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Module - II Special Forces

Structure and
Role of the Forces Formed in 2004, GARUDs of the Indian Air Force (IAF) are quite similar to the
Royal Air Force Regiment (RAFR) of UK which was raised as a response to 'Blitzkrieg'
during Second World War. Like RAFR the GARUD's primary taks is to carry
operations in the enemy territory in support of the ground battles.

5.3 Structure of the other Special Forces
Note
The structure of Special Forces consists of the newly created ‘Armed ForcesSpecial
Forces Division (AFSFD)’, which will function under the Integrated Defence Staff
(IDS). This set up brings together all the SF units of the Army, Navy and Air Force
under one commander. Presently, the new Division (AFSFD) is headed by a Major
General of the Army. A brief description of all the SF units of the Indian Armed Forces
are described in the following sections.

5.3.1 Parachute Regiment

The Parachute Regiment consisting of PARA and PARA (SF) battalions is the bulwark
of conducting Special Operations in the country. It is also the single biggest contributor
to almost all specialist units like the NSG, SG, Commando Battalion of Rashtriya Rifles
(RR). The Regiment has its own training center which gets recruits from the regional
recruiting centers of the Indian Army.

The unit was created in 1966 by the Indian Army. During the Indo-Pakistani War of
1965, a small ad hoc force comprising volunteers from most infantry units from North
India under Maj Megh Singh of the Brigade of the Guards, operated along and behind
enemy lines. The performance of this force made the powers that be sit up and take
notice of the contribution and necessitated the raising of unconventional forces.
Forming the nucleus of the new force from the volunteers of the then disbanded
Meghdoot Force, a battalion was raised to be part of the Brigade of Guards. Since
paratrooping is an integral part of commando tactics, the unit was transferred to the
Parachute Regiment. Raised in July 1966, 9th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
(Commando) was the first special operations unit. The list of PARA (SF) Battalions is:
• 1 PARA (SF) (raised 1961) converted to special forces.

• 2 PARA (SF) (ex-3 Maratha LI, converted to Special Forces)
• 3 PARA (SF) (ex-1st Kumaon, converted to Special Forces)

• 4 PARA (SF) (raised 1961, converted to Special Forces)
• 9 PARA (SF) (raised in 1966, the first dedicated Special Forces unit of the

Indian Army)
• 10 PARA (SF) (raised 1967)

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