Katana VentraIP

Para (Special Forces)

Parachute Regiment (Special Forces),[5] commonly referred to as Para (SF), is a group of special forces battalions of the Parachute Regiment in the Indian Army. These units specialize in various roles including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-insurgency and direct action.[6]

Para (Special Forces)

1 July 1966–present
(57 years, 11 months)

 India

 Indian Army

Special forces

[1]

15 battalions (5 Airborne 10 Special Forces Unit)

Parachute Regiment

Bengaluru Cantonment, Bengaluru

Men apart, every man an emperor
Shatrujeet (The Conqueror)[2]

  Maroon

1 July[3]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Battle of Chamb
Indian Army United Nations peacekeeping missions
Operation Blue Star
Operation Cactus
Operation Pawan
Operation Sunrise

Operation Golden Bird
Kargil War
Operation Rakshak
Operation Khukri
2015 counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar
2016 EDI-Pampore Building Attack
2016 Line of Control strike

Lt. Gen. Pushpendra Singh SM**

The unit's heritage stems from World War II, with the creation of the 50th Parachute Brigade in October 1941 under the British Indian Army. 9 Para (SF) was raised in 1966 as the 9th Parachute Commando Battalion (as part of the Parachute Regiment) and is the oldest among the fifteen Para (SF) units of the Indian Army. It has been involved in various operations including the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 (including Chachro Raid) , Operation Bluestar, Operation Pawan, Operation Cactus, Kargil War, Operation Ginger, 2015 Indian counter-insurgency operation in Myanmar, 2016 Pampore stand-off, 2016 Indian Line of Control strike and in several anti-terror operations.[6]

1 PARA (SF) –

Western Command

2 PARA (SF) –

Central Command

3 PARA (SF) –

South Western Command

4 PARA (SF) –

Northern Command

5 PARA (Airborne) –

50(I) Para Brigade

6 PARA (Airborne) –

50(I) Para Brigade

7 PARA (Airborne) –

50(I) Para Brigade

9 PARA (SF) –

Northern Command

10 PARA (SF) –

Southern Command

11 PARA (SF) –

Eastern Command

12 PARA (SF) –

Eastern Command

13 PARA (SF) –

Southern Command

21 PARA (SF) –

Eastern Command

23 PARA (Airborne) –

50(I) Para Brigade

29 PARA (Airborne) –

50(I) Para Brigade

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

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

Para SF (in Ranger Green uniform) during 9th edition of India-Kyrgyzstan joint Special Forces (SF) exercise

Para SF (in Ranger Green uniform) during 9th edition of India-Kyrgyzstan joint Special Forces (SF) exercise

Para SF operator during India-Kyrgyzstan joint Special Forces (SF) exercise Khanjar-IX, 2022

Para SF operator during India-Kyrgyzstan joint Special Forces (SF) exercise Khanjar-IX, 2022

Para SF personnel in Ladakh, 2020

Para SF personnel in Ladakh, 2020

1965, Lt. General (then Major) of 1 Para captured Haji pir pass under Operation Bakshi of 1965 war.

Ranjit Singh Dyal

1971, Brigadier (then Lt. Colonel) Swai of 10 Para (Commando) for the capture of large areas of Chachro and Virawah in Pakistan during 1971 war.[89]

Bhawani Singh

1971 Maj Gen (Then Lt Col) of 2 Para who led the Airborne Assault on Poongli Bridge, in Tangail, and subsequently led the Indian Army's entry into Dhaka with his unit.

Kulwant Singh Pannu

1965, Brigadier (then Lt. Colonel) Russell Lazarus of the 3 Para for action in the

1965 War

Special Forces of India

National Security Guard

Special Air Service

Gen. P. C. Katoch, Saikat Datta (2013). India's Special Forces: 1: History and Future of Special Forces. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd.  9789382573975

ISBN

Col V S Yadav. (2012) Employment of Special Forces: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future. Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (New Delhi).  9789381411698

ISBN

Jawed Naqwi, , Dawn, 24 December 2002.

"India had planned offensive"

Para Commandos