Paras (The Maroon Berets) 

The few, the proud.

The parachute units of the Indian Army are among the oldest airborne units in the world. The 1st unit was authorized on 15 May 1941, & by October 1941 the 50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade had been formed; comprising 152nd Parachute Battalion (Indian), 151st Parachute Battalion (British) & 153rd Parachute Battalion (Gurkha).

The name "RED DEVILS" was given to them by the soldiers of the German African Corps fighting against them in Africa. The name "RED" came from the "MAROON BERET" that the paratroopers used to wear which is now a trade mark for all the paratroopers around the world.

In 1944, it was decided to form a division (44th Indian Parachute Division) & at the same time the formation of the Indian Parachute Regiment as a separate entity was authorized. The partition of India in 1947 led to the split of the para units between India & Pakistan. 50th (I) Parachute Brigade was quickly involved in operations in Kashmir 1947-49. Subsequently, the 51st (Independent) Parachute Brigade was formed in 1961but was converted in 1976 to an Infantry Brigade.

In 1952, these specially trained Parachute Units from The 1 Punjab (1 Para), 3 Maratha (2 Para) & 1 Kumaon (3 Para) Regiments were transferred to the newly raised Parachute Regiment. Subsequently, to this five Parachute & two Parachute (Commando) Battalions were raised. However, 8 Para was converted in 1976 to 16 Mahar & later to 12 Mech. Inf.

During the 1965 Indo-Pak War a special independent force of commandos was raised on 01 July 1966, the 9 Para was formed to take on the task, creating the smaller commando force in the process. A year later part of the 9 Para was split to form 10 Para, each with 3 companies. In 1969 both units added the suffix "COMMANDOS" to their titles, becoming 9 & 10 Para (Commandos). Now the suffix has been changed to "SF"(Special Forces), but commando is still written on their uniform's arms. On 01 February 1996, 21 MLI joined the Regiment designated as the 21 Para (SF). At present India has five Parachute (SF) units in service viz., 1, 2, 9, 10 & 21 Para (SF). The 1 Para (SF) is trained for mountain warfare, the 9 Para (SF) is trained for jungle warfare, the 10 Para (SF) is trained for desert warfare, & so on.

The Paratroopers saw their first action in 1945 when a Bn. group was dropped at Elephant Point for the battle of Rangoon. The Parachute Regiment under took its first post-independence airborne op. when 2 Para Bn. group was dropped near Tangail in Bangladesh on 11 December 1971, and was also the first of the Indian Army to enter Dhaka. The 9 & 10 Para Commandos proved their mettle in 1971 by conducting lightening raids in Mandhol (across Munawar Twai) & in Chachro (Sind) respectively. The Para Regiment took active part in the liberation of Goa in 1961 and in Op. Pawan (Sri Lanka) with nearly 80% of the Regiment deployed in the island in 1987-89. The 3 and 6 Para conducted air landed operations in aid of the Govt. of Maldives. The Para Bn. have in addition to their participation in other campaigns, formed part of UN Operations in Gaza & Korea.

All Indian paratroopers are volunteers; some enter the regiments direct from civil life, while others transfer in from Regular Army units. There is a probationary period of 45 days when men undergo various physical & mental tests, during which many are rejected. Those who pass are sent to the PTS (Paratroopers Training School) at Agra, U.P. where 5 jumps, including 1 at night, entitle the trainee to wear the wings & the maroon beret. Para (SF) undergo more specialized training to suit them for their role. Now the paras are also excepting women, not in the Battalions, but the parachute-trained units of supporting services e.g., engineers, signals, medical corps,

Today, the Para Regiment is perhaps the only Regiment to have taken part in every theatre & every op. in & outside the country. As a recognition of its distinguished service, the Regiment was presented its new colors by the President on 06 October 1967.