Special Forces of India and their Mandate

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India’s elite Special Forces are among some of the most formidable military units in the world.
From reconnaissance and assault missions to counter-terrorism and hostage rescue, Special Forces take on some of the hardest missions and live some of the most secret lives in the military world.
They are rigorously trained and equipped to handle, support and conduct special operations.
Here is a list of some of Special Forces the elite Special Forces troops.

1.MARCOS ( Special Forces)

The Marine Commandos (MARCOS) Special Forces unit was created by the Indian Navy in 1987 to conduct special amphibious operations.
They are experts in maritime warfare and are also trained to engage in battles on all terrains.
They specialize in underwater operations in Jammu & Kashmir’s Jhelum river and Wular Lake.
They are also called the Dadiwala Fauj by the terrorists because of their bearded disguise.
MARCOS are capable of firing while lying down, running in full speed, or looking into a mirror.
They are among the few Special Forces all over the world that are capable of being para-dropped into the sea with full combat load.
Its members have a key role in protecting maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region.
The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Karna at Vishakhapatnam, the first dedicated base for this elite force.
MARCOS have successfully participated in operations undertaken by the Indian Navy. Examples- Operation Zabardast (Sri Lanka February 1993), Operation Leech (1998), Operation Tasha (1990-2009), Operation Sagittarius (anti-piracy operations in Malacca Strait) and Operation Rahat, among others.

2. COBRA ( Special Forces)

Commando Battalion For Resolute Action (COBRA) Special Forces was created in 2008.
It is an integral part of CRPF and was created to tackle insurgent groups engaging in guerrilla warfare in India.
They are highly proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare, and are masters of camouflage, precision strikes, parachute jumps and ambushes.
Since its inception, the COBRA battalion has been involved in various battles with Naxalites and has played a key role in recovering weaponry from the insurgents.
It is also the best equipped Central Special Forces Armed Police unit.
Their sniper units are also one of the best among the armed forces of India.

3. GARUD ( Special Forces)

It is the commando unit of the Indian Air Force and was created in 2004.
It specializes in Airfield Seizure, Special Reconnaissance, Airborne Operations, Air Assault and Search & Rescue missions.
They are also trained in fields like anti-hijack, para- trooping, demolition, snow survival, specialized weaponry and advanced driving skills.
It is also tasked with the protection of critical Air Force bases as well as rapid response to terror attacks on such installations.
In the aftermath of the Pathankot Terror Attack, Indian Air Force has decided to raise ten additional squadrons of GARUD commandos.

4. GHATAK ( Special Forces)

Ghatak Platoon, or Ghatak Commandos, is a Special Forces operations platoon present in every infantry battalion in the Indian Army.
It is the first wave of Indian Army’s counter forces and usually consists of 20 soldiers.
Its mission is to launch a quick attack on a particular target and annihilate it so that the forward movement of the company or battalion is not slowed down or stopped.
They usually operate without support from the rest of the battalion and are trained to conduct raids on enemy artillery positions, airfields, supply dumps and tactical headquarters.
They also collect battlefield intelligence and observe enemy movements by going very close to enemy formations.
They were extensively used in the 1999 Kargil conflict.

5. BLACK CATS ( Special Forces)

The National Security Guards (NSG) are popularly called BLACK CATS.
This special force was formed in 1986.
They provide security to VIPs, conduct anti-sabotage checks and are responsible for neutralizing terrorists threats to India’s vital installations.
They have played a pivotal role in some of the important missions like Operation Black Thunder, Operation Ashwamedh, Operation Black Tornado and Operation Cyclone.
They are neither a part of the Central Armed Police Forces nor do they come under the paramilitary forces of India.
It has a mix of commandos from both the Special Forces Police and the Army.
NSG has two units- the Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Ranger Group (SRG).
Black Cats are trained to tackle terrorism in all its manifestations.

6. SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE (SFF) ( Special Forces)

It was created in the wake of the Indo-Sino War.
It specializes in unconventional warfare and covert operations behind enemy lines during events like wars.
The commandos are trained for extreme conditions, with special attention paid to guerrilla tactics, mountain and jungle warfare, parachute jumps, special reconnaissance, and hostage rescue.
It is based in Chakrata, Uttarakhand and works in sync with the Research & Analysis (RAW) wing, India’s external intelligence agency.
The force is also called Establishment 22.
SFF played a pivotal role in Operation Meghdoot (the Siachen Battle of 1985-86).
Since then, one of its units has been constantly guarding the Siachen Glacier, considered one of the world’s most inhospitable battle zones.

7. PARA-COMMANDO ( Special Forces)

This unit was formed in 1966 as a part of the highly trained Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army.
They go behind enemy lines and inflict maximum damage in the least possible time.
They learn man-to-man assault practices and terrain-specific warfare.
They are taught specialized modes of infiltration and ex-filtration, either by air or sea.
They specialize in special operations, reconnaissance, direct action, high value targets and short-term unconventional warfare.
They are the only units in the Indian Army allowed to have tattoos on their body.
Their most notable operations include the 1971 war with Pakistan, the 1999 Kargil War and Operation Summer Storm in 2009.
They are Indian Army’s ‘crack force’ and are veterans in surprise attacks due to their quick reaction capabilities.

8. FORCE ONE( Special Forces)

It was created in the aftermath of the Mumbai Terror attacks.
A need was felt to raise a special squad that could combat urban terror.
As a result, the youngest Indian Special Force unit called Force One was assembled.
Its motive is to protect Mumbai when under threat.
It is one of the fastest response team in the world as it can ready an armed unit and leave for a hostage situation in less than 15 minutes.
From over 3000 applications from both the army and the police, the best 216 were selected and then trained under close guidance from the Israeli Special Forces.
They undergo regular drills to prepare for possible attack scenarios around sensitive installations, with special emphasis laid on intelligence gathering and tactical formations.