The Indian Army begins raising the first five of 23 planned ‘Bhairav’ light commando battalions to boost rapid-strike capability along the borders with Pakistan and China. Each unit will have 250 soldiers drawn from existing infantry battalions under a “save and raise” model, avoiding fresh troop additions. The first five are expected to be ready by October 31, with deployments in Leh, Srinagar, Nagrota, and sectors in the west and east. These agile units will receive advanced weapons, drones, and high-impact tactical training. ‘Bhairav’ battalions are designed to fill the gap between regular infantry and Special Forces, freeing up elite units for more critical missions.