Have you ever seen an army personnel wearing a maroon beret or donning a special badge and felt curious? These are non other than the fearless Para SF commandos, who constitute the special forces of India. If you aspire to become a part of the elite group, this blog is just for you.
What are the Special Forces of India?
The special forces of India are an elite group of soldiers who carry out high-risk and unconventional operations. They are responsible for executing counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, reconnaissance, and guerrilla warfare among others. The Indian Armed Forces comprise these elite units, namely,
- Para SF (Special Forces) of the Indian Army
- MARCOS of the Indian Navy
- Garud Commandos of the Indian Air Force
The special forces of India also include the National Security Guard (NSG) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Special Frontier Force (SFF) under R&AW, and the Special Group.
Need for Special Forces of India
Today, the idea of security is evolving to include modern security threats such as unconventional warfare. The regular Army, Navy and Air Force are trained to indulge in full-scale combat, however, some missions are high-risk ones. Hence, they require specialization. This is why we need the special forces.
The special forces of India neutralize militants, exploit enemy territory, and conduct raids with stealth, speed, and accuracy. In doing so, they ensure that the country’s national security is never compromised. Let us look into these elite forces now.
Para SF (Special Forces)
The Para SF is a special forces battalion of the Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment. Constituted in 1966, it comprises 15 battalions: 5 airborne units and 10 SF units. Just like other paratroopers, SF also wears the maroon beret. However, the Balidan badge, which symbolizes sacrifice, is unique to the Para SF.
The elite Para SF personnel can grow a beard, moustache, and hair to blend with the civilian population in areas where militancy is widespread. Their regimental centre is at the Bengaluru Cantonment, and their motto is, “Shatrujeet”, meaning conqueror of enemies.
MARCOS
The special forces of India also comprise the MARCOS (Marine Commandos), who are part of the Indian Navy. Raised in 1987, they’re fondly known as “Magarmach” (crocodile) and “Dadhiwala Fauj” (bearded army).
The MARCOS are experts in maritime operations but can operate in all kinds of environments. Their headquarters are at INS Karna, Vishakhapatnam and their motto is, “The Few, The Fearless.”
Garud Commandos
The Garud commandos are the youngest among the three, and came up in 2004. It is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force and gets its name from Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. All Garud commandos wear para wings above the right pocket and the ‘IAF Garud’ patch on their sleeves.
The Garud Regimental Training Centre is at the Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, and their motto is, “Prahaar se Suraksha”, meaning defence by offence.
NSG
The NSG operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and carry their nickname of “Black Cats”. It came up in 1984 after Operation Blue Star, and is the national counter-terror force for any such activity within India’s borders.
NSG commandos are recruited from the CAPF and the Indian Army and their motto is, “Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha”. It also comprises two Special Action Groups or SAGs, namely, 51 SAG and 52 SAG.
Final Thoughts
The special forces of India reflect the tactical prowess of the country. These commands volunteer and train relentlessly to become the excellent few among the best in the country. They ensure that India’s borders and interests remain secure, and symbolize valour, sacrifice, and duty.
