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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).
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