Paratroopers of the Indian Army

Paratroopers of the Indian Army descend on the battle scene during an exercise. Parachute infantry is mainly dropped by air behind the enemy to choke off his supply line and means of escape. The Indian Army’s Parachute Regiment consists of three battalions, 5 Para, 6 Para and 7 Para.

THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT

BRIEF HISTORY The Indian Parachute Regiment was formed on 01 Mar 1945 consisting of four Battalions and an equal number of independent companies. During the demobilisation after the World War II the regiment was disbanded and the battalions were amalgamated with their parent regiments, however they retained their Para role and formed part of the Airborne Division. After independence the Airborne Division was split and 50th and 77th Brigades remained in India with six Para battalions. On 15 Apr 1952 the Parachute Regiment was re-raised by absorbing three Para battalions namely 1st Battalion the Punjab Regiment (PARA) redesignated as 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (PUNJAB), 3rd Battalion the Maratha Light Infantry (PARA) redesignated as 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (MARATHA) and 1st Battalion the Kumaon Regiment (PARA) redesignated as 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (KUMAON). These battalions have now been redesignated as 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF), 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF) and 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF) respectively. After the 1962 war the regiment was expanded by raising five new Para Battalions and after the 1965 war 9 PARA (Commando) and 10 PARA (Commando) were also raised. Currently the regiment has seven Special Forces (SF) Battalions i.e. 1,2,3,4,9,10 and 21 PARA (SF) and three Airborne battalions i.e. 5, 6 and 7 PARA The Parachute Regiment Depot and Records was raised at Agra on 15 Apr 1952 to coincide with the raising of the Regiment. On 01 May 1962, a training wing of the Parachute Regiment was formed at Kota under the Brigade of the Guards Training Centre and thus started the direct recruitment and training of recruits for The Parachute Regiment. On 13 Mar 1963, the Government of India accorded sanction for raising of The Parachute Regiment Training Centre to be located at Agra Fort. The first batch of recruits from the Rajputana Rifles, Rajput, Sikh and Dogra Regiments started arriving in the Training Battalion located at Kheria Camp, Agra. On 05 Feb 1965, the Centre moved to Morar Cantt, Gwalior. On 02 Oct 1975, The Parachute Regiment Training Centre, Records and Pay And Accounts Office (Other Ranks) moved to Agra. On 15 Jan 92, The Centre along with The Records and Pay And Accounts Office (Other Ranks) moved to Bangalore which is now its Key Location Plan (KLP).