Special forces of India

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India has several special forces (SF) units, with the various branches of the Indian Armed Forces having their own separate special forces units. The Para SF of the Indian Army, MARCOS of the Indian Navy and the Garud Commando Force of the Indian Air Force. There are other special forces which are not controlled by the military, but operate under civilian organisations, such as the National Security Guard under the Home Ministry and the Special Group under the Research and Analysis Wing, the external intelligence agency of India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Small groups from the military SF units are deputed in the Armed Forces Special Operations Division, a unified command and control structure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The CRPF also has its own COBRA commandos, who are specialist guerrilla warfare fighter units known for their jungle fighting tactics.

Indian Army

Indian Para SF (in Ranger Green uniform) and US Army Green Beret during exercise Vajra Prahar, 2022

Para (Special Forces)

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The Para (Special Forces), or Para (SF), are the special forces of the Indian Army.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Katoch Summer 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This unit was created in June 1966 in the aftermath of the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war. An impromptu commando unit called Meghdoot Force, raised by Col Megh Singh VrC, which took part in the 1965 war, formed the first nucleus of the permanent Para commando battalion, which was to be raised under the Parachute Regiment. By 1969, the unit had grown into 2 battalions, viz. the 9 Para and the 1 Para. The unit's first combat missions were conducted during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war in which they undertook raids against Pakistan's military.

In 1988, 6 Para spearheaded the only foreign intervention operation conducted by the Indian Armed Forces to restore democracy in Maldives by the order of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The operation was code-named Operation Cactus. Operation Cactus was launched to thwart a coup against the government of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the late 1980s, the Para (Commando) were deployed in Sri Lanka where they conducted helicopter-borne assaults and security operations.

Since the 1990s, the Para (Commando) have been deployed on counter-terrorism operations in the Kashmir region against insurgents. These operations include raids and ambushes. In 1999, Para (SF) undertook operations against Pakistan's military during the Kargil war, which included raids against Pakistani infantry and special forces. In 2002, the 2 Para (SF) participated in Operation Khukri in Sierra Leone to rescue 223 soldiers of the Indian Army's 5/8 Gorkha Rifles who were deployed as UN peacekeepers but were surrounded by militants from the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some of the later reported missions carried out by Para (SF) include the counter-insurgency operation purportedly undertaken inside Myanmar in 2015, and the 2016 Surgical Strikes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The unit 21 Para (SF) is reported to have killed many terrorists of Meitei and Kuki groups along the India-Myanmar boundary in 2022-23 while also avenging the killing of a Commanding Officer of 46 Assam Rifles and his family and eliminating the masterminds of the ambush on the Army column in 2015, earning many awards, accolades, and praise for the leadership. This has firmly established the unit as the best in the Indian Army.

The list of PARA (SF) Battalions is as follows:<ref name="kar.nic.in">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Div col

  • 1 PARA (SF) "Pratham"
  • 2 PARA (SF) "Predators"
  • 3 PARA (SF) "Russell's Vipers"
  • 4 PARA (SF) "Daggers"
  • 5 PARA (SF) "Batalik"
  • 6 PARA (SF) "Sakht Para"
  • 7 PARA (SF) "SE7EN"
  • 9 PARA (SF) "Mountain Rats/Pirates"
  • 10 PARA (SF) "Desert Scorpions"
  • 11 PARA (SF) "Helleven"
  • 12 PARA (SF) "Dirty Dozens"
  • 13 PARA (SF) "Thunderbolts"
  • 21 PARA (SF) "Waghnakhs"
  • 23 PARA (SF) "Devil's Own"
  • 29 PARA (SF) "Warriors N Monks"

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Indian Navy

MARCOS and US Navy SEALs, Urban Combat Training, MALABAR 2021

MARCOS

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First conceived in 1985, the Marine Commando Force, also called MARCOS, was raised in February 1987. It is the special forces unit of the Indian Navy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Hiranandani 1991-2000">Template:Cite book</ref> Initially, the U.S. Navy SEALs and British special forces trained a few officers of the Indian navy who formed the first core of MARCOS.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Months after their creation, MARCOS were deployed in Sri Lanka against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in July 1987. In the 1990s, MARCOS undertook numerous operations such as Operation Tasha (1991) against the LTTE, and Operation Zabardust (1992) against a ship that was smuggling arms, and in support of the United Nations in Somalia (1993). They also participated in the 1999 Kargil War.<ref name="Hiranandani 1991-2000" /> Since 1995, MARCOS have been permanently deployed for counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir against militants.<ref name="Hiranandani 1991-2000" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MARCOS had participated in efforts against the 2008 Mumbai attacks alongside the National Security Guards but their effectiveness was diluted due to bureaucratic indecision.<ref name="deadly delay">Template:Cite news</ref> MARCOS have also been deployed in anti-piracy operations.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After a 10-week-long basic training, MARCOS are sent to train alongside the Indian Army's Para (SF) for 3 weeks. Advanced training follows, during which MARCOS learn skills such as sky-diving, weapons training, counter-insurgency, languages, and warfare in different terrains, among other things. Each MARCOS squad, called Prahar, is composed of 8 soldiers.<ref name="Hiranandani 1991-2000" /> Some of the responsibilities of MARCOS are-<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Clandestine operations inside hostile territory, including diving operations and raids.
  • Counter-terrorism operations.
  • Providing support to Amphibious operations.
  • Special surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

Indian Air Force

IAF Garud commando

Garud Commando Force

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}The Garud commandos are the special forces of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Their tasks include counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, providing security to IAF's assets, and various air force-specific special operations. First conceived in 2002, this unit was officially established on 6 February 2004.<ref name="VK Bhatia">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

All Garud cadets are volunteers who have received a 52-week basic training, which includes a three-month probation followed by basic airborne training, special operations training, other warfare methods, and survival skills. The last phase of basic training sees Garuds being deployed to get combat experience. Advanced training follows, which includes specialised weapons training.<ref name="VK Bhatia" /><ref name="garud">Template:Cite news</ref>

The mandated tasks of the Garuds include direct action, special reconnaissance, rescuing downed pilots in hostile territory, establishing airbases in hostile territory, and providing air-traffic control to these airbases.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Garuds also undertake suppression of enemy air defences and the destruction of other enemy assets such as radars, evaluation of the outcomes of Indian airstrikes and use laser designators to guide Indian airstrikes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The security of IAF installations and assets is usually performed by the Air Force Police and the Defence Security Corps, even though some critical assets are protected by the Garuds. <ref name="VK Bhatia"/>

National Security Guard

An NSG commando

The National Security Guard (NSG) is a specialized counter-terrorism federal contingency force. It was formally created in 1986. It is based on the British Army's Special Air Service and the German GSG 9.<ref name=NSG>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The NSG is popularly referred to as the 'Black Cats' due to its distinct black uniforms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It consists of the following two elements<ref name=NSG />-

Research and Analysis Wing

Special Group

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The Special Group is a clandestine special forces unit of the Research and Analysis Wing. It was formed in 1981.<ref name="ht">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The responsibilities of the Special Group include clandestine intelligence operations and covert operations, with which the Government of India may not wish to be overtly associated.<ref name="indiatoday">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ht" />

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See also

References

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