No proposal to replace INSAS rifles for central forces: Minister

The home ministry on Wednesday said there was no proposal to replace all INSAS rifles given to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), adding that weapons of different calibres were provided and all weapons had their own utility.

"No proposal for the replacement of all INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifles given to our forces is under consideration of the government at present," Minister of State for Home Affairs, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary, said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

"However, weapons like assault rifles (7.62 x 39 mm), sniper rifles, X-95 assault rifles, Glock pistols, MP-5 sub-machine guns and carbines have been provided to CAPFs," he said.

He said 67,117 additional assault rifles (7.62 x 39 mm) have also been authorised for CRPF battalions deployed in Left extremism-hit areas and Jammu and Kashmir as replacement for the 5.56 mm INSAS rifles.

"Different weapons have their unique features and strengths," the minister said.

"Modernisation of weapons to security forces is a continuous process as per operational requirement of the security force concerned, " Chaudhary said.