India’s oldest paramilitary force, Assam Rifles, is set to replace foreign dog breeds with native breeds by 2050. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a 2025 directive to induct more Indian canine breeds across armed forces. Assam Rifles piloted six Tangkhul Hui dogs from Manipur’s Ukhrul district, known for high disease resistance and hunting skills, starting in 2022. Now, the force is adding the Kombai breed from Tamil Nadu as a partner for the Tangkhul Hui. "We are in the process of identifying the parent stock of the Kombai for breeding. As the first step, we will induct two males and eight females of this breed in April," said Lt. Col. Alok Palei, Commanding Officer of the Assam Rifles Dog Training Centre (ARDTC) in Jorhat. The dog training process lasts 15 years from selecting parent stock to deployment as frontline guard dogs and trackers. Currently, three foreign breeds—Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, and Labrador—serve in Assam Rifles across northeastern India and Jammu & Kashmir. The force has 253 dogs, while its authorized strength is 344. The Tangkhul Hui and Kombai breeds are expected to join fully by March 2027 and will train at ARDTC’s facility, which now manages 104 foreign breed dogs. Training includes a 12-week basic obedience course and refresher classes for dogs, plus handling and first aid courses for their handlers. This bold shift aims to strengthen indigenous force capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign breeds.