Republic Day 2026: The Indian Army will unveil its newly raised Bhairav Light Commando Battalion at the 77th Republic Day parade, to be held on January 26, 2026. The Army will march on Kartavya Path for the first time, marking a shift from mere ceremonial posture to functional readiness and reflecting another change in our attitudes to modern warfare.
Bhairav Battalion: Bridging Infantry and Special Forces
The Bhairav Light Commando Battalion was launched to bridge the gap between conventional infantry and Special Forces units. Containing about 250 specially trained troops, the commandos are known to target the speed, accuracy and impacts of operations within war-zones. While launching the commando force, officials claim that the novel force is more flexible than conventional Special Forces units and equally lethal.
Training & Operational Readiness
The Bhairav commandos were also put through rigorous training before making their debut on Republic Day. They were also a part of the exercise ‘Akhand Prahar.’ Under the Southern Command, a “sons of the soil” approach has been adopted and allowing the military to leverage its knowledge of the local topography, climate, as well as the local language. The commandos have all the expertise required to make use of drones as a mode of warfare, thus validating the Army’s shift to ‘Hybrid Warfare.’
Real-World Inspirations: Lessons from Global Conflicts
This is reflective in the organizational pattern of the battalion, which appears to be informed by lessons learned from recent military operations worldwide, as well as India’s own Operation Sindoor. Indeed, the Army’s plans for scaling these formations with rapid mobilization to suit varying terrains such as deserts, mountains, and high-altitude operations are informed by putting to task new forms of threats with speed and depth.
Leadership & Strategic Vision
The chief of the Indian Army, General Upendra Dwivedi, announced the creation of Bhairav battalions on Kargil Vijay Diwas, which is part of the broader unveiling of Rudra Brigades. The latter is comprised of all-new integrated formations combining mechanized infantry, armor forces, artillery, drones, as well as special forces. General Upendra emphasized that Bhairav formations are meant to assure surprise and disarray in all their adversaries, thanks to modern technologies and contemporary warfare.
Future Expansion & Deployment
There are already 15 battalions of the Indian army trained to fight as the Bhairav force stationed at the Northern and Western border fronts, with plans to extend to approximately 25 units. These units are tasked with operations ranging from tactical attacks to special operations at the higher end.
Ceremonial Debut Meets Operational Reality
The Republic Day parade to be held on the occasion of the Republic Day this year will feature the unveiling of the ‘Bhairav Light Commando Battalion’ to the general public for the first time. Contrary to the traditional format in which a ‘battalion’ on parade takes up a formation while keeping the traditional marching position at a bare minimum, a real-life ready to battle formation that reflects modern military thinking will be on display.
