The Director General of the CISF, Praveer Ranjan felicitated the CISF Women Band in a grand ceremony held at CISF Headquarters on Friday, in the presence of senior officers from Force Headquarters and Delhi-based CISF units.
The ceremony was organised to honour the band’s exceptional achievement at the 26th All India Police Band Competition held at Secunderabad from 16 to 20 December 2025, where the team delivered an outstanding performance marked by discipline, precision, and professional excellence, according to a CISF Press release. It’s noteworthy that only a few Forces of the country have Women Brass Bands.
At the prestigious national-level competition, the CISF Women Band (comprised 01 Band Master, 33 main band personnel, and 02 reserve members) earned top honours, securing the Gold Medal in the Women Brass Band category, the Overall Best Women Contingent Award, and the Best Band Conductor (Band Master) Award, won by L/CT Lydia Chingbiaksiam. These accolades represent a significant milestone for the Force and underscore the growing stature of CISF in ceremonial and cultural domains.
The award-winning contingent was led by Bhawna Yadav, Assistant Commandant (DMRC) as Team Manager. The team was expertly trained and coached by ASI/Exe Arun Chettri, with dedicated support from six instructors, ensuring high standards of musical coordination and ceremonial presentation.
Since its inception, the CISF Women Band has made a strong national imprint. The contingent participated in the Republic Day Parade–2024, the CISF Day Parades of 2024 and 2025, and, notably, the Beating Retreat Ceremony–2025, marking the first-ever participation of a women band contingent in this prestigious and time-honoured national event. The recent success at the All-India Police Band Competition further cements the CISF Women Band’s position as a symbol of excellence and empowerment.
On this Occasion, DG CISF, Praveer Ranjan Stated, “Today, we have gathered here to celebrate you— especially to celebrate women’s strength. CISF is steadily moving towards a gender-neutral force. Earlier, certain roles were dominated by male personnel, but today women are playing the same critical roles with confidence and competence. You have not only enhanced the reputation of CISF but have also proved beyond doubt that women are no less than anyone. The work you are doing is truly unique. The entire CISF family feels proud of each one of you.”
