INDIAN ARMY'S FOOTPRINTS: 382 INFANTRY BATTALIONS AND THE RISE OF THE BHAIRAV COMMANDO UNITS

Each battalion would also field an "Ashni” drone platoon of 20-25 specialists equipped with first-person-view drones and loitering munitions, signalling the integration of unmanned systems into the lowest tactical level.

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India's 1.2-million-strong army is one of the world's largest.

For decades it relied on conventional battalions trained for infantry assaults and static defence; by 2025 it fielded 382 infantry battalions of roughly 800 soldiers each. These units, drawn from regiments with diverse cultural traditions, have fought across mountains and deserts. Today the security environment is changing rapidly because of drones, precision-guided weapons and cyber threats. Facing a simultaneous challenge from Pakistan and China and persistent insurgencies, the army has embarked on a major modernisation, creating Bhairav battalions to provide rapid-strike capabilities.

This essay recounts how the army accumulated 382 battalions, examines the Bhairavs' purpose and structure and considers why the last pre-Bhairavunit-the Sikkim Scouts-was raised.

The legacy of 382 InfanTry BaTTalIons

When British India was partitioned in 1947, the Indian Army inherited about 200 battalions. Decades of wars with Pakistan and China, integration of princely states and counterinsurgency operations led to the raising of numerous units; by the mid-1970s the number had reached around 350. Subsequent budgetary constraints slowed expansion, and by 2025 the army fielded 382 infantry battalions.

Each infantry battalion, commanded by a lieutenant colonel, has roughly 800 soldiers organised into rifle companies, support elements and a headquarters. Battalions belong to regiments such as the Sikh Regiment or Gorkha Rifles, which recruit from specific communities and preserve distinct traditions.

Modernisation challenges