Para (Indian Special Forces)

Para (Special Forces)
"Balidaan" Badge of the Para SF
Active	1966–present
Country	India
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Special forces
Role	Primary tasks: Special operations Special reconnaissance Direct action Hostage rescue Personnel recovery Asymmetric warfare Counter-proliferation Counter-terrorism Counter Drugs operations Foreign Internal Defense Unconventional warfare Counter-insurgency Low intensity conflict Intelligence Operations Covert operation High Value Targets/Manhunting Mobility Operations Seek and Destroy Other Roles: Humanitarian missions, Information operations
Size	8 battalions
Part of	Parachute Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Bengaluru
Motto(s)	"Men apart, every man an emperor"
Colours	Maroon background, centaur holding a bow and arrow
Engagements	Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Operation Blue Star Operation Cactus Operation Pawan Kashmiri hostage taking 1995 Kargil War Operation Rakshak Operation Khukri COIN Operation in Samba Operation Summer Storm 2009 2015 Hot pursuit, Myanmar 2016 India–Pakistan military confrontation
Commanders
Colonel of the Regiment	Lt Gen P. C, Katoch, PVSM, AVSM, SC
Insignia
Identification symbol	Maroon Beret, shoulder titles , and the "Balidaan" badge(PARA SF).
Identification symbol	Sleeve Patch

Primary tasks:

Other Roles:

Para (Special Forces) is a special forces unit of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment and is tasked with missions such as special operations, direct action, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, counter-proliferation, counter-insurgency, seek and destroy and personnel recovery. The unit's heritage stems from World War II, with the creation 50th Parachute Brigade in October 1941.

The parachute units of the Indian Army are among the oldest airborne units in the world. The 50th Indian Parachute Brigade was formed on 27 October 1941, comprising the British 151st Parachute Battalion, and the British Indian Army 152nd Indian Parachute Battalion and 153rd Gurkha Parachute Battalion. The Parachute Regiment was formed from these and several other units in 1952.

In 1944 the 50th was allocated to the newly founded 44th Airborne Division. In the post-independence restructuring, India retained only one parachute brigade—the 50th. This brigade consisted of three distinguished battalions personally nominated by the then C-in-C, namely 1 PARA (Punjab), 2 PARA (Maratha) and 3 PARA (Kumaon). During J&K operations of 1947-48 these battalions had distinguished themselves with glory in the battles of Shelatang, Naushera, Jhangar and Poonch, wherein they were awarded the respective Battle Honours.