Meet India’s Elite: 7 Special Forces That Protect the Nation

This elite force is from the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army. When the nation requires surgical strikes, deep-penetration missions, or precision action behind enemy lines, the Para SF is deployed. These commandos are the very definition of elite, trained for every conceivable high-risk scenario, from counter-terrorism to covert operations to unconventional warfare.

Operating in small, self-sufficient assault teams, Para SF operators prioritise stealth, speed, and precision to neutralise threats and achieve strategic objectives. From Operation Bluestar (1984) and Operation Black Tornado (2008) to the 2016 surgical strikes in Uri, the Para SF has been at the forefront of India’s most critical and daring military actions.

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Calling themselves the Federal Contingency World Class Zero Error Force, the NSG was formed in 1984 under the Ministry of Home Affairs as India’s ultimate counter-terrorism unit. Nicknamed the Black Cats for their distinctive gear and stealth, the NSG is trained to handle the kind of crises that unfold without warning — hijackings, hostage rescues, bomb threats, and terror attacks.

Their record reads like a classified dossier: from storming the Golden Temple during Operations Thunder I and II to taking down hijackers of Indian Airlines flight IC486 in Operation Ashwamedh. Most of us saw them in action during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, when they were flown in to eliminate the terrorists. That operation also became a moment of deep national remembrance — for NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, AC, who laid down his life while rescuing an injured commando.

Living up to their motto “Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha” (Excellence in Security Everywhere), the Black Cats remain India’s last line of offence when precision, courage, and zero error are the only options.

Born in 2004, the Garud Commando Force is the Indian Air Force's special operations unit. Created to protect vital air assets and tackle emerging threats in the air, Garuds specialise in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, special operations, and the modern menace — drone warfare.

Their operations blend stealth and speed — from engaging terrorists during the 2016 Pathankot attack to neutralising Pakistani drones during cross-border tensions this year, after Pahalgam. Deployed across high-risk zones like Jammu and Kashmir, Garud commandos often operate alongside the Army, bringing specialised air warfare skills to ground combat.

With expertise in airborne assaults, intelligence gathering, and counter-drone warfare, the Garuds remain the IAF’s silent sentinels — always on alert, always mission-ready.

The Ghatak Force is the Indian Army’s elite infantry assault unit, trained to strike first and strike hard. Every infantry battalion has its own Ghatak platoon — the tip of the spear in combat. These soldiers are the first to move in — conducting raids, reconnaissance, and counter-terrorism missions in some of the toughest terrains and most dangerous zones.

Whether it’s gathering battlefield intelligence, directing artillery fire, or engaging in brutal close-quarter combat, the Ghataks are built for intensity. From the heights of Kargil to the 2016 surgical strikes and even hand-to-hand clashes with Chinese troops, they’ve been where the action is — silent, swift, and unstoppable.

Emblazoned with the emblem of jungle warriors, COBRA is the CRPF’s elite anti-insurgency unit, trained to operate deep in rugged forests and hostile terrains. Formed in 2009, these commandos are India’s sharpest edge against Maoist and Naxalite insurgents.

They are deployed in high-risk operations deep inside forests where conventional forces find it difficult to operate. Their missions range from ambushes and raids to intelligence gathering and neutralising high-value insurgent targets. From Operation Thunderstorm (2013) to Operation Black Forest (2025), they have relentlessly struck at insurgent strongholds.

One of India’s most secretive and specialised units, the Special Frontier Force operates under the Cabinet Secretariat and is under the operational control of R&AW. Formed after the 1962 China-India war as Establishment 22, the SFF was initially created to conduct covert and clandestine operations behind Chinese lines in the event of a future war.

These elite commandos are high-altitude paratroopers trained for guerrilla warfare, ambushes, demolition, sabotage, and survival. They operate along the Line of Actual Control and other high-risk theatres, specialising in unconventional warfare and intelligence gathering.

From Operation Meghdoot in Siachen to the 2020 India-China standoff, the SFF have contributed to India’s covert and unconventional operations — silent, precise, and lethal in every mission.

“The Few, The Fearless” — true to their motto, MARCOS are the Indian Navy’s elite special forces, trained to operate across land, air, and the most hostile, lightless maritime environments. Modelled on the US Navy SEALs, they are prepared for missions where conventional forces cannot operate.

MARCOS excel in amphibious warfare, counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, hostage rescue, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and the protection of offshore assets. Their record reads like a series of high-stakes operations: from the swift intervention in the Maldives during Operation Cactus (1988) to countering terrorists in Mumbai during Operation Black Tornado (2008).

Beyond the conventional army, navy, and air force, India’s elite units operate where ordinary forces can’t — in the shadows, behind enemy lines, and in high-stakes, unpredictable scenarios.

Trained for precision, speed, and extreme conditions, these commandos handle counter-terrorism, covert operations, and unconventional warfare, often determining outcomes before the world even notices. Silent, lethal, and relentless, they are India’s invisible guardians, forming the critical shield that keeps the nation safe and strategically secure.

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