Bhairav Battalion | 15 Jan 2026

Source: TH 

The Bhairav Battalions, the Indian Army's newly raised modern warfare force, will make their debut in the Army Day Parade in Jaipur. 

Bhairav Battalion 

• About: The Bhairav Battalions are high-speed, offensive formations of the Indian Army, designed to bridge the operational gap between Para Special Forces and regular infantry units. 
  • The Bhairav Battalion is a specialized formation that fills the operational gap between the strategic Para Special Forces (SF) and the tactical Ghatak Platoons. While Ghataks function at the battalion level for localized assaults, and Para SF execute deep, strategic missions behind enemy lines, Bhairav Battalions provide rapid-response for immediate border contingencies or short-notice offensives. 
  • It is a 2025 Indian Army initiative for modernization and force restructuring to meet the demands of hybrid and technology-driven warfare. 
• Composition: Each battalion is a compact, integrated formation of about 200-250 personnel, drawn from infantry, artillery, air defence, and signals. The Army applies the "Sons of the Soil" recruitment concept, prioritizing local soldiers for superior terrain and climatic familiarity in their deployment sectors. 
• Deployment: 15 Bhairav Battalions have been raised so far, with plans to expand to 23–25 battalions. They are being placed under corps and division-level formations, especially in sectors considered sensitive, Rajasthan, Jammu, Ladakh and the Northeast. 
• Focus on Unmanned and Hybrid Warfare: These units are a cornerstone of the Army's push for unmanned warfare and are trained to employ drones for targeting enemy bases and formations deep inside hostile territory. To support this, the force is creating a pool of over one lakh drone operatives.