Special Operations Division to be announced soon

The Narendra Modi government will soon announce the setting up of a Special Operations Division under the egis of Integrated Defence Staff, a move that will have far-reaching impact on the way the services operate.

The proposed Special Operations Division will have about 3,000 commandos drawn from the Special Forces of the Army, Marine Commando unit (MARCOS) of the Navy and Garud of the IAF. The division will also have dedicated aircraft and helicopters for special operations.

The concrete idea to have such a Division, earlier to be known as Special Operations Command, was mooted by the Naresh Chandra committee which was set up in 2011. Speaking to Republic, Chief of the IDS, Lt Gen Satish Dua said, "Such integration could be very helpful in case India has to launch a special forces operation in the future." 

"It is a good idea to integrate special forces for operations,” while adding that they can train and live together which will help them to pick up the best practice of one another.

“Special forces have to learn to prepare and plan for different contingencies... those (integration) efforts are in the pipeline. We do plan to integrate the Garuds of the Indian Air Force, Marcos of the Navy and Para SF of the Army. We are going to put them together. It is a good thought and a work in progress,” he also mentioned in an exclusive interview to Republic TV on the second anniversary of the surgical strike.

READ | Parakram Parv: PM Modi To Inaugurate Exhibition Commemorating The Second Anniversary Of Surgical Strike

As of now, the three special forces work under their own organisation. Sources said men would be picked out from the three special forces and brought under the IDS to train and carry out specific high-value missions.

Over the past year and a half, the Indian government has focussed big time on the special forces with fast track purchases being done of various equipments, including new long-range sniper and assault rifles movement related vehciles.

While the Army has a strength of around 6000 special forces personnel, both Navy and the IAF have around 1000 each. 

READ | MASSIVE: Modi Government Takes Ordinance Route To Make Triple Talaq A Punishable Offence After Cabinet Gives Its Nod. LIVE UPDATES Here