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{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade
| abbreviation =
| image = [[File:50 Para.png|200px]]
| caption = Badge of the 50th Parachute Brigade
| dates = 1941 – present
| country = {{flag|British India}} (1941–1947) {{flag|India}} (1947–present)
| branch = {{army|British India}} (1941–1947) {{army|India}} (1947–present)
| type = [[Airborne forces]]
| role = [[Anti-aircraft warfare]] [[Anti-tank warfare]] [[Army engineering maintenance]] [[Artillery observer]] [[Bomb disposal]] [[CBRN defense]] [[Close-quarters combat]] [[Counter-battery fire]] [[Counterinsurgency]] [[Demining]] [[Direct action (military)|Direct action]] [[Emergency medicine]] [[Force protection]] [[Indirect fire]] [[Jungle warfare]] [[Long-range penetration]] [[Maneuver warfare]] [[Military communications]] [[Military engineering]] [[Military logistics]] [[Mountain warfare]] [[Parachuting]] [[Raid (military)|Raiding]] [[Reconnaissance]] [[Screening (tactical)|Screening]] [[Special reconnaissance]] [[Tactical Combat Casualty Care]] [[Tracking (hunting)|Tracking]] [[Urban warfare]]
| size = [[Brigade]]
| garrison = [[Agra]]
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| Past Commanders =
| colonel_of_the_regiment =
| notable_commanders = [[Brigadier]] [[Mohammad Usman]] [[Brigadier]] [[Sagat Singh]] [[Brigadier]] Farukh Bulsara
Lt Gen Sagat Singh

| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_2 = | nickname =
| motto =
| march =
| mascot = Balidan Dagger
| battles = [[Burma Campaign]] [[1961 Indian Annexation of Goa]] [[Operation Cactus]] [[Kargil War|Operation Vijay]]
| anniversaries =
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
}}

{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|image1 = An Indian Army paratrooper with the 50th Independent Para Brigade exits a CH47 Chinook helicopter during a partnered airborne training exercise with U.S. Army paratroopers in 2013.jpg
|alt1 =
|width1 = 190
|image2 = An Indian Army paratrooper with the 50th Independent Para Brigade exits a CH47 Chinook helicopter in 2013.jpg
|alt2 =
|width2 = 177
|footer = An Indian Army paratrooper with the 50th Parachute Brigade jumps from an aircraft.
}}
The '''50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade''' is an elite airborne forces (special operations capable) brigade sized formation of the [[Indian Army]]. Its main force is formed of battalions of the [[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]]. It consists of [[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]] battalions and the [[President's Bodyguard (India)|President's Bodyguard]], supported by units of the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]], the [[Indian Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] and the [[Army Medical Corps (India)|Army Medical Corps]].

==History==
The brigade was initially raised as part of the [[Indian Army during World War II]]. It was formed in October 1941, during the [[World War II|Second World War]], as an independent parachute brigade. Later, it was one of two parachute brigades in the [[44th Airborne Division (India)|44th Indian Airborne Division]]. The brigade took part in the [[Battle of Sangshak]], which has been credited with delaying the Japanese forces moving up for the [[Battle of Imphal]] which allowed British and Indian reinforcement to reach [[Battle of Kohima|Kohima]].

After formation, the brigade had the following structure:<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.orbat.info/history/volume6/Indian%20Army%20AirborneSF.pdf|title=Indian Army Airborne/Special Forces Units|last=Rinaldi|first=Richard A.|year=2008}}</ref>

* Brigade Headquarters
* Brigade Signal Section
* [[156th Parachute Battalion (United Kingdom)|151st Battalion The Parachute Regiment]] (British)
* 152nd Parachute Battalion (Indian)
* 153rd Parachute Battalion (Gurkha)
* 411th (Royal Bombay) Parachute Engineer Section, [[Royal Indian Engineers]]

==Engagements==
===Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48===
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948}}
The 50th Parachute Brigade saw extensive action in the Kashmir operations of 1947–48. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions of the [[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]] each won a battle honour in the Jammu & Kashmir theater. The brigade commander, Brig. [[Mohammad Usman]], was killed in action on July 3, 1948, and was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] posthumously.<ref>{{cite web |title=M USMAN {{!}} Gallantry Awards |url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/m-usman |website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref>

===Annexation of Goa 1961===
{{Main|Liberation of Goa}}
The brigade took part in the [[annexation of Goa]] along with [[17th Indian Infantry Division]]. Although the 50th Parachute Brigade was charged with merely assisting the main thrust conducted by the 17th Division, its units moved rapidly across minefields, roadblocks and four riverine obstacles to be the first to reach [[Panjim]].<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite journal|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-3/jagan.html|title=Remembering Sagat Singh (1918-2001)|journal=Bharat Rakshak Monitor|volume=4|issue=3|access-date=2010-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204131720/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE4-3/jagan.html|archive-date=2013-02-04|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On the morning of 18 December, the 50th Parachute Brigade moved into Goa in three columns.
#The eastern column, comprising the 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment, advanced via the town of Ponda in central Goa.
#The central column, comprising the 1st battalion, Parachute Regiment, advanced via the village of Banastari.
#The western column - the main thrust of the attack - comprised the 2nd battalion, [[Sikh Light Infantry]] as well as an armoured division which crossed the border at 0630 hours in the morning and advanced along Tivim.

The western column, facing no resistance, reached the town of Betim at 1700 hours, just a 500 metre wide river crossing away from [[Panjim]], the capital town. In the absence of orders, the units set camp at Betim and proceeded to secure areas up and down the riverfront.

The order to cross the river was received on the morning of 19 December, upon which two rifle companies advanced on Panjim at 0730 hours and secured the town without facing any resistance. On orders from Brig. [[Sagat Singh]], the troops entering Panjim removed their steel helmets and donned the Parachute Regiment's maroon berets. As the men marched into the town, they were welcomed as liberators by the locals.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Indo-Pakistani War of 1965===
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}
The 50 Parachute Brigade was tasked with capturing of the Jallo railway bridge. Despite being a newly raised battalion 6 Para of the Parachute Regiment with superb battle drill and fighting spirit attacked the Jallo railway bridge enduring stiff resistance and heavy artillery fire. The unit successfully captured and occupied the bridge on September 17 raising the success signal 'Ghora'.The officers and men in the brigade were overjoyed with this operationally critical capture.

===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
In 1971, the brigade saw numerous actions both in the eastern and western theatres. For the first time in the annals of independent India's history, an airborne infantry battle group, formed around the 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment, was dropped at Tangail, which contributed substantially to speeding up the liberation of Bangladesh. Elements of 2 Para became the first Indian troops to enter Dhaka. The 50th Parachute Brigade saw action initially in Bangladesh with 2 Para in the airborne role, 7 Para as the advance guard, and the rest of the brigade in a ground role. The brigade then moved to assist its sister brigade in the western sector, thus becoming the only formation to see action on both fronts.

===Operation Cactus===
{{Main|Operation Cactus}}
In response to an attempted coup d'état in the [[Maldives]], and on the request of Maldivian President [[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]], the Indian Army launched Operation Cactus. The operation started on the night of 3 November 1988, when [[Ilyushin Il-76]] aircraft of the [[Indian Air Force]] airlifted elements of the 50th Independent Parachute Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Farukh Bulsara, from [[Agra Air Force Station]] and flew them non-stop over 2,000 kilometres (1,240 mi) to land them over the [[Velana International Airport|Malé International Airport]] on [[Hulhulé Island]]. The 6th battalion The Parachute Regiment (6 Para), commanded by Col Subash Joshi,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bhatia |first1=Lt Gen Vinod |title=OPERATION CACTUS |url=https://salute.co.in/operation-cactus/ |website=Salute|date=10 June 2016 }}</ref> and the [[17 (Parachute) Field Regiment (Zojila & Poongali Bridge)|17th Parachute Field Regiment]] made up the first wave, followed by the 7th battalion, Parachute Regiment as the second wave. The paratroopers arrived in Hulhule nine hours after the appeal from President Gayoom. They immediately secured the airfield, crossed over to Male using commandeered boats and rescued President Gayoom. The paratroopers restored control of the capital to President Gayoom's government within hours.

===Kargil War===
{{Main|Kargil War}}
The 50th Parachute Brigade, at the time consisting of the 6th, 7th and 1st battalions of the Parachute Regiment and an ATGM detachment of the 19th battalion, [[Brigade of the Guards]], was deployed in the [[Mushkoh Valley]] as the Army HQ reserve. Elements of the brigade were awarded with the COAS Unit Citation for their performance in clearing the Mushkoh valley intrusions.

==Structure==
[[File: U.S. Army Lt. Col. Phillip Sounia, second from right, the commander of the 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, and Indian Army Maj. Arvind Singh, right, a company commander with the 50th Parachute Brigade, lead 130511-A-DK678-011.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Elements of the 50th Parachute Brigade training with the US Army XVIII Airborne Corps during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2013]]
The 50th Parachute Brigade comprises the following units:
* Three battalions of the [[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]] in rotation.
* One Parachute Field Regiment ([[Regiment of Artillery|Artillery]]) ([[9 (Parachute) Field Regiment|9 Parachute Field Regiment]] and [[17 (Parachute) Field Regiment (Zojila & Poongli Bridge)|17 Parachute Field Regiments]] in rotation)
* 60 Parachute Field Hospital ([[Army Medical Corps (India)|AMC]])
* 411 (Independent) Parachute Field Company ([[Bombay Sappers]])
* 622 Parachute Composite Company ([[Indian Army Service Corps|ASC]])
* 50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade OFP ([[Army Ordnance Corps (India)|Ordnance]])
* 50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade Signal Company ([[Indian Army Corps of Signals|Signals]])
* 2 (Independent) Parachute Field Workshop Company ([[Indian Army Corps of EME|EME]])
* 252 (Parachute) Air Defence Battery ([[Corps of Army Air Defence (India)|AAD]])
* 50th (Independent) Parachute Brigade Provost Section ([[Corps of Military Police (India)|CMP]])

The [[President's Bodyguard]] also forms part of the brigade as the [[Pathfinder (military)|pathfinder]] company.

The Airborne Special Forces Battalions of the Parachute Regiment rotate to form part of the brigade, alternatively serving their field tenures in counter-insurgency/high-altitude areas. One of the two field regiments ([[9 (Parachute) Field Regiment (India)|9 Parachute Field Regiment]] and [[17 (Parachute) Field Regiment (Zojila & Poongali Bridge)|17 Parachute Field Regiment (Zojila & Poongali Bridge)]]) also forms part of the brigade while the other serves out its field tenure on rotation.

==See also==

*[[List of Indian Army Brigades in World War II]]
*[[Mohammad Usman|Brig Mohammad Usman, MVC (posthumous)]]
* [[Pathfinders (military)|Pathfinders]]
* [[List of Airborne Artillery Units]]
* [[List of paratrooper forces]]
* [[Paratrooper]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Brigades of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:British Indian Army brigades]]
[[Category:Brigades of India in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Airborne brigades]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II]]

50th Parachute Brigade India - Revision history

Surojits999 at 09:11, 10 March 2026