The Indian Army's operational strength has been significantly enhanced with the raising of the 16th 'Bhairav' Battalion at the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belagavi. The battalion was formally commissioned during a ceremonial event where Brigadier Joydeep Mukherjee, commandant of the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre, presented the battalion flag to the commanding officer of the newly raised unit.
Bhairav Battalion: A Lean, High-Mobility Tactical Unit
Also referred to as Bhairav Light Commando Battalion, this unit is part of the Army's initiative to build lean, high-mobility tactical formations. The Army has raised at least 16 such battalions, with plans to establish a total of 25 in the coming months.
Composition and Role
Each Bhairav Battalion comprises 250-300 specially trained soldiers. These units are designed for rapid-response roles, reconnaissance, surprise raids, and other high-intensity missions in sensitive border areas. The battalions aim to provide the Army with faster and more flexible options in modern conflict scenarios while alleviating pressure on elite Special Forces formations.
History and Debut
The first Bhairav Battalion was raised last year, with its formal announcement in July 2025. The battalions made their public debut during the 77th Republic Day parade on January 26, 2026. They are designed to fill the operational gap between conventional infantry and special forces, with troops drawn from various arms, including infantry, artillery, air defence, and signals.
